York police are appealing for information and witnesses following a robbery at the Cooperative store on Moorcroft Road, Woodthorpe.

At approximately 9.30pm on Friday 23 March 2012, three men wearing balaclavas entered the store and threatened two shop assistants with a small metal bar.

They forced the staff to hand over several coloured cash bags containing coins ranging from 5p to £1.

One member of staff was hit with the metal bar but was not seriously injured.

It is believed that a number of people were stood outside a nearby food takeaway at the time of the incident, police would like these people to contact them.

The bags would have been heavy to carry and are coloured red, green, pink, yellow and grey. Anyone who finds any discarded bags or has seen anyone with them is also asked to contact the police.

Investigating Officer DC Mo Mohammed, of York CID, said: “I am appealing for members of the public who were in the Moorcroft Road area on Friday night between 9.15pm and 9.45pm to get in touch. They may not have witnessed the incident but may have vital information which could help the investigation. ”

The suspects are described as white men, all aged in their mid-twenties. The first man was wearing a black, North Face coat, light grey Adidas tracksuit trousers and black gloves.

The second man was wearing a light grey zip-up hoodie with matching tracksuit trousers and black gloves.

The third suspect was wearing a black Nike top with the Nike logo across the front, black trousers and black gloves.

Police have carried out door-to-door enquires and local searches in the area as well as examining CCTV footage.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for York CID.

Alternatively, you can pass information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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The Coalition government has announced the third big slice of funding for York’s ailing transport system in less than a year. Hard on the heels of a £20 million grant for 2 new park and ride sites, plus around £4 million for a sustainable transport initiative, the government has agreed to put £2.9 million into improving public transport systems. These are huge sums of money at a time when the economy is still weak and the Council needs to ensure that the investment is prudently managed and that residents are fully consulted about the proposed use of the funds.

The move means that York can now expect to get the cashless “smartcard” payment system that was trialled in South Yorkshire 3 years ago. We have no doubt that – everything else being equal – the convenience of this system would boost bus usage in the City.

What is markedly less convincing is the Councils intention to borrow £1.6 million which it will spend smartening up City Centre bus stops. The taxpayer simply can’t afford this kind of expenditure at a time when key public services are being cut. The 56% reduction in highways maintenance, which will be bad news for pedestrians and cyclists, has still not been adequately justified by the Council leadership.

Residents are also angry about the way that road works on Blossom Street have increased some bus journey times by as much as 1 hour. As usual the Council – and particularly the lethargic Labour Councillors representing affected wards – failed to manage this contract effectively and with minimal disruption.

News that the 20 conductors – who were used on the number 4 bus service – have now been sacked by First means that this service will be subject to further delays as drivers struggle to issue tickets on what is the busiest route on the York bus network. Services should have been left as they were until the smartcard had been introduced and a modern, low emission, bus procured for use on the route.

The Unthanks with Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band, 17 August 2012

Aled Jones, 12 October 2012

Two major music acts have just been confirmed to headline an exciting musical year at York Minster. The Unthanks and Aled Jones will perform in the Nave, with The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass on 17 August at 8pm and Aled Jones on 12 October.

The two concerts are part of a year-round calendar welcoming international artists, talented local musicians and also composers, in the spotlight during the 8 Wonders season at York Minster.

Described by The Guardian as ‘Haunting, original and magnificent’ Mercury-nominated Tyneside band The Unthanks have a peerless approach to folk music. Their paradoxical journey of staunch traditionalism and sonic adventure continues with a collaboration with Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band. The Brass Band are National Champions of Great Britain and regarded by many as the best and most consistent public subscription band in the world.

With a focus on the song-book of the coal-mining industry, The Unthanks will sing material from their past and current repertoire with arrangements re-imagined for the massed ranks of “Briggus’, as well as material specially written and arranged for this project. Following a show-stealing performance at The BBC Folk Awards The Unthanks and Brighouse & Rastrick’s performance will feature new works from their soon-to-be released album.

Loved by the nation originally for his pure treble voice, Aled Jones recently celebrated over 25 years as a household name and his career is going from strength to strength. Aled currently has 29 albums to his name – selling over 6 million to date – and has been a presenter on ‘Songs of Praise’ for over 10 years.

Performing in Cathedrals has been a part of Aled’s life since his days in Bangor as a boy chorister. This tour sees Aled visit the length and breadth of the country. Despite visiting many Cathedrals regularly on Songs of Praise, this is going to be Aled’s first comprehensive live UK Cathedral tour.

Also new for 2012 at York Minster, Lunchtime Organ Promenades are being introduced for the first time in spring, allowing visitors to experience the power, but also the astonishing range of the Minster’s organ by including some surprising popular tunes. The first concert, on 27 April, features a double act of Director of Music Robert Sharpe and Assistant Director of Music David Pipe with selections of popular music. Concerts will be performed from the Minster’s organ in the Nave, allowing visitors to see the organist in action or simply listen while strolling around York Minster. The series continues every Friday at 1:10pm through 1 June and features organists from around the country.

Following on, York Minster’s popular evening Summer Organ Festival will be Jubilee-themed this year. Details on performers and music to be released soon and the concerts are scheduled for Saturdays at 7.00pm, starting 28 July through 15 September, but will include some established favourites in addition to a more experimental repertoire.

The music concerts are part of the many events, services and activities taking place in York Minster throughout the year, celebrating the 8 Wonders of York Minster. They start with the Wonder of Easter: the solemn majesty of York Minster’s traditional services, including Holy Week, with its Choral Evensong. This is followed by a week of holiday activities for families, and Tower Trips with an unusual chocolate theme.

Details of all the events and services taking place are available from York Minster’s website, http://www.yorksminster.org with regular updates also available on Facebook (www.facebook.com/yorkminster.org) and Twitter (twitter.com/York_Minster).

Tickets for The Unthanks are available now from the York Minster Box Office, boxoffice.yorkminster.org / 0844 939 0015. Tickets for Aled Jones go on sale Friday 23 March at 9am and are available from www.gigsandtours.com / 0844 811 0051 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk /0844 826 2826.

For further information about upcoming events at York Minster or about the 8 Wonders of York Minster, contact Lisa Sinclair: 0844 939 0014 ext. 2480, 07785 615457.

2000 residents have now signed the petition aimed at saving the Beckfield Lane recycling centre from closure.

It will be handed in to the Council next Thursday at 6:30pm. The meeting – which is taking place at the Guildhall – will be open to the public.

Two Councillors have put down a notice of motion for debate. The motion reads:
Council notes the significant improvement in the proportion of waste that has been recycled under the previous Liberal Democrat administration, from 12% in 2003 to 45% in 2011.
Council supports the principle that waste collection and recycling should be convenient and fair to residents across the city. In light of the fact that the Budget 2012/13 has deleted the provision of a Recycling and Reuse Centre in the west of the city, Council requests that the Cabinet halts the closure plan for Beckfield Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Council also supports the principle of the provision of a free receptacle for the collection of waste to all residents across the city requests that the provision of free black bin bags should continue to all areas of the city where wheeled bins are not in use. Proposed by Councillor Reid Seconded by Councillor Firth

Residents are still able to sign the “on line” version of the petition at
http://tinyurl.com/Save-the-recycling-centre

Window posters and car stickers are now available.

The offer for York residents to apply for carbon cutting and money-saving free loft insulation and free cavity wall insulation has been extended.

Called Wrapping up York, this popular scheme has secured additional funding from City of York Council partners the Yorkshire Energy Partnership.

Now, more people who would like their loft insulation topped up, or their cavity walls filled with insulation can call a new, local helpline 01904 55 44 06. Besides calling and arranging for their home to be surveyed, they can also ask for information to keep their homes warmer and get information on local carbon-cutting schemes.

Since December 2011, Wrapping up York has already helped nearly 450 residents save over 10,000 life time tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2).

York residents can claim their FREE loft and cavity insulation by calling Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904 55 44 06 quoting Wrapping up York.

As part of the Budget, the Chancellor has announced that from next year, the Income Tax threshold will be raised further, ensuring that no one pays any income tax on the first £9,205 they earn.

In York, that means 6,830 people will be lifted out of paying Income Tax all together and 76,900 will receive a £220 tax cut. This is on top of tax cuts of £200 last year and a further £130 next month.

Commenting, former Liberal Democrat Group Leader on the City of York Council Steve Galloway said “The Chancellor has done the right thing in listening to Liberal Democrat calls for the Income Tax threshold to be raised further.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I want to see a fairer tax system where help is provided for those who need it most and where the richest pay their fair share.

“Raising the Income Tax threshold to £9205 will help working people on average incomes in York who have been struggling with bills and higher cost of living.”

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said “Liberal Democrats have been clear in our priorities for the Budget. We wanted to see a Budget for the millions, not the millionaires.

“The Coalition Government inherited an unfair tax system from Labour, who in their 13 years hit ordinary working families hardest by abolishing the 10p tax rate while letting tycoons get away with shameless tax avoidance.

“Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are doing the right thing to clear up the mess Labour left behind, making sure the wealthiest pay their fair share by clamping down on tax avoidance, introducing a ‘tycoon tax’ and putting an end to stamp duty dodging by the super rich.

“Raising the Income Tax threshold is a key Liberal Democrat commitment that the Coalition Government is implementing. The announcement in the Budget will mean almost 2m people will be taken out of paying Income Tax all together in the UK and give nearly 25m people a £220 tax cut.”

Notes:

1. The Budget includes a number of measures to make the rich pay their fair share. These include a Tycoon Tax to cap tax breaks the wealthy can use; raising the rate of stamp duty to 7% for being who buy £2m mansions; and closing loopholes that allow people to buy houses in company names to avoid Stamp Duty when the property is sold.

2. When the Coalition came to power in 2010 the Personal Tax Allowance was £6,475. Increasing it to £10,000 will mean £700 back in the pockets of working people, or approximately £60 a month.

North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 21 and Tuesday 27 March 2012.
•A64 west-bound carriageway, Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•Northfield Farm, Cobcroft Lane, Cridling Stubbs
•Skipwith Road, Escrick
•A63 Hemingbrough
•Church Lane, Wheldrake
•A63 Milford Hotel, Newthorpe
•A1246 Ledsham
•B1222 Stillingfleet Mine,Stillingfleet
•B1222 Stockbridge House, Cawood

The mobile safety cameras will be in operation at the above sites at various times during the dates stated. Cameras will not be in use on the above routes all day, every day.

A £3.5bn tax cut for working people
• Biggest single ever uplift in the tax threshold
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Tycoon Tax raises FIVE times as much from the super-rich

The Liberal Democrats have ensured this is a budget for the millions not for the millionaires, delivering a £3.5billion tax cut to average working people.

That’s why the biggest move in this Budget is a tax cut for ordinary workers, going further and faster towards the Liberal Democrat goal of making the first ten thousand pounds you earn tax-free. From the front page of our manifesto directly to the pockets of working people.

Thanks to Liberal Democracts, people working full time on the minimum wage, will have seen their income tax bill cut in half.

We have delivered on Nick Clegg’s pledge to go further and faster on the personal tax allowance. This means that 21m basic rate taxpayers will get an extra £220 cut in their income tax bills and a further 840,000 people will be taken out of paying income tax altogether.
• This Budget brings the personal allowance to £9,205 in April 2013
• This Budget brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550.
• This Budget brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Lib Dem Top Ten
1. Biggest ever uplift in the tax threshold to £9,205
2. 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
3. Tycoon Tax raises FIVE times as much from the super-rich
4. Cutting corporation tax to help British business
5. Stamp duty increased to 7% for multi-million pound homes
6. Lib Dem tax cuts have saved average working people £550
7. 2 million low paid no longer face income tax
8. New 15% tax on companies buying property over £2m
9. Child benefit protected for middle-class families
10. Getting more money from the banks to loan more to British businesses

Paul Miles-Kingston (Director of Music at St Peter’s School) and the School’s Choirs and Choral Society are putting on the Duke Ellington Sacred Works in the Minster on Wednesday March 21 at 7pm, with the Stan Tracey Orchestra. This is a very unusual project indeed and represents a unique opportunity to hear these sacred pieces; we believe it has only been performed 5 times in the last 25 years in this country, and never by a school choir.

It is a wonderful opportunity to hear some incredible jazz musicians playing (many of whom also play in the BBC Jazz Orchestra) and to be present at a really spiritual event that will be highly memorable. Paul sang in a similar service at Durham Cathedral as a young choral scholar; 20 years later it remains an outstanding and lingering memory for him.

The works are performed in the framework of a full Eucharist and will be free and open to the public as a Minster service. It is anticipated that the Minster will have a full congregation (of around 1500 people).

There will be about 240 in the combined choirs of St Peter’s School, St Olave’s School and our Choral Society.

The Stan Tracey Orchestra is confirmed to include: Stan Tracey; Clark Tracey; Guy Barker; Mark Armstrong; Tom Walsh; Nathan Bray; Mark Nightingale; Alistair White; Pete North; Jay Craig; Simon Allen; Alan Barnes; Sammy Mayne; Mornington Lockett; Mike Smith; Andrew Cleyndert; Norma Winstone; Niall Hoskin; Junior Laniyan

Police are appealing for information following the theft of £50,000 worth of copper wire in York.
It occurred between 3pm on Saturday 17 March and 2.30am on Monday 19 March 2012, at a construction site on Station Rise.

The burglars broke into the Hilton Express building site, before stealing a large amount of copper cabling, which had recently been installed, causing a large amount of damage.

The thieves also attempted to steal building equipment, copper piping and other metal from the site.

PC Andrew Pearson, of York Safer Neighbourhood Team, said:
“Because of the amount of cabling the thieves stole, I am absolutely positive that someone will have seen suspicious activity in the area.

“I am urging anyone who was in the area during the time of the burglary, and may have seen any suspicious activity, to come forward and contact the police or Crimestoppers as soon as possible.”

PC Pearson added: “I am urging any scrap metal dealers who may be offered the cabling to contact the police straight away.”

Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is asked to contact York police on 101. Press option 2 and ask for Andrew Pearson.

Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference number 12120043653