In response to an Freedom of Information (FOI) request, the York Council has admitted that it is considering ending the Toy Library Bus programme sooner than it had previously publicised.

Labour Councillors had voted in February to end the service in 2014.

Now it seems that an earlier decision on its future is planned.

The current programme of visits extends only into May.

The response to the FOI request says,

“However, due to on-going pressures on the 13-14 budget, officers are also reviewing the operation of the vehicle and its current viability. Consultation will take place with service users in May. Any subsequent decision will be taken by the elected member in public”

The North Yorkshire Trust’s Community Payback team will kick off a clean up on 7 May

The first project on the teams list is the overgrown field behind Westfield Primary School where the team will tidy up the area so it can be used by local residents. Residents are invited to nominate any spaces they think could do with a spruce up by the team.

Any suitable work that is put forward by residents that is not completed in May will be completed in the coming months.

Residents can nominate an area they think is in need of a spring clean by calling 01904 551551 or emailing ycc@york.gov.uk or download the Smarter York mobile phone application from all app stores.

(more…)

Residents in the Wetherby Road area have already returned over 60% of the petition forms that we issued on Friday.

Around 130 signatures have been collected.

Many other residents have promised to post their forms back.

We will send the detailed results of our survey to those who responded.

We plan to produce “Save the Green Belt” posters and car stickers.

We will also be encouraging residents to respond to the Councils “public consultation” on their Local Plan which is scheduled to start in a couple of week’s time.

Click individual events for more details

• Rugby Knights v Leigh 5st May Sun Huntington Stadium

• The Mousetrap 6th- 11th May 7:30pm Grand Opera House

Just Jog 8th May 5:30pm and every Wednesday West Offices

Get fit with Pilates 7th May Tues 2:00pm York RI Holgate

• Dark inventions 10th May Fri 7:30pm Early Music Centre

• Union Jill 11th May Sat 7:30pm Early Music Centre

• Battlegroup North 11th – 12th May Elvington air museum

• Sean Lock 12th May Sun 8:00pm Barbican

• Priscilla 13th – 18th May Grand Opera House

• Royal Ballet 14th – 15th May Theatre Royal

• Horse racing 15th/17th May Knavesmire

• The Lumberjacks 17th May Fri 8:00pm Barbican

• Brass Jaw 17th May Fri 7:30pm Early Music Centre

• Funmi Olawumi 17th May Fri Theatre Royal

• York Guildhall Orchestra 18th May Sat 7:30pm Barbican

• Horrible Histories 18th – 22nd May Barbican

• South Asian Dance show 18th May Sat Theatre Royal

Meditation 19th may Sun 9:30am Middlethorpe Hall

• Jack Jones 21st May Tues Grand Opera House

Who do you think you are? 21st & 23rd May 10:15am Rowntree Park Reading Room

• The Misanthrope 21st – 25th May Theatre Royal

• Ebor Lecture Catherine Pepinster 22nd May Wed 7:30pm Minster

• York Minster revealed 22nd May Wed Minster Within underground chambers beneath York Minster, dynamic new audiovisual and interactive galleries will reveal the significance behind the cathedral’s most treasured artefacts as never before, in an inspirational two thousand-year journey

• York Rocks against Cancer 24th May Grand Opera House

Arts & crafts preview 24th – 26th May York Explore Library

• Horse racing 25th May Sat Racecourse

Hob Moor Fair 25th May Sat 1:00pm Hob Moor (behind Lidl

Centenary celebrations 25th May Sat 10:00am New Earswick Library

Buskival 25th/26th May York City centre

Model boat regatta 26th May Sun 12:00 noon Rowntree Park

• Julian Clary 26th May Sun Grand Opera House

• Sean Lock 28th May Tues 8:00pm Barbican

• Rutherford & Son 28th – 1st June Theatre Royal

(more…)

Acomb Liberal Democrats are out today delivering a Focus newsletter which highlights the threat to the Green Belt in the area.

Meanwhile the Labour run City of York Council has blocked the publication of a key report used to justify its plans to build 22,000 houses over the next 15 years.

The Council commissioned the consultancy firm Arup to produce a study on housing growth in York. The company’s findings are being cited by the Council as “key evidence” to defend its controversial Local Plan, which was approved by the Labour Cabinet on Tuesday and now faces an eight-week public consultation.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Nigel Ayre has repeatedly asked for a copy of the report and Liberal Democrat Group Leader Carol Runciman has written to Council Chief Executive Kersten England asking for all evidence to be published. This morning, officers refused Cllr Ayre’s request saying that they would not be publishing the report until the delayed public consultation begins. This could still be four weeks away.

(more…)

Due to cut backs, the Council are consulting on earlier closing times for libraries.

The decision would affect Dringhouses (but not Acomb Explore)

The proposed opening hours for Dringhouses are:

Monday: 2.00pm – 6.00pm

Tuesday: 9.30am – 12.30pm and 2.00pm – 5.30pm

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 9.30am – 12.30pm and 2.00pm – 5.30pm

Friday: 2.00pm – 5.30pm

Saturday: 9.30am – 1pm

Full details can be found by clicking here

The Council has agreed to introduce additional parking restrictions in the following streets. Click here for background report.

The decisions taken included the following roads:

Bowness Drive Eastholme Drive Junction area. Agreed to advertise No Waiting at any time restrictions

Malton Way Extension of Waiting Restrictions Agreed to extend waiting restrictions on the North side of the carriageway to keep access clear. http://democracy.york.gov.uk/documents/s81012/Malton%20Way%20Extension%20of%20Waiting%20Restrictions.pdf.pdf

Roundhill Link_Oakdale Road Junction Area Agreed to advertise double yellow lines adjacent junctions as a continuation from existing provision

Southolme Drive Eastholme Drive Junction area Agreed to advertise restrictions

Staindale Close Agreed to advertise waiting restrictions in the turning head area

Landalewood Road Agreed to take no action.

Free compost giveaway on Sunday for York residents

In partnership with Yorwaste Ltd free compost is being made available again.

Bring your own bag, container and shover (it is not pre-bagged) and help yourself to some free soil improver for your garden or allotment.

When: On the first Sunday of every month from March until October: 5 May, 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October

Time: 9:30am until 2:30pm or while stocks last

Where: Harewood Whin waste site, Tinker Lane, Wetherby Road, Rufforth, York, Yo23 3RR

A report being considered y the Council on 14th May could mean changes to the regulations governing the seating capacity of taxis in the City.

Full details of the proposals can be read by clicking here

A separate report suggests that more rear access wheelchair accessible vehicles may be also used as taxis in the future

The Council has decided to give traffic priority over cyclists at the new junction recently laid out at the mouth of Ouseacres.

The decision comes after months of wrangling over road safety issues, with local residents increasingly concerned about the Councils apparently intransigent attitude.

Given the indecision it is perhaps not surprising that the climb down meeting was held behind closed doors. Click here for details

NB YORK – bus stop change on services 10 & 14 Friday 03 May 2013 – Wednesday 08 May 2013.The bus stop on Boroughbridge Road near Cranbrook Avenue, for buses on services 10 & 14 towards York City Centre, is out of use while road works take place. A temporary bus stop is in place just after the junction with Princess Drive.