Foxwood Project grassed area edging completed
Foxwood Residents Association volunteers today cleared Chesney’s Field on Foxwood Lane. They came across a dumped bike and also there been some fly tipping in the boundary hedge area.
Contractors working for the Association have also finished verge edging work around the area. Further work is planned for next winter.
It is only recently that the government changed the rules to allow home addresses to be omitted from candidate nomination forms. Council officials still check that potential candidates are on the electoral register or are qualified to stand in some other way. But there is no transparency about whether a candidate lives in or particularly close to the area that he or she hopes to represent.
The Dringhouses ward fares particularly badly. 7 of the 14 candidates there decline to say where they live.
This is important because many electors will expect their Councillors to regularly check on the quality of public series in the area. A good maxim for Councillors has always been the three “C”’s.
Consult residents, Campaign for improvements and Communicate what you have done.
This can most easily be done if a Councillor lives in or very near to the ward that they represent. From the moment they leave their home in a morning they can be scanning public services like roads, street lights and litter collection to check that everything is OK.
That’s much more difficult if you live several miles away. There is evidence to suggest that, after the first few enthusiastic months, communication with residents declines (until another election comes round).
So, electors have a right to know whether a candidate lives in the neighbourhood.
The government changed the rules in an attempt to protect public servants from intimidation. That’s’ fine. There is no need to publish the house number of a candidate. Just the street name, and confirmation of which ward it is in, would suffice, at least until someone has been elected.
Four of the “shy” candidates are currently sitting Councillors.
A quick look at the Party websites reveals that they are no more candid about where their candidates live.
All candidates should, before the 2nd May poll, publish details indicating which polling district they live in, and provide a contact email and telephone number.
Such details will be required by residents if candidates are fortunate enough to get elected.
By the close of nominations, 202 people had put themselves forward to be councillors for York. All wards are being contested by the LibDems, Greens, Tories and Labour.
There will be 10 independent candidates including former Councillors Brian Watson (Acomb), John Galvin (Bishopthorpe), Suzie Mercer (Wheldrake), Sheena Jackson (Westfield), Mark Waters (Osbaldwick), Tony Richardson (Haxby), Hillary Shepherd (Hull Road) and David Carr (Copmanthorpe)
There are also 2 UKIP candidates (one each in Dringhouses and Huntington), 1 “Socialist Alternative” and 1 Womens Equality Party (both in the Heworth ward)
Biggest surprise is that 56 of the candidates have refused to reveal on their nomination forms in which part of the City they live.
Instead they just say that they “reside in the City of York Council area”
This could be a significant issue in some wards where electors may feel that they want a local and accessible Councillor.
Another existing Tory Councillor, John Gates from Haxby, is standing down. This means that, of the 14 Conservatives elected to the Council in 2015, only 5 will offer themselves for re-election (as Tories) on May 2nd.
We will publish details on this site, where we have them, of which ward a candidate lives in as part of a more detailed analysis of issues, personalities and policies over the next few weeks.
The York Civic Trust has launched a £30,000 appeal which, if successful, could see 2 unique candlesticks added to its Fairfax House collection.
The Trust hopes to restore candle lighting to the house later this year
Further details can be found by following this link
Police and other emergency services are inviting families to come and meet the people who keep them safe in York city centre this weekend.
North Yorkshire Police officers will be on Coney Street this Saturday afternoon with a marked police van for youngsters to explore. They’ll also be joined by firefighters from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, staff from Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and volunteers from York Rescue Boat – among others.
The emergency services have joined forces to give members of the local community the chance to get to know them, and discuss any issues they might have.
Inspector Andy Godfrey, from York City Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “There will be emergency vehicles stationed along Coney Street on Saturday afternoon, and it’s a great opportunity for people to stop by and say hello. The city centre will be busy with events like the Great York Bunny Search and a Dinosaur World Live T-Rex model, so we’re hoping to meet lots of families as they pass by.
“Of course, due to the nature of what we do, we might get called away, but we’re hoping to be available from 12pm to 6pm. So if you’re in the city centre on Saturday, do stop by to see us, have a chat, and maybe even get a selfie. There’ll be plenty of emergency service vehicles and high-vis uniforms, so you won’t be able to miss us!”
As we forecast a couple of weeks ago, relationships within the Conservative party n York have hit a new low. It has been confirmed that a fourth former member of the Tory group will join 3 others in standing as “independents” in the Council election on 2nd May. The latest Councillor to jump ship (be pushed) is Haxby Councillor Tony Richardson who describes the local Tory Group as “toxic”. He joins John Galvin, Suzie Mercer and David Carr as former Tories now turned independent candidates.
Tory Leader Ian Gillies has already announced that he is standing down from the Council and he is expected to be joined by Sam Lisle and Helen Douglas when the candidate lists are announced at 4:00pm today.
Thus, of 14 people originally elected as Conservatives in May 2015, no more than 7 will seek re-election.
The Tories do hope to bring back Sian Wiseman in the Strensall Ward. She was a Councillor between 2007 and 2011 but herself quit the Tory group, to sit for a time as an independent, following a possible conflict of interest row relating to the Local Plan.
Sceptics may think that the “Gang of Four” will have a better chance of success standing as Independents given the parlous state of the Tory party regionally and nationally. Tory Police and Crime Chief Julia Mulligan has also announced that she is quitting while the BREXIT turmoil is taking its inevitable toll on opinion poll ratings.
Incredibly, the controversial Tony Richardson was until this week the deputy Leader of the Conservative Group. That mantle has now passed to the photogenic, but largely ineffectual, Stuart Rawlings. He is the potential replacement for Ian Gillies as Leader of the Conservatives after the May poll.
It seems increasingly unlikely that there will be a Tory presence on the Council to lead. They were wiped out in 2003 and as similar fate may await their candidates this May.
Labour has already been through a similar pre-election turmoil with 3 of the 15 Councillors elected in May 2015 having already quit.
2 more now sit as independents.
Whatever happens on May 2nd, the City can’t look to the traditionally larger parties to provide stability and experience in what is likely to be a difficult year for the City.
To help people learn more and talk more about autism, partners across York are welcoming everyone to the city’s first ever York Celebrates Autism event.
The drop-in event will be held on Saturday 6 April from 10am-1:30pm, at Spark:York CIC, (17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB) during World Autism Week.
Co-created by partners including United Response, City of York Council, the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), The Retreat and Creased Puddle, this is an event for everyone.
People living with autism, as well as academics and artists will be giving talks and performances covering everything related to autism:
10.15 – Jo Jo Hall will be performing her theatre piece ‘In my shoes’ about being a woman with autism
10.40 -The Prehistory of Autism – Callum Scott from the University of York’s archaeology department
11.05 – Women and autism – Dr Katja Oswald
11:30 – Lived experience of autism – Rose Anne
11.55 – Transitions project – Dr Lorna Hamilton
12.20 – Sleep and children with autism – Dr Victoria Knowland from the SleepSmart project at the University of York
12.45 – Riding Lights theatre group performance.
An activity space will be available for the children of people attending the event, and parents will be responsible for their own children.
Volunteers have been busy over the weekend with both the Foxwood and Woodthorpe shopping area forecourts have been cleared of weeds and detritus. Makes a big difference.
The Clockhouse pub, which is located on the corner of Kingsway West and Tudor Road, could face closure. An application has been made for the premises license to be revoked.
It follows two years of complaints from nearby residents. Most related to excessive noise from the premises.
The Clockhouse is probably better known by its former name; The Acomb Hotel.
It has been a feature of the social life of the west of York for over 70 years.
It has changed a lot over the years as it has had to come to terms with the changing expectations of sub-urban drinkers.
Relatively recently it has majored on improved outdoor areas with children now well catered for.
But it is the evening activities that have led to the licencing hearing. Many complaints have been registered by nearby residents. Sound levels have been unacceptably high with open doors and windows contributing to the problem.
In October 2018 fines and costs totalling £4889.26 were levied against the establishment by magistrates.
There have since been further complaints.
A list of the conditions attached to the licence can be viewed by clicking here
The Clocktower event rooms are very close to adjacent properties. Ironically some were built on part of the former hotel site.
It is this proximity which may lead to a further change in role for the building.
