“I see no ships, empty properties, public service failures etc”

Nelson

Cllr Simpson Laign seems to be developing a blind eye approach to questions that might embarrass her. At a recent Council meeting she was asked by Cllr Lynn Jeffries, “How long has Oliver House been empty, how much is it costing to maintain the building and when will it be brought back into use?”

The response was, “I have no involvement in decisions on the future of the Oliver House site. Property services and the Capital Asset Board are dealing with this and this is not within my portfolio area”.

Other “Cabinet” members just ask others to answer questions that they can’t deal with. But it appears that this £20,000 a year Labour representative just can’t be bothered.

It is disgraceful that Oliver House – like the Guildhall – has been empty for so long.

It is costing taxpayers thousands of pounds each month to maintain.

Taxpayers deserve an explanation.

Playday gets outdoors in The Groves, York on 10th August

If you’ve ever wondered what the perfect day of play might look like then York’s first street Playday would be a good place to go! Billed as one of the highlights of the summer Shine programme of activities for children and young people, the Playday takes place on Saturday 10 August from 1pm to 6pm at Door 84 Youth centre, (Lowther Street, The Groves) and along the length of Brownlow Street.

Playday is a free community event with lots of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy. York’s Playday is part of a national campaign to highlight the importance of play in children’s lives so, as a celebration of children’s rights to play, Brownlow Street will be closed all afternoon to host a themed street party. With National Playday earlier in the week, throwing this event at the weekend will allow even more people join in the fun.

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Rubbish skips this weekend Saturday 27th July

Although the Council has cut back on the number of amenity skips it provides, several residents associations continue to run programmes aimed at making it easier for tenants to get rid of unwanted items.

The skips are only in place for a few minutes and residents must ensure that they put any rubbish into the skips and do not leave it on the path or highway.

2 Pottery lane 10:30 11:30 Garage Area
5 Fossway 10:30 11:30
8 St Paulinus Church 10:30 11:30

Labour reduce waste services while increasing charges

Changes to the service will take effect later this month and include amending Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centre’s opening hours.

Starting on Wednesday 31 July, Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) will remain open six days a week and will close on Wednesdays throughout the year.

Hazel Court recycling centre
Alongside this, new charges will be introduced at Hazel Court HWRC on Monday 29 July for York residents disposing of brick, rubble, gas bottles, plasterboard and bonded asbestos.

Non-York residents can also take waste to the site but this will be subject to a charge of £10 per visit in a normal family car. Payment must be made at Hazel Court HWRC at the time of tipping using either a debit or credit card only.

Residents wanting to dispose of large amounts of DIY related waste materials should consider hiring a skip, using a private waste collection company or buying a skip bag from DIY stores, builders’ merchants or garden centres

For more information about the changes to waste and recycling visit www.york.gov.uk/waste or call 01904 551551.

Cheaper bus travel for 11 to 18 year olds this summer

Bus tumblr_m7cqw8pqdP1qftd7bo1_1280

York’s 11 to 18 year olds will get cheaper bus fares throughout August.

The All York Young Person’s Day ticket will cost just £1.30 – £1 cheaper than the normal price – for unlimited travel anywhere, all day, within York’s boundaries. 17-18 year olds will also see a huge savings of £3.70, from their normal standard fare of £5.

Tickets will be available to anyone between the ages of 11 -18 (the normal age is 11- 16), and will be subject to suitable proof of age. Tickets are valid at any time of day (9am weekday restrictions normally apply) and any time at weekends and bank holidays.

For more details please visit www.york.gov.uk/allyork

All York tickets can be purchased from the driver on board any of the participating companies’ buses: (more…)

York firms encouraged to apply for grants

City of York Council is actively encouraging firms in York to take full advantage of funding opportunities in the Leeds City Region by placing a bid for investment.

The Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership is currently offering grants of between £10,000 and £1m to businesses who are looking to make capital investment in land, buildings, plants, machinery and equipment, or towards research and development projects which will lead to new products and job creation in the Leeds City Region, including in York.
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York crime and policing round up

Police seek youths following a small fire on York Knavesmire

York police are appealing for information to help identify a group of youths following an arson incident in the city. It occurred at 9.45pm on Thursday 11 July 2013, on the Knavesmire, when a number of portable toilets, used at York racecourse, were set alight, causing around £400 worth of damage. More

Workman’s wallet stolen from van in York

York police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after an electrician’s wallet was stolen from his van.
The victim, a 51-year-old local man, was working on traffic lights at the junction of Poppleton Road and Boroughbridge Road at around 12pm on Thursday 11 July 2013, when his wallet was taken from his works van which was parked next to him. More

Views needed on changes to Firearms and Explosives Licensing services

North Yorkshire Police and Julia Mulligan, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, want feedback on planned changes to the way Firearms and Explosives Licensing services are accessed across the county.
Following national eCommerce guidance, applications and renewals for Firearms Licences will soon be available online.
This means customers can log onto the North Yorkshire Police website at any time to fill in their forms rather than having to fill them in by hand and send them to the police. More

Our Lady’s school site development – more details

We understand that a leaflet is to be circulated in the area near Our Lady’s school on Windsor Garth giving more details of the planned development there.

Residents, who were expecting to see a plan for 29 new homes (as included in the Councils new draft “Local Plan”) now find that 56 units are proposed.

That’s represents a 93% increase

Proposed layout Click to enlarge

Proposed layout Click to enlarge

Even a casual glance at the plans suggests that the homes are being shoehorned into the site. High density developments like these tend to bring their own problems resulting from neighbour disagreements.

A very liberal interpretation of the “footprint” of the existing (school) buildings is also being taken.

There are some big issues here with the impact of the “big growth” option having on local roads, sewers and other public services.

The problem is exacerbated by the Council’s plan to build on the nearby Newbury Avenue garage site.

House profiles click to enlarge

House profiles click to enlarge


The exhibition of the proposals will take place between 3pm – 6pm on Tuesday the 30th July, 2013 at: Acorn ARL Sports and Social Club Thanet Road YO24 2NW

All the homes will be for rent with most social housing (Yorkshire Housing Association)

The notice being given to local residents is also very short given that we are entering the major holiday period.

No planning application has, as yet, been submitted.

Westfield Children design anti dog fouling posters

Picture shows the winning entrants with the winner Jessica Clayden at the front. Her design will now be made into metal signs to appear on lamp posts in the Foxwood area

Picture shows the winning entrants with the winner Jessica Clayden at the front. Her design will now be made into metal signs to appear on lamp posts in the Foxwood area

Westfield Primary School’s competition to select a winning design for a new sign warning dog owners to clear up after their pets has been hailed a success.

Winning poster

Winning poster

Working with the Council and Foxwood Residents Association, children were asked to come up with designs for metal signs.

Shirley Gumley Chairman of Foxwood Residents Association along with Jackie Armitage from the Council launched the competition two weeks ago and entries flooded in.

Speaking today Shirley said

“I was surprised at the number of entries and their quality and it was very difficult to choose a winner.

However one had to be picked and we hope that it will cause people to stop and think and clear up after their dog.”

Picture shows the winning entrants with the winner Jessica Clayden at the front. Her design will now be made into metal signs to appear on lamp posts in the Foxwood area.