The decision to get the private sector to run the York Barbican seems to be paying off.
Over 600 tickets for the inaugural HUGE charity gig on 10th May have already been sold. The Lord Mayors charities (British Heart Foundation and “Our celebration” ) are set to get a big boost.
……….and we expect more announcements on prestige events at the centre over the next few weeks.

We understand that there will be a delay of about 3 weeks in providing permanent signal equipment at this new crossing (near Severus Street). In the interim temporary Pelican lights are being provided.

From todays The Press
“Detective Inspector Ian Wills of North Yorkshire Police said: “We take the matter of election fraud extremely seriously and will vigorously investigate anybody suspected of electoral malpractice.
“I would urge anybody who has been approached by somebody attempting to influence them to contact the police with information.”
Are any of the 100 or so candidates in this years York Council elections not trying to influence voters? Perhaps Ian Wills meant “intimidate” electors?

Shutters have appeared on the Brittania pub on The Green in Acomb.
The security screens are something of an eyesore looking onto what is a Conservation area. So we have made representations aimed at getting the future of the building sorted out as quickly as possible.

The last in our pre election look at the last 4 years in the Westfield part of York

Changes to the Tudor Road Kingsway West road junction were modified following residents representations…….. New operators SMG announced detailed plans for the Barbican reopening. A Morrissey concert quickly sold out…………… The Council house modernisation programme reached an historic milestone with all properties in York now meeting “decent homes” standards. These included a large number that benefited from the “York Pride” enhanced standards agreed in 2003 when the LibDems took over control of the Council.
After some indecision, the majority of residents in the Green Lane terraced area opted to have wheeled bins to store refuse. Most though choose to use plastic sacks to present their rubbish…………. A new sports village was announced for the Hull Road area. It includes a competition standard swimming pool, indoor & outdoor sports and athletics facilities………….. Volunteers set out to deliver our Christmas card to everyone – just as the heaviest snow fall ever recorded hit the area. We turned our attention to trying to keep the salt bins topped up.

York High school won a £4000 grant to restore a nature reserve…………… There was a lot of good news as it was revealed that crime in the City had fallen from 23148 in 04/05 to 14481 in 09/10……… The numbers killed and seriously injured on our roads had reduced from 100 in 2003 to 60 in 2009…………… Homeless numbers were down from 400 to 130 during the same period of time……….. The new Lidl store opened on 3rd February while a Valentines Ball, in aid of the Lord Mayors charities, raised over £10,000……………In the wake of the winter weather a public meeting heard how Yorkshire Water intend to address residents concerns in the future. Better communications were promised although frozen pipes could not always be prevented………….. A 20 mph zone in the Beaconsfield Street was confirmed by the Council and vehicle activated speed signs were erected on Green Lane.
In April works started on the Grange Lane park playground and Sue Galloway announced her retirement from the Council. She is replaced on the LibDem ticket by St Stephens Road resident Mark Waudby who faces the electorate in the 5th May poll….. Over 1060 Westfield residents opt to vote by post in the local elections – the largest number ever.

Works starts on the new Grange Lane park playground

Rubbish skips for use by local residents only will be located as follows:
Saturday 16.04.11
1 Morrell Court Foxwood 8.30am 9.30am
2 Corlett Court Foxwood 10.30am 11.30am
3 Vincent Way Foxwood 12.30pm 1.30pm
4 Rogers Court Foxwood 8.30am 9.30am
6 Cornlands Layby Cornlands Road Shop area
Saturday 23.04.11
4 St Georges Place Dringhouses 8.30am 9.30am Grass Verge
5 Cambridge St Holgate 10.30am 11.30am Suffolk House
Saturday 30.04.11
1 Don Avenue Dringhouses 8.30am 9.30am
2 Moor Lane Dringhouses 10.30am 11.30am
3 North Lane Dringhouses 12.30pm 1.30pm
4 Burnsall Drive Acomb 8.30am 9.30am Top of hill in car park
5 Jute Road Acomb 10.30am 11.30am Green area
6 Bramham Road Chapelfields 12.30pm 1.30pm

York Barbican, Tuesday 10 May, Start time 7.30pm
Tickets £5.00 including booking fee (all of which will go to charity). On sale Friday 15 April.

On Tuesday 10 May, York Barbican will be opening its doors to the public for a Pre-Opening Charity Concert in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Charity and York Against Cancer. Local party band HUGE will be performing a 90 minute set in what promises to be a hilarious mix of music from disco to reggae, rock to soul and jazz to ska.

Nick Reed, Theatres Director for SMG Europe commented: ‘This is a unique chance for local people to get the first look inside the newly refurbished York Barbican while enjoying music from York’s favourite party band. SMG is delighted to be using this opening event at the venue as an opportunity to raise money for two very worthwhile charities, and we hope that everyone will join us for a great night.’

Ian Donaghy, HUGE commented: ‘York audiences have been great to us over the years and this is a brilliant opportunity to put something back. Times are tough at the moment so this will give families a rare night out that will not cost the earth. We want to get more and more young people into enjoying music and playing music and this is a great opportunity – the show has been deliberately designed to finish early so that families could come and still be awake for school the following morning. With enormous names like Morrissey and Paulo Nutini en route, it is an honour once again to throw off the dustsheets and take to the Barbican stage for such a good cause – all the boys are very excited.’
The Rt.Hon the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Susan Galloway, commented: ‘I am proud and delighted that my two chosen charities, the British Heart Foundation and Our Celebration, are going to benefit from what promises to be a great night of music from Huge’.
Pat Leveson, Fundraising Committe member of York Against Cancer commented: ‘York against cancer are delighted to have been chosen to benefit from this fantastic evening for York. HUGE will make the re-opening of York Barbican a night to remember and we are thrilled to be part of it.’

When the Barbican Centre first opened in 1991 HUGE were the first ever band to play on the stage when the council organised a closed doors event for all staff to try out the new venue. Since then HUGE have played the Barbican 4 times and it is incredibly fitting that HUGE have been chosen to perform again. With an eclectic mix of music, their audiences range from families and young children to the funkiest of grannies – HUGE don’t take themselves too seriously and give people a fantastic night out.

Tickets for the concert will cost no more than £5.00 (including a booking fee which will also be donated to charity) and are available to buy online at www.yorkbarbican.co.uk by telephone on 0844 854 2757 or in person from Visit York on Museum Street.

Lighting for the event will be provided by Vortex Lighting and AV equipment will be provided by Alphasound. Thank you also to JSS Audio who will be providing their equipment free of charge.

The BBC Philharmonic with Alison Balsom will be the first official concert at York Barbican on Saturday 14 May. Tickets available from www.yorkbarbican.co.uk or 0844 854 2757

The following bus service changes will be taking place this weekend.

A) Wards – Rural West York, Acomb, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe, Micklegate, Holgate, Guildhall

Route 142/143 (York – A59 – Boroughbridge – Ripon, contracted by NYCC and receiving CYC subsidy) will be operated by Harrogate Coach Travel and Eddie Browns.

Route 412/413 (York – Acomb – Knapton – Rufforth – Wetherby, contracted by NYCC and receiving CYC subsidy) is changing operator from Arriva to Eddie Browns and Harrogate Coach Travel.

Route 37 (York – Askham Bar – Woodthorpe – Askham Richard – Catterton – Tadcaster) is changing operator from York Pullman to Utopia Travel.

B) Wards – Wheldrake, Fulford, Fishergate, Guildhall

Route 42 (Selby – Riccall – Cawood – Stillingfleet – Naburn – Fulford Road – York) operated by Arriva will cease to operate on a Sunday.

Route 124 (Naburn – Fulford – Broadway – Fulford Road – York) will be operated on a Sunday (at the same frequency previously operated on the 42) by Transdev York

Route 415 (Selby – A19 – Escrick – Fulford Road – York) will no longer serve the Designer Outlet at peak times – please use Park & Ride service 7. The route will also no longer serve Broadway/Heslington Lane on a Sunday – please use the new 124 (as above).

For timetables, please see (or direct people to): http://www.yorkbus.co.uk for route 124 and http://www.northyorkstravel.info/bus.html for all other services.

The Petal Garden of King Shubash by Peter Chand and Shonaleigh
Storytelling for adults and 12+
Explore York Library Learning Centre, Saturday 14 May, 7.00 pm
Tickets £6.50 (YorkCard) and £7.50

A tale of deceit, cunning, and the many faces we all wear, from two of Britain’s most exciting storytellers. Peter and Shonaleigh have enthralled audiences all over the world with fantastic Indian and Jewish stories from their respective cultures.

Freya North – Chances
Explore York Library Learning Centre, Tuesday 24 May 7.00 pm
Tickets £5.00 (YorkCard) and £6.50

Best selling author, Freya North, will be talking about her new book Chances and we’ll be celebrating the first anniversary of our reopening as Explore York Library Learning Centre with a glass of wine and cake for our visitors this evening.

More events are currently being planned around the first anniversary of Explore York.

Family Fun Days at Explore York
The next Family Day is Mystery Quest Day on 23 April, Easter bank holiday weekend. There’s a real mystery to solve by using your five senses on a Quest to discover what strange, intriguing and sometimes hilarious things have happened, and may be still happening (?), on the site of York Explore, during the last thousand years or so!

More Family Days in May are on 1 May Royal York Day, 15 May Dr Who Day.

http://www.york.gov.uk/libraries