City of York Council is now offering residents another way to receive their council tax bills.

E-billing will provide council tax customers who live in the City of York Council area with the opportunity to receive their council tax bill, along with all the relevant supporting information, electronically, giving them 24-hour access to their bills.

This service will be similar to the way in which many customers already receive their utility bills. As soon as the bill is available, the customer will be sent an e-mail notifying them, and they will be able to securely view their account online. (more…)

City of York Council’s Trading Standards Officers have received a number of complaints from York residents about a gang carrying out roofing repairs.

The complainants – most of whom are in their 80’s – claim that they have been pressurised into agreeing to unnecessary repairs after being led to believe that their roofs are in poor condition. (more…)

The York Council’s Leaders claims, that Nick Clegg favoured a citywide 20 mph speed limit in York, have proved to be untrue.

In a letter to The Press, the LibDem’s Chief Executive confirms that the party’s policy is that decisions on appropriate speed limits should be taken locally, and reflect the different conditions that exist on roads in different parts of the country.

In York, Liberal Democrats are resisting the Labour plan to introduce a 20 mph speed limit across the whole of the City believing that available resources should be concentrated on reducing the number of Killed and Seriously Injured on roads in the City.

Individual roads ahould have the most appropriate speed limit bearing in mind their individual characteristics and accident potential.

The letter reads,

“It is disappointing to see Labour’s Coun James Alexander twisting the words of Nick Clegg in a private letter (“Nick Clegg backs York 20mph speed limit plan”, The Press, September 4).

Coun Alexander claims the letter shows Mr Clegg’s backing for the council’s plans to introduce 20mph speed limits across the city by 2014. It does not.

It was sent in response to Coun Alexander’s letter to Mr Clegg supporting a policy motion to be debated at Liberal Democrat autumn conference this month.

Coun Alexander offered support for the Lib Dem motion and Mr Clegg’s office responded thanking him for his support. The letter was not an endorsement of the council’s scheme nor should it be interpreted as such.

As with all policy motions, the proposal will be debated fully by Liberal Democrat members and may be passed, defeated or amended. Unlike the other parties, the Lib Dems are genuinely democratic and our grassroots supporters decide our party policy.

Residential speed limits are set locally and York Liberal Democrats are entirely right to campaign for what they believe is right for the city.

Tim Gordon, chief executive of the Liberal Democrats, Westminster, London”.

North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday12 and Tuesday 18 September 2012.

•A64 east-bound, Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•Strensall Road, Huntington, York
•A1237 Monks Cross, York
•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•The Village, Stockton On Forest, York
•4A1036 Malton Road, York
•A1237 Monks Cross, York (more…)

The council is overseeing the movement of turf containing rare grassland from parts of York Business Park at Poppleton, which is being built on, to Bachelor Hill. This is being done at the expense of developers. The council’s habitat officer hopes that this will lead to an “even more varied flowers and wildlife in the area”.

 Unfortunately once again activities in the Bachelor Hill area were not communicated well by the Council, with some residents fearing that building work was about to take place. Others thought that this was the next phase of the perimeter fencing (which sadly will not happen as the current Council has slashed the ‘target hardening fund’ which paid for community safety schemes).
Therefore we are responding to requests for information from the public.

 Some  of the large open grass space to provide an additional small sand pit at the top of the hill. The transplanted grassland will cover the middle section of the field, leaving the worn path in the middle for users cutting through the field between Askham Lane and Tennent Road. The Council will also be keeping a clear path around the field perimeter.

 Current flowers on Bachelor Hill include evening primrose, Haresfoot Clover, Great Burnett, Soft Restharrow and many more. These encourage many insects and butterflies including some uncommon long headed and sand flies usually only recorded on coastal sand dunes. Flowers you might spot in future include Bee orchids, Kidney Vetch, Birds Foot Trefoil, Yellowort, Blue Fleabane. The transplanted soil and turf will contain grasses, flowers, their seeds and roots.

 The grassland will eventually grow to around 0.75m in height (29”). The council will continue to cut areas of the field on schedule to maintain some open areas and pathways, but the natural grassland will be cut and the grass removed once a year.

The process will not be completed until January 2013.

Getting involved
There is an opportunity for the local community to help the grassland adapt to its new home, by taking seeds and planting plugs of wild flowers in the new grasslands.
 If you would like to get involved, or have questions you would like to ask, please get in touch

 For more information at: <a http://tinyurl.com/Bachelor-Hill or  Telephone Bob Missin  01904 551662/ email conservation@york.gov.uk

York residents are being urged to sign up for free home insulation before the offer expires in December.

The Wrapping up York scheme, which entitles all residents to free loft and cavity wall insulation, is tackling fuel poverty by keeping houses warmer and helping householders save up to £310* on their fuel bills. People on certain income-related benefits can also claim a £100 ‘cash back’ incentive for insulating. (more…)

Locations across York are being hung with the work of some of the finest quilters in the UK, as 30 contemporary artworks are threaded across 30 different public locations to help celebrate York 800.

From 14 September to 16 November, Quilt City celebrates 800 years of the city of York with a time-honoured traditional skill which today’s needleworkers are reinterpreting for the future. The city-wide exhibition has been funded by City of York Council, the National Lottery through Arts Council England and The Quilters’ Guild. (more…)

First have confirmed that the number 4 and 5 services are to be combined from 7th October. The result will be a 7 minute frequency with residents having the option of which direction they take to get into the City.

Details of this and other bus changes are now displayed on the First web site. http://tinyurl.com/Bus-changes-York-7th-Oct-12

On the face of it the service should increase capacity on the number 4 route through Westfield and may reduce the danger of people being left at bus stops at busy times. How popular the change will prove to be in the Acomb area remains to be seen.

In future the number 4 will not penetrate the new University campus but will turn at Heslington Hall (as it used to) which may also improve reliability.

Also affected are the number 12, which is now confirmed as routing to Monks Cross, and the 16 which will link Green Lane to the City via Hamilton Drive (and combines with a new number 14).

The full statement from First reads: (more…)

A planning application has now been made to provide an athletics track and closed road racing cycle circuit with ancillary parking, lighting and fencing, and includes re-routing of public right of way on the part of the University Campus lying between Field Lane and Low Lane, the A64 and Hull Road York.

The scheme will form part of the recently opened Sports Village complex and is intended to replace the athletics track at the Huntington stadium. The facilities would be delivered as a joint venture between the University of York, City of York Council and British Cycling and forms part of the “Community Stadium” project which was agreed in 2010.

The new athletics track will have 8 lanes rather than the current 6 and will have long jump pits outside the track, which will allow throwing events to take place at the same time as jumps.

The cycling track will allow off road cycling for beginners, disabled participants and competition. It has the backing of local cycling clubs and accessible bike providers. A track in this region has been identified as a priority in British Cycling’s facilities development plan.

A combined grandstand and pavilion building would be provided but is not included in the current planning application. Whilst the design and specification have yet to be agreed the pavilion is expected to be single-storey and provide a reception, changing rooms, toilets, showers and a multi-function room. The pavilion would also provide facilities for the closed road racing circuit, including a cycle store, workshop and use of the showers, toilets and multi-function room. The grandstand would be provided alongside the pavilion, facing the athletics track.

Officials are recommending approval of the application. Details can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/York-Athletics-Sept-2012