From 9am – 3pm on Saturday 20th July, we’ll be helping to celebrate the first ever ADAM Festival (Acomb Dance and Music Festival). We’ll be presenting the following free events throughout the day:

10.00 – 10.45am : Ross Meikle
Ross Meikle is a York-based storyteller who entertains audiences with his original fairy tales and fanciful fantasies with charm, gentle innuendo, and an improvised running commentary to each story.

11.00 – 11.45am : Le Petit Artiste Theatre Present ‘Hunt The Giggle’ Le Petit Artiste Theatre are an emerging theatre from the Central School of Speech and Drama. They have a passion for theatre that pushes the boundaries using puppetry, mask and live music. Free tickets available from Explore Acomb Library Learning Centre.

12.00 – 12.30pm : Cactus
Dave Brough and Liam Wilkinson have been performing as an acoustic duo in York for the last six years. With their tight blend of harmonies and a repertoire of well-known foot-tappers and self-penned songs, Cactus always guarantee an entertaining show.

12.30 – 1.00pm : Anneliese Emmans Dean
Anneliese has written poems for children and adults, performing them at festivals, theatres and even the UK’s largest planetarium. She is the founder of theBigBuzz, bringing poetry to life. Annaliese will be reading a selection of poems as well as judging our ADAM Festival Children’s Poetry Competition.

1.00 – 1.30pm : Gordon McJannett
As an electric guitar instrumentalist, Gordon McJannett dazzles with his interpretations of hits by such artists as Fleetwood Mac and The Shadows. Lovers of that unique 1950s and 60s guitar sound will love his expert performance.

2.00 – 2.45pm : Le Petit Artiste Theatre Present ‘Hunt The Giggle’
Another chance to see Le Petit Artiste Theatre’s new show. Free tickets available from Explore Acomb Library Learning Centre

This watercolour landscapes workshop is being held on Sat 20 July 10am to 3pm at The Eye of York.

During the session you will gain practical knowledge and learn tips and techniques for producing landscapes in watercolour with the emphasis on gaining skills and sharing practical knowledge.

Through tutor presentation, demonstrations, practical exercises and individual guidance you will cover areas such as: washes for skies, creating clouds, the importance of tone, scale and placement, colour mixing and handy tips to produce buildings in perspective.

So come along and let us bring out the artist in you!

Cost: £30

The Foxwood Residents Association has tonight thrown its weight behind the “Save Acomb Moor” campaign

Meanwhile, papers published by the York Council on their web site have confirmed what most residents knew.

The whole of Acomb Moor should continue to be included in the Green Belt.

The papers detail how each site, that was put forward for development, was assessed.

The whole of Acomb Moor was put forward for housing by a developer called “The Moor Lane ‘Zero Carbon Partnership”

A complete list of submitted sites can be found by clicking here

The published maps (see right) confirm that it should be retained as green field land. The relevant maps start at page 72 of annex 5

Each option for developing the moor is rejected on environmental grounds. This is one of the grounds that has resulted in the Moor being included in the draft Green Belt for several decades.

The full list of sites removed – because they did not pass the environment/setting test – can be found by clicking here

Strangely, officials then decided to re-evaluate their decision. There is no indication in the Councils papers why they chose to do so.

Only 6 of the 722 sites suggested for development met this fate

Officials talk loftily about “new evidence” being submitted for these sites. The “evidence” can be read here.

The report says that a request was made to review the northern boundary of the (larger) site. Officials appear to have reviewed the eastern boundary.

The commentary provided by the unknown official is clearly incorrect.

No attempt seems to have been made to look at the gradients (topography) involved. The Councils own maps don’t show contour lines.

The field in question isn’t “arable”. It hasn’t been cropped in living memory. It has been used for grazing before which it was the location of the kennels of the York and Ainsty Hunt.

No assessment has been made of the fields recreational value.

The odd shaped site would be difficult to develop (and certainly couldn’t accommodate over 40 homes).

All in all there appears to be something more than meets the eye to this proposal.

Investigations continue

NB. Over 250 local residents have now signed the “Save Acomb Moor” petition.

York Learning’s programme of adult education courses courses is on sale now and, with over 230 courses on offer, everyone should find something to enjoy, challenge themselves or take them into a new career!

The Learning 4 Everyone programme from City of York Council has courses and workshops for leisure and pleasure, from fine arts, bike safety, computing and dance through to languages, health and wellbeing. The programme includes a wonderful array of the traditional crafts such as Bookbinding, alernative therapies such as Hopi Ear Candles and modern takes on hobbies using up-to-date technologies such as Art on your ipad.

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A decision to scrap a mobile toy-lending service used by over 500 families has been challenged by York’s Liberal Democrat Group.

Last week the Labour Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People decided to end the council-run Toy Bus. The decision was taken despite officers admitting that they had “no detail” on what will replace the service and fresh statistics which show that 512 families were using the Bus. The decision to scrap the provision, which will save the council just £14,000 a year, was originally due to come into effect in 2014/15, but last week’s judgment means it is now due to formally end immediately.

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Below are the latest planning application received by the York Council. Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

Acomb
Location: 2 Springwood Grove York YO26 5ND Ref No: 13/02248/FUL Proposal: Removal of condition 11 of permitted application 01/03329/FUL to fell Sycamore tree Applicant: Mrs Nadine Fischer Consultation Expiry Date: 5 August 2013 Case Officer: Heather Fairy (Mon – Wed) Expected Decision DEL

Westfield

Location: Post Office 65A Front Street York YO24 3BR Ref No: 13/01281/FUL Proposal: Installation of ATM to front Applicant: C/O EC Harris Contact Miss Kerry Cherrington Consultation Expiry Date 14 August 2013 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

Location: Post Office 65A Front Street York YO24 3BR Ref No: 13/01282/ADV Proposal: Installation of ATM with illuminated advertisement Applicant: C/O EC Harris Contact Miss Kerry Cherrington Consultation Expiry Date 5 August 2013 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

Location: 57 Bellhouse Way York YO24 3LL Ref No: 13/02133/LHE Proposal: Erection of single storey extension extending 3.7 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.745 metres and a total height of 3.366 metres Applicant: Mr Christopher Richmond Contact Mr Kevin Stone Consultation Expiry Date 5 August 2013 Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level DEL

Location: 98 The Green Acomb York YO26 5LS Ref No: 13/02292/TCA Proposal: Reduce White Beams x 3, Conifers x 3 and Mountain Ash, Trees in the Conservation Area Applicant: Mr Paul Ellison Contact Mr Simon Casterton Consultation Expiry Date 5 August 2013 Case Officer: Esther Priestley Expected Decision Level DEL

Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.