What’s on in York: “Swim 400” family challenge at Energise pool

What is the Swim 400 metres Family Challenge?

The aim of Swim 400m Family Challenge is to get families swimming on a regular basis and thus creating a healthy routine for all the family. Children can practise what they have learnt in their swimming lessons, and the parents can try and keep up.

What do we have to do?

Download the Free ‘Just Swim’ app created by the ASA Google Play or the Apple App Store. The app has two simple functions of goal setting and swim logging providing swimmers with the ability to track their progress on number of swims, distance covered, calories burned and time. Swim 400m is a pre-set goal within the app.

Do we have to time our 400m swim?

No, just doing a family activity of swimming 16 lengths is all that we ask. However, if you want to try and improve your timings there is a leader board on poolside, which may entice you a little. For all those that enter, there will be a Family Day Out prize available for one lucky family chosen at random from the board.

When are the sessions?

We are trying to get  to encourage families to come to either Saturday or Sunday 3.30pm-5.30pm to create a bit of Parkrun feel. Or you can come any time to complete your 16 lengths.

How much is it?

The normal pool admissions apply and the Just Swim app is free.

What if I or my child can’t swim a full length?

This challenge is about fun and inclusion, if you or child cant swim in the deep end you can swim widths of the main pool or shallow pool (32 widths).

Can I swim the Swim 400 challenge on my own?

Yes, any time or at the either of the two sessions: Saturday or Sunday 3.30pm-5.30pm

Tree management – Council to review policies

Its nearly two years since the York Council changed its polices on the maintenance and management of the trees which grow on public land in the City.

At the time, the then Councillor with responsibility for the service, was told that officials had grossly under estimated the number of problems that were caused by overgrown trees and bushes in the City. He didn’t heed the warning.

Dozens of problem cases have since been reported to the Council with little response. Even when the Ward committee has responded to residents demands for action by making funding available for tree loping and replacing dead trees, progress has been ponderously slow.

Overgrown highway hedges are a problem in some locations.

In others private hedges are completely blocking public footpaths

Now we are promised a review of the policy at a meeting which will take place on 18th December.  A different Councillor is now responsible for this service so hopefully some progress will be made.

The notice of the meeting says that “experience has highlighted the need to include additional policy statements on trees in formal landscapes, woodland management and Ward funding for tree care and management”. Indeed.

But trees need to be loped and bushes removed during the autumn/winter period & that time is now upon is.

What’s on in York: Ballroom Dancing for Beginners at York High School

Nov _6BallroomWest York Adult Education Centre, Cornlands Road

Mon 6 Nov (start – lasts for 6 weeks)

6.15pm – 7.45pm

£52

During the course you will learn to Waltz & Foxtrot with the option to progress to Quickstep.  Each dance will incorporate basics and development figures as well as basic technique, posture, hold and history of the dance.

Dances will be taught in classes which are aimed at couples, so dancers are advised to come with a friend or partner, though this does not have to be male/female couples.

Lessons are active, with a short break included.

Suitable for anyone aged 19+. Aimed at absolute beginners.

Suitable footwear is advised and if dancers have ballroom shoes, this would be appropriate.  If not, day shoes can be worn but men must avoid heavy shoes or boots, and women should wear shoes which are comfortable with a heel no higher than 3”.

West York Adult Education Centre, York High School, Cornlands Road, Acomb, York, YO24 3WZ.

(Fully accessible, ground floor classroom)

Starts Monday 6th November 2017 for 6 weeks and the cost is £52 for all.

Book online by clicking here or call us on 01904 552806.

Front Street greengrocer faces arrest

Shop could close following food safety investigation

The Press are reporting that the owner of the greengrocers shop on Front Street could be banned from the food industry following a food inspection which found rats in the building.

An appalling series of photographs of the shop have been published.

“Food hygiene officer Kerry Bell told the court she found rat droppings on the shop floor and food display shelves, broken food packages and signs that rats had been eating the food inside them at Gary Michael Anderson’s greengrocers.

The shop, in the main shopping street in Acomb, York, stank and had mouldy blackberries, satsumas and bananas for sale”.

“Magistrates praised the two council departments for their work. During the investigation, the council closed the shop premises until they were properly cleaned, the waste food removed and the rats were eliminated, but allowed Anderson to sell from the pavement outside provided all stock was kept in his van overnight”.

Bench chairman Ian Nicholson said: “He persistently refused to take measures to protect customers.

“We found a flagrant disregard of the law over a protracted period. Multiple attempts were made to assist Mr Anderson, which he largely ignored.

“This is an appalling example of putting other businesses at risk, and we suspect the public too.”

They heard evidence that the rats left their traces in the upper room of a neighbouring charity shop that was used by elderly volunteers to sort through public donations.

Wild flower conservation work on Bachelor Hill amenity area this week

Extensive conservation work is taking place on the Bachelor Hill amenity area this week.

Wild flowers were planted on the area a few years ago.

An section of Bachelor Hill is now managed as a wildflower grassland. The Council leaves it through the growing season to flower and set seed.

Cutting and removing the arisings takes place in late summer/autumn to maintain low nutrients (which promotes species diversity).

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) were there today cutting and are returning tomorrow to remove the arisings.

We’ve suggested that bark or wood chippings be put down at the Askham Lane entrance to the area to ensure that access is possible in wet weather.  The weeds and grass also need to be strimmed from the gate.

The similar path at the Tennent Road entrance (see below) seems to be working well.

Bark path needed at Askham Lane entrance to Bachelor Hill

Entrance to Bachelor Hill from Tennent Road

 

Thanet Road Toucan crossing finished but Council neglects essential work

The Toucan crossing at the junction of Kingsway West and Thanet Road has been completed and is working.

Unfortunately the Council didn’t take the opportunity – when plant was in the area – to resurface the hammerhead on Kingsway West which is very uneven and represents a hazard for cyclists.

The change coincides with the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit outside the Lidl store

Sadly the Council has also failed to upgrade the bollard on the Foxwood lane cycle path approach to the crossing. The wooden bollard has been a  source of complaint for several years. It lacks effective reflectors and, during foggy weather or on dark nights in heavy rain, it becomes virtually invisible for cyclists. The expectation had been that the council would either remove the bollard altogether or at least replace it with one that could be seen at night.

Bollard is a danger when visibility is limited.

 

Residents group publishes alternative plan for Lowfields school development

Action Group sets up Facebook page

Residents alternative to Council plans

The Save Lowfields Playing Fields Action Group has stepped up its activities following the decision of the York  Council to submit a planning application aimed at developing the local playing field.

The application was made two weeks before the current consultation, on the Draft Local Plan, was due to conclude.

The Action Group have submitted an alternative development plan in response to the Local Plan consultation. It shows that the playing field could be conserved while still allowing 200 hundred new homes and flats to be accommodated on the site of the school buildings.

Details of the alternative – and the groups objection to the Councils planning application – are now beginning to appear on their dedicated Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/LowfieldsActionGroup/

One key driver for the opposition is the Council plan to move the football pitch over 2 miles to a site on Sim Balk Lane (where it will become the home for a Bishopthorpe based football team).

The Action Group has quoted the Councils own figures which show that the Westfield area is already short of all forms of open space and sports pitches.

Council figures demonstrate lack of open space in the Westfield area

They have won the support of local Councillor Andrew Waller who says he will object to the plans unless they are amended to save the playing fields.

In his local newsletter he says that the proposed alternative open space and sports facilities are simply too far away from Lowfields to be of any use. He points out that there isn’t even a direct bus service to the Sim Balk Lane site.

“There isn’t enough open space for recreation  in the Westfield area and this application, unless amended, will make things even worse.”

Residents have until 15th November to record objections to the two planning applications

Overall site layout http://tinyurl.com/Lowfields-layout

Housing application http://tinyurl.com/Lowfields-housing

The original proposal, tabled by the Council in 2011, would have seen a care village, aimed at older people, built on the school site.

At that time around 70 housing units were proposed.