Alexander resigns from City centre role.

York City centre "to let"

York City centre “to let”

The Councils Leader is standing down from the chair of the “City Team York” group which was established in response to the national effort to improve the fortunes of the high street.

The move follows months of protests from City centre traders who have seen shopper numbers fall in the wake of the new traffic restrictions and huge increases in car parking charges introduced by the Labour led Council.

Launched in August last year, the group is made up of retailers, the city council and a range of professional and businesses organisations from across the city centre with a remit to improve business growth, resilience and economic vitality.

It replaced a City centre traders group which had worked closely with the Council for many years with the introduction of a cheap “shoppers car park” on Fossbank one of its achievements.

An advert for a new private sector chair has been published.

Closing date for applications is 31st December 2013 and full details for any business person who would be interested in applying for this voluntary post may be found here: http://www.yorkmeansbusiness.co.uk/updates/city-team-york-chair.aspx

Fitness instructors wanted for older people

exercise_studio

City of York Council is inviting fitness instructors to get in touch about setting up new classes to add to the successful Eng-AGE 50+ activity programme.

Instructors who join the Eng-AGE programme will be invited to showcase their activity by offering a taster session at the annual Eng-AGE 50+ Day at Energise on Monday 17 February from 9.30am to 4pm.

Planning is already underway so any instructor who wants to find out more should contact Catriona Sudlow, Older Peoples Physical Activity Officer on 01904 553377 or email Catriona.sudlow@york.gov.uk before Friday 13 December.

For more information about the Eng-AGE programme of activities visit www.york.gov.uk/eng-AGE

Animated video warns young drivers about fraudsters selling fake car insurance

An animated video warning young motorists about being ripped off by fraudsters selling fake car insurance has been launched as part of a national awareness raising campaign.

Real deal

The police and insurance industry are increasingly concerned about so-called ‘ghost brokers’ who particularly target young men with fake motor insurance policies, and have teamed up with crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers in an effort to stop people falling victim to this fraud.

Over 27.6 million vehicles were insured across the UK last year, providing ghost brokers with a huge production line of potential victims seeking the cheapest deals.

Ghost brokers prey on those paying the highest premiums (new young drivers, mostly men) by offering ‘cheap’ deals online and in person by the roadside, in restaurants and cafes and even on university campuses.
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Council fills in potholes

Damaged verge on Kingsway West

Damaged verge on Kingsway West

Litter Kingsway West Green Lane snicket

Litter Kingsway West Green Lane snicket

Green Lane potholes filled in

Green Lane potholes filled in

Windsor Garth potholes filled in

Windsor Garth potholes filled in

Credit where it is due.

The York Council has now filled in the dangerous potholes on Windsor Garth and little Green Lane.

We’ve asked for a badly damaged verge on Kingsway West to be repaired and for a litter pick on the nearby snicket

 

 

90% say “lift Lendal Bridge access restrictions”

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

An overwhelming majority of residents have given the thumbs down to the current closure restrictions on Lendal Bridge.

Responding to a survey carried out by the Liberal Democrats, in the Dringhouses, Woodthorpe and Hob Moor areas, only 8% have said that the trial is a success.

90% want the restrictions to be removed.

A massive 95% say that traffic congestion in the City has got worse over recent months.

Stand and deliver Labour adopt traditional approach to transport funding in York

Stand and deliver
Labour adopt traditional approach to transport funding in York

The results underpin the findings from other sources.

Over 35,000 penalty notices have been issued since the Lendal Bridge and Coppergate ANPR cameras were installed.

The influential “Trip Advisor” web site has logged a large number of complaints from visitors who are vowing never to visit the City again.

A Facebook page has also been set up by opponents of the restrictions.

The Council leadership continue to maintain an air of lofty indifference to resident’s views prompting new calls for a referendum on the future of the restrictions.

An opportunity to test resident’s views, at a reasonable cost, will come on 22nd May when European Parliament elections are already scheduled to take place.

By then, however, some traders may have been forced to close as City centre shopper numbers continue to fall.

————–

There is no consolation for the Council’s Leadership from residents other responses to the survey.

88% say there is no justification for Labours plans to build on the Green Belt, while 80% remain opposed to a wide area 20 mph speed limit.

Most damming verdict comes from the 93% who believe that public service standards have got worse since Labour took office.

No one who has responded so far believes that standards have got better.

Do you want a £100 Tax Cut?

LibDem petition launched

Tax_cuts

In April we’ll hit our target: a £700 income tax cut for millions of people. But we want to go further. Before the end of the parliament, we want to cut income tax bills by another £100.

Will you help us deliver this?

Think of it as a workers’ bonus. The British people have lived with austerity for three years. Your sacrifices are making it possible for us to fix the economy. This is your recovery and you deserve to feel the benefits – without delay.

The Liberal Democrats want to cut your taxes further because you’ve earned it.

When we came into government, our priority was to increase the personal allowance – the point at which you start paying tax on your earnings – to £10,000. We’ve raised it every year and we’ll hit the £10,000 mark in a few months. But, rather than stop there, I’ll be pushing for another fully funded rise, taking it up to £10,500.

That’s an extra £100 back in your pocket and it brings us a step closer to the Liberal Democrats’ goal for the next parliament: increasing the personal allowance to the minimum wage.

Sign our petition for a workers’ bonus.

York road repairs backlog hits £32.7 million

Worn highays surface Hamilton Drive West
Worn highays surface Hamilton Drive West
Pothole Windsor Garth

Pothole Windsor Garth

In response to a Freedom of information request , the York Council has admitted that it would cost £32.7 million to address the backlog on highways repairs.

The figure includes all road and footway refurbishment works with associated drainage and road signs and markings.

Meanwhile more and more problems with potholes are expected as ice further damages poor road surfaces during the winter months.

Potholes little Green Lane

Potholes little Green Lane

Cornlands Road drains blockeed

Cornlands Road drains blockeed

12 money tips for a festive Christmas

A handy leaflet packed with money saving tips and suggestions has been published.

The leaflet, called ‘12 small changes for a festive Christmas’, suggests practical ways of managing money and budgeting in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.

click to download

click to download

It also lists contact details for a number of different organisations such as the National Debtline and The Money Advice Service, who can give help to residents who may need advice on financial matters.

Leaflets are now available to pick up from every library and Explore centre and from the Citizens Advice Bureau at West Offices. You can also download a copy from here

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Police add new A64 site near Heslington to mobile speed camera locations

Mobile safety camera routes week commencing 20 November 2013
speed camara van

 Below are the enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday 20 November 2013.

The safety cameras are now more visible then ever before with each of the three vehicles bearing the same hi-vis livery as North Yorkshire Police’s marked vehicle fleet.
All safety camera locations are published on the force website along with an explanation of the various route types.
Members of the public can now view the results of the safety camera enforcement activity on the force website.

Up to date data for the previous week is uploaded every Tuesday which can be interrogated by route and date ranges. 

 The mobile safety cameras will be in operation at the following sites at various times over the coming week.

Cameras will not be in use all day, every day.  Due to operating constraints, our mobile safety camera locations may change without prior warning.

  •  • A64 eastbound Tadcaster, by-pass
  • • A64 westbound Tadcaster, by-pass
  • • A64 eastbound, Islington, Tadcaster
  • • A64 westbound, Street Houses, Bilborough
  • • A64 Westbound, Wharfe Bridge, Tadcaster
  • • B1228 Dunnington, Lodge Elvington
  • • Tadcaster Road, Dringhouses, York
  • • Strensall Road, Huntington, York
  • • Church Lane, Wheldrake
  • • Millfield Lane, Poppleton York
  • • Towthorpe Road, Haxby
  • • Greenshaw Drive, Haxby
  • • A64 eastbound, Heslington, York
  • • A64 westbound, Heslington, York

Click for full list