Police are appealing for witnesses after a fatal collision in Rufforth, York.
Shortly before 10pm on Tuesday 5 January 2021, officers were called to a report of a single-vehicle collision on Bradley Lane, Rufforth, which involved a black VW Passat leaving the road.
Sadly, the driver, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or the vehicle involved prior to it, to contact them. Please call North Yorkshire Police on 101, and ask for Nicola Peters, or email nicola.peters@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Please quote reference 12210004656 when passing information.
By the 1st July the COVID infection rate in The City had dropped to 3.32 /100k head of population. It had peaked at 96.8 on 5th May. Case numbers were to remain low until September.
During the first wave of infections, 171 York residents had succumbed to the virus. Many had been care home occupants.
The government announced a £5 million budget for drainage and repair works on Tadcaster Road. Resurfacing of the road had just been completed……. Laptops were loaned to needy children allowing them to study at home……. The Council offered “two hours of free parking” in an attempt to get the City centre economy moving again. The concession didn’t apply to the main shopper car parks…… Playgrounds and libraries reopened in early July. …………..The Council had spent £354,326 on marketing and communications during the pandemic…….. Changes to footstreet hours were approved at a behind closed doors meeting – prompting further criticism about secrecy…………. It was revealed that the “Yorspace” housing commune had failed to complete the purchase of a plot allocated to them at Lowfields. By contrast adjacent sites reserved for “self builders” were being snapped up….The annual review of Councillor lodged issueswas published… York was touted as a new home for the House of Lords…… A controversial plan to have a “North Yorkshire” elected Mayor was announced. This prompted months of agonising about changes to Council boundaries… The Acomb Front Street marketreopened… There were continuing delays on building projects including the huge British Sugar site on Boroughbridge Road.… It was revealed that the York Council had spent £4.5 million the previous year in buying up commercial property in the City. The Councilsnet debtsclimbed to £289 million during the same period. An overspend of £1.8 million on the James House project was revealed …..The Council as forced to take emergency action to modify access arrangements onFossgate…. Revised plans for the front of the railway station were announced.
August
By 1st August the COVID infection rate in the City had fallen to 0.29. It was to be the lowest figure that the City would since the start of the pandemic.
A 3 bed semi at the Councils Lowfields development was priced at an eye watering £295,000…. York City centre was busy with visitors. Car parks like Castle and Marygate were full. By contrast the car park at the station was virtually empty….. Planning permission was granted for a proposal to build houses on the Bootham Crescent football ground. The opening date for the replacement stadium at Monks Cross had passed with a lot of work still outstanding. It was unclear when football matches would recommence…….. The York Central development secured £77.1 million in public funding…. One consequence of the pandemic had been a 51% increase in unemployment levels… a Public Right of Way was established across Acomb Moor. It was promptly blocked off by a farmer… The York Museums Trust needed a £1.95 million bail out. following its extended COVID closure….. The Council confirmed that it would spend £1.65 million buying 150 acres of land to establish a new forest near Knapton. Questions were raised about using high quality agricultural land for this purpose….. It was revealed that a large amount of space at West Officeshad been rented out by the Council. That retained for its own use had been little used during the pandemic with many officials working from home… It was proving to be difficult to get utility companies to remove graffiti from their cabinets… The promised replacement children games area in Kingsway West had not materialised. The old “MUGA” had been taken over as a builders compound. It was later revealed that talks to use a site at the Thanet Road Sports Area has stalled….. There were still too many long term empty Council houses in York. 1597 people were registered on the housing waiting list….
September
The Coronavirus infection rate in the City had risen to 2.86 by 1st September. The “second wave” was to continue rise during the month before peaking in October. Additional restrictions were introduced by the government on 22nd September. Mainly affected pubs and face covering requirements
Visitor numbers to the City had increased during August although they still fell short of the numbers seen in previous years….. Schools reopened…. The taxi shuttle service link from the disable parking spaces at Monk Bar car park into the City centre had not proved to be popular…..The Groves road closures went live on 2nd September. Reaction was mixed with some suggesting that an emergency vehicle route should have been sustained. ….. E-scooter hire arrived in York…. 29 Castlegate a former youth service building had remained empty for 4 years. There was no sign of the Council putting it on the market…
October
The Coronavirus infection rate sat at 129.62 on 1st October. It would continue to rise before peaking at 444.9 on 16th October. The rise coincided with the arrival of a large contingent of students in the City. The infection rate in Heslington was to reach 1720 on 15th October before falling away. Heslington and Tang Hall currently have the lowest case numbers in the City.
Work on refurbishing the Lincoln Court independent living units on Ascot Way was completed…… Consultation started on plans to upgrade the A1237 northern by pass... The condition of the cycle track network continued to decline…. £1.25 million was to be spent on public electric vehicle charging points in York…. Wrangles over York’s Local Plan continued (endlessly) . ….. A Council report revealed that the numbers cycling and using public transport to get around the City had both fallen…. The Peacocks store in Front Street Acomb was set to close. It joined many other retail and hospitality outlets forced out of businesses by the pandemic…. The details location of the new “Knapton Forest” was revealed, The Council remained tight lipped about a further area of woodland that it hoped to plant “near to the inner ring road”……COVID restrictions in York were increased to Tier 2 level on 17th October. Infection rates had already started to reduce……. The ruling coalition majority was reduced by one as Green Councillor Dave Taylor quit the Green Party. He had been criticised for comments made about the late Jack Charlton…….. There was an increase in the number of thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles in York… The Council announced that its new head of paid service (replacing the Chief Executive) would be Ian Floyd ……
November
Coronavirus infection rates had dropped from a high of 444.9 (recorded on 16th Oct) to 205.1 by 1st November. A national lockdown was to be introduced on 5th November when the rate stood at 191.8. It was to fall steadily during the lockdown period which ended on 2nd December. Eventually the rate bottomed out at 57.93 on 8th December. Since then it has risen sharply
By the beginning of November City streets were already looking empty…. A local contact tracing service was launched… Rain slowed some road resurfacing projects …. There was more criticism of social housing management standards in the City…. The York Museums Trust announced a 30% cut in staffing levels….. Work on the new Centre of Excellence for the Disabled was completed. Poor work on facilities in the surrounding area was criticised…… £658k of government funding for transport schemes was announced. A very mixed bag which included new cycle lanes on Acomb Road in Holgate and improvements for cyclists on the A1237 Ouse Bridge….. York Central was granted planning permission. Concerns about the accesses from Leeman Road and Wilton Rise were not addressed…. The Council reviewed its property portfolio. It decided to a[give a developer 12 weeks to complete the purchase of Oakhaven which had been empty for 4 years…. The Police announced their first “on line” digital event….A Council planning committee declined to approve plans for new flats and a multi story car park at the Castle/Piccadilly site …….. Fly tipping was a continuing problem in and near York…. A deal to lease space at the new Community Stadium for restaurant use fell though. It added £1.375 million to the taxpayers bill…More bad news for taxpayers as the costs of the Guildhall renovation project soared to £21.7 million…
December
The infection rate stood at 76.44 on 1st December. York entered Tier 2 restrictions the day after. Local MPs had pressed for a Tier 1 designation bowing to pressure from the hospitality sector. The subsequent rise in infection levels suggest that a Tier 3 designation would have been a safer option. York started the month with the lowest number of Coronavirus cases. It was to end the month with the highest infection rate in the region (406.4).
A homeless report said that the number of “rough sleepers” in the City was now very small…. A £3 billion price tag was placed on the Councils ambition to see the City become “carbon neutral” by 2030. …. The Make it York tourism organisation was heading for a £1 million loss. It would – like Welcome to Yorkshire – be bailed out by the Council … By 5th December streets in the York Centre were busier…. A new winter support grant was set up to help needy families… New lateral flowCOVID tests were available which provided very quick results. Students took the tests before returning home for the holidays… The Council launched an “on line” consultation on its budget choices. The choices were carefully limited to avoid any awkward results…… a new report highlighted growing problems with unemployment in the City. Young people living in the Westfield area were particularly hard hit…. a new COVID vaccination centre opened on Moor Lane near Tesco…. Completion of the Community Stadium complex was finally confirmed. Originally scheduled to be built in 2012, it was some 8 years later that it actually became available for use. Within days, the leisure and sports facilities there were to be closed again following the introduction of Tier 3 restrictions….. The year was to end with the first of the Coronavirus vaccine injections taking place in the City. Although a new more virulent strain of the virus had emerged, this was partly offset by news that a new vaccine was now available.
The quarter stared with a full scale lockdown in place. Infection rates were to peak in May.
The Government and Council responded with a range of support packages.
Many, including emergency funding and local community hubs, were welcomed.
Food supplies were secured and local supermarkets rose to the challenge of lockdown. An increasing number o small independents started to offer doorstep deliveries.
The refuse collection service was sustained despite problems with staff sickness and increasingly unreliable vehicles. The Council was forced to suspend green waste collections
Roads were deserted, bus service frequencies were reducedThe Council offered free car parking for key workersThe Council issued a list of key services and their availabilityThe Council updated its weed treatment programmePlans for a new building to house the York Bridge Club were approved. They will move at a site at the Acomb Cricket ground.By Mid April queues at supermarkets had reduced.Mourners were allowed to return too the York Crematorium
Bad news for the local economy as consumer spending crashed
Pollution levels in the City reached a – modern time – low. This improvement was to continue for the rest of the yearThe Council announced its 20/21 road resurfacing programme. Many areas were disappointed to find that they had missed out.The Council announced a £23.65 million budget deficit.
The James House homeless accommodation building was finally opened. It was over 12 months behind schedule
The City decided to press ahead with its plan to invest £700,000 in new visitor signpostsDespite the efforts of Council staff fly tipping became an increasing problem during the summer months.
The City lost one of its “nicest people”. RIP former Councillor David Horwell
24/7 checks revealed that there was a high compliance with speed limits in the York area. Speed camera vans still managed to catch 135 motorists exceeding the imit. Most were using the A64The Councils decision to make Bishopthorpe Road, near the shops, one way proved to be unpopular. Roadworks on the alternative Blossom Street loop made matters worseA Planning Inspector refused an application to build on land near Askham Bogs. There had been concerns that the wildlife sanctuary could be jeopardised by the proposalsThe lockdown restrictions began to be eased from the middle of May. Pike Hills Golf Court reopenedA COVID testing centre was set up at the Poppleton Park and Ride site. It emerged that Coronavirus test results were not being shared with local authorities. The whole test and trace system lost credibility but it was to be several months before local authorities took up some of the responsibility for contact tracing. Even today, little information is published on the source of infections.West York was snubbed by the Council when a list of cycling and walking improvements was published. The budget was £1/2 millionWork started on resurfacing Tadcaster Road and St Helen’s Road (not for the first time). Two weeks after the work was completed, at a cost at a cost to local taxpayers of £500,000, the government was to announce funding, for a drainage scheme, which will involve digging up Tadcaster Road again. Another consultation started on “reopening” Haxby Railway Station. It was the fourth such consultation in the last 25 years.Spring saw the usual problems emerging. Hedges and trees overgrew several foot and cycle paths. It took a long time to get them trimmed back. Potholes, not filled in after winter frost damage, added to hazards for cyclists in particular.Councillors wrote the media to say that there would be over 700 deaths in the City by Autumn. In reality the total death toll among York residents , to 18th December, has been 211.
On 23rd May the Council confirmed that the current Lord Mayor would continue in office for an additional 12 months.
The Council decide to reduce the size of he Marygate car park by up to 100 spaces. This was to accommodate a socially distanced cycle route. The alternative, of cyclists using the car park service road, was not evaluated.A more urgently needed improvement for cyclists were repairs to the York Selby cycle track. Parts had become dangerous fallowing damage by tree roots.
York was set to lose one of its local radio stations. Minster FM had built up a good relationship with the local community and would be missed.
The Council – belatedly- ordered 12 new refuse collection trucks. The older vehicles were already proving to be unreliable. No explanation for the delay in ordering replacements was given
First buses announced a new App which gave real time details of the spare capacity available on each bus.Deans Park reopened on 1st June. There was pressure for the Museums Gardens also to reopen.The Council decided to extend the footstreets to include places like Blake Street, Lendal and Kings Square.
The York Minster school announced its closure. Pupils would later be accommodated at St Peters.
There were increasing concerns about the number of empty Council houses in the CityThe number of positive test results for COVID in the City continued to decline, bringing hopes of a more “normal” summer.On 13th June, that Council announced that road closures in The Groves would start in 2/3 weeks. The scheme was criticised as no safety audit had been completed.York Minster reopened its doors on 15th JuneThe Council announced its post COVID travel plan. Free parking for key workers was discontinuedSocially distanced shopping was restarted in JunePressure to reopen the Museum Gardens increased. It was to reopen on 25th June
Plans to erect a 20 metre high telecoms mast on Bellhouse Way attracted opposition. It was later refused planning permission being branded as overbearing in a residential area
as the New Year started roadworks were taking place on The Mount. Roadworks in that area and Tadcaster Road were to prove to be an embarrassment for the Council later in the year.
A 4% increase in Council Tax levels was announced. There would be expenditure on a £3 million “forest” while a Councillors pay increases would cost £141,000.
Plans to provide a “driverless shuttle” service in the pedestrian area were revealed – to be greeted with general incredulity
The Council’s new team of graffiti removers was having some success.Council contractors blocked a footpath link from Acomb Wood to Acomb Moor. Twelve months later the right of way is still impassible in wet weather. The Lowfields development got underway. Neighbours were unhappy as delivery lorries blocked roads and damaged verges
The Castle Gateway budget was revealed as £55 million. The Council intended to borrow £45.8 million to help fund it.
Bootham Park hospital would be sold for use as 125 “independent living” homes
Concern was rising about the delay in completing the £42 York Community Stadium. The York Knights said they would play there on 9th February 2020. As 2020 ends, the stadium has still to host its first fixture
The Low Poppleton Lane camera enforced “buses only gate” continued to attract criticism about poor signage. The Council gets about £100,000 for fines levied on drivers who misuse the route.
The Council stopped publishing responses to Freedom of Information requests on its web site. It was rightly critised for being too secretive.
The Council confirmed that the first Coronavirus case identified in the UK had been linked to York University. At the time few realised the impact that the virus would have on everyone’s life during 2020. At the time Public Health officials said that the risk was “very low”
The York Council decided to spend £2 million on anti terrorist security measures.
New Council bungalows – incorporating electric vehicle charging points – were completed on Newbury Avenue. The controversial Spark container village on Piccadilly was coming to the end of its lease. The owners had not fulfilled some planning conditions and the expectation was that the lease would end and the site would be sold. It didn’t work out that way.The York Council decided to sack its weed control contractor. The City had been overgrown the previous summer. New arrangements worked better during 2020.
The amount the Council intended to borrow continued to increase. Critics pointed to high redemption costs and interest charges.
The Council increased its investment in flood protection measures
Disabled tenants were told that the Council would not cut the grass and hedges in future. There had been no consultation. Later Council officials tried to backtrack on their letter
In a “behind closed doors” decision senior Councillors decided to make the York Council’s Chief Executive – who had been on sick leave for nearly a year – redundant. The cost of the exit package was put at over £400,000.
The Council and developers updated their plans for the York Central site which lies behind the railway station. The plans involved making the Leeman Road tunnel single lane working – raising a storm of protest.
The were an increasing number of complaints about poor quality road maintenance standards.
Another Coronavirus case was identified in York on 4th March. Lockdown 1 followed soon afterwards
The project to refurbish the Guildhall and establish a “business club” there ran into further difficulties. Costs spiraled.
The Council was forced to admit, following a Freedom of Information request, that it owned a large number of empty properties. Some had been empty for over 5 years.
The Council agreed to grant the Theatre Royal £500,000 for improvement works
The Council confirmed that it would try to sell the plot at Lowfields, allocated for an elderly persons care home, to a private developer. The developer would be expected to provide “extra care ” facilities. In effect the Council reverted to the original plans for the site which was agreed in 2010.
The rest of the quarter – and indeed the year – was to be dominated by the fight against the pandemic
One of the consequences of the City moving into Tier 4 restrictions, as it is expected to do following an announcement tomorrow, may be that progress on some traffic schemes will be delayed.
This could affect The Groves traffic restrictionswhich were introduced using a temporary (experimental) traffic order last summer. The expectation was that a decision would be made early in 2021 about whether – and with which features – the scheme would be made permanent (or abandoned). However, further restrictions on movement, because of the pandemic, could mean that no stable traffic pattern will be established until well into 2021.
One of the criticisms of the scheme, which was rushed into operation following a meeting last June, was that the area had already become largely devoid of through traffic as a result of changes in the local economy.
Safety concerns remain.
The Council, in response to a Freedom of Information request in October, said, “Stage 1 and Stage 2 Road Safety Audits were not undertaken for this scheme due to its experimental nature. The project team discussed the design with road safety officers to get their input as the scheme was developed. Once the initial adjustments to the scheme are completed, a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit will be undertaken”.
The adjustments were made some months ago but there is still no sign of the promised safety audit.
As well as obvious concerns, such as unmarked contra flow cycle routes, there are other issues to be addressed.
Not least of these, is access for emergency vehicles. Moveable bollards are promised as an option if the scheme becomes permanent but any decision on that is fading into the distance.
The high level of demand for ambulance services, as the pandemic tightens its grip, means revised arrangements are needed sooner rather than later.
One concerned resident has now written to the Council detailing several safety failings on the existing scheme. Issues highlighted include a requirement for all traffic exiting Penley’s Grove Street to turn left and use the Monk Bridge roundabout to complete a U-turn. An unnecessarily dangerous manoeuvre for cyclists (who may well be tempted to ignore the restriction).
In total, the resident has identified over a dozen locations where the provided signs do not meet current national regulation standards or where ad hoc bits of street furniture represent potential hazards for users.
Hopefully, 2021 will bring a more measured approach to changes to the City’s transport systems.
City of York Council and partners are putting in place flood defences to ensure York residents and businesses can get on with ‘business as usual’ despite river levels rising after Storm Bella.
With river levels predicted to peak at around 4 metres in the early hours of tomorrow (Monday 28 December 2020), the council has acted early to put in place defences to protect those areas most affected.
Sandbag barriers are being constructed at Clementhorpe, Tower Gardens and Tower Street, together with a pump to clear water, while flood boards have been installed at Peckitt Street.
St George’s Field Car Park will be closed today.
Rowntree Park will remain open today until 4pm, but will be closed tomorrow.
Riverside paths in the city and access roads in Poppleton and Naburn will be affected.
Any residential properties likely to be affected are resilient to flooding at these levels, but residents are advised to follow their personal flood plans.
With no more rain predicted today, the river level is exected to slowly decline after peaking in the early hours of tomorrow. The council will not be issuing sandbags to properties unless the forecast levels rise.
The neighbourhood plan for the area surrounding York Minster has now been updated to include a new use for buildings vacated by the closure of the Minster School.
While the closure of the school will be regretted by many (the pupils have moved to St Peters) the buildings formerly occupied by the school do offer exciting opportunities for both Cathedral management and the York community more generally.
The main changes from previous drafts affect the main access to the Minster. This will revert to the South Door (opposite the end of Stonegate).
Click to access
A ticket office would be established at existing buildings on Deangate.
The old school building would become a Refectory (restaurant). This is a facility provided at most major Cathedrals and would be a useful addition to the visitor experience in York.
There are plans for an outdoor seating area, while the school field could become a “pop up” exhibition space.
The consultation period lasts until 14th February 2021 and can be accessed by clicking here
The Holy Trinity Church lies to the rear of the Old School building.
Dating from the 14th Century it currently can only be accessed from Goodramgate.
A blue plaque outside the church marks the occasion when Anne Lister and her partner Ann Walker took Holy Communion together at the church at Easter 1834 an event popularised in the recent TV series “Gentleman Jack”.
The church is very much a hidden gem but attracts 75% “Five Star” reviews on Trip Adviser from those who manage to find it.
We think that new access and interpretation arrangements for the Holy Trinity Church should be considered as part of the review of the neighbourhood plan. Holy Trinity is currently the maintenance responsibility of the Churches Conservation Trust.
