The UK’s top Park&Ride (P&R) service is further expanding its offer to customers by introducing a new fully electric fleet of buses at Monks Cross Park&Ride.
In partnership with First who operate the site, the introduction of six new electric buses this month follows on from the success of the introduction of a fully electric fleet onto the new Poppleton Park&Ride last June.
The latest crime figures produced by ONS show an increase in some types of crime in York. (See table below)
Crime numbers in York
The biggest concerns will probably be over public order and “theft from a person” offences both of which have risen for the fifth consecutive quarter.
Drug related crime is also on the increase as are (reported) sexual offences and shoplifting.
The violence figures remain high.
The Police are right to point out that North Yorkshire is a safe place to live and enjoys the second lowest crime rate in the country.
But there is work to do in York and the figures are likely to reopen the debate about whether the County’s Deputy Chief Constable should be relocated and headquartered in the City.
The York Council may also need to review its policies.
It has a role to play in reducing crime in general and public order problems in particular.
A statement from North Yorkshire Police is reproduced below
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River Ouse web cam Click to access latest information
The best indicator remains the real time CCTV camera which records river levels on Kings Staith.
Click to access Environment Agency monitoring station data (central York)
There is a significant risk If the top of the no entry sign disappears under water!
Detailed river levels can be found on the EA web site http://tinyurl.com/Ouse-catchment
You can register here to receive flood warnings by phone, text or email.
With millions expected to line the route of the Tour de France this weekend, First is putting in place the final preparations for the local bus and Park&Ride network around York on Sunday 6 July.
Bus stuck during previous TdF race
Due to road closures some routes will also need to be diverted or altered and customers are encouraged to plan well ahead by visiting firstgroup.com/tourdefrance for all the details. Details of changes to routes, stops and services can also be seen around the city centre on notices at bus stops and information displayed on real time screens.
As a result of the route taken by the race, First’s cross-city services will be split and some will be diverted with buses starting and finishing at one of three bus hubs, Fishergate, Hungate & the Station.
First has worked closely with City of York Council to also provide more Park & Ride journeys with services starting from 6am – three and a half hours earlier than on a normal Sunday. In addition, Askham Bar, Grimston Bar and Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride sites will open from 4am to allow people to arrive early.
Park&Ride sites provide services every 10 minutes with great value fares (returns costing £2.70 from the terminal to the city centre, with up to 2 children travelling free with each adult). More information is available yorkparkandride.co.uk. Due to the route taken by the race the Poppleton Bar Park&Ride will not be operating on Sunday 6th July..
First is also providing extra buses across the York network on existing routes providing more capacity and allowing for slightly longer journeys in some cases to take into account diversions and additional road traffic. Many services will also start earlier on the morning of Sunday 6 July to accommodate the extra demand.
As well as additional driving roles, First staff will be working across the network and behind the scenes to ensure the event is a success. First is also preparing spare buses ready at key locations across Yorkshire to meet any other transport requirements.
Additional late evening services will operate on the Monks Cross Park & Ride on Friday 4th July to cater for the ‘Grand Departy’ concert at Huntington Stadium. The last bus back to the City will depart from Monks Cross Park & Ride site at 11.30pm. Services will run as normal on Saturday 5 July and Monday 7th July.
Customers are encouraged to keep in touch with travel updates over the weekend by using twitter on @YorkTravel
Will Pearson, Business Manager of First in York added: The Tour de France, Grand Depart is a fabulous opportunity to showcase Yorkshire and we’ve worked closely with partners including City of York Council to support our existing bus network and introduce extra services to help transport existing and new customers. There will be some disruption to the bus network but by planning ahead customers can find out what alternatives are available and ensure they enjoy this
Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield and Acomb Wards.
Full details can be found by clicking the application reference
Acomb
Location: 25 Albion Avenue York YO26 5RA
Proposal: Detached summerhouse to rear following demolition of garage
Applicant: Mr J Pearson Contact: Mr Jon Hegarty Consultation Expiry Date: 31 March 2014 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level: DEL
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Location: 8 Ostman Road York YO26 5PY
Proposal: Two storey side and rear extension
Applicant: Mr Alastair Hartley Contact: Mr Alastair Hartley Consultation Expiry Date: 31 March 2014 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level: DEL
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Westfield
Location: 99 Front Street York YO24 3BU
Proposal: Crown thin and Crown reduce x 1 Lime, Crown reduce 1 x Sycamore Trees in teh Conservation Area
Applicant: Mr F Cornish Contact FA Bartlett Tree Expert Co Ltd Consultation Expiry Date 31 March 2014Case Officer: Esther Priestley Expected Decision Level DEL
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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/
NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.
River Ouse web cam Click to access latest information
A flood warning has been issued by the Environment Agency. River levels are not expected to increase to those encountered in 2012.
Detailed river levels can be found on the EA web site http://tinyurl.com/Ouse-catchment
The best indicator remains the real time CCTV camera which records river levels on Kings Staith.
There is a significant risk If the top of the no entry sign disappears under water!
The devastation caused by flooding in other parts of the country is likely to reopen the debate about whether the river Ouse should be dredged.
Although dredging might increase the river capacity (and speed) where the work could be completed there would be other implications. Not least amongst these are the fact that more water would arrive in greater volumes at vulnerable downstream locations.
Potentially this could mean more, rather than fewer, homes being flooded. There are also concerns about the impact that dredging can have on the foundations of bridges. on river banks and on wildlife habitats.
The policy introduced a few years ago – of planting near the upper reaches of rivers to help control the speed that water runs off the land – has merit, while the York Council is rightly making provision, in its forward budgets, for the improvement and maintenance of water courses.
Nevertheless the dredging arguments do now need to be revisited and we would like to see a committee set up to publicly consider all the issues involved.
click to update
First has been awarded York’s Park & Ride (P&R) contract for a further three years.
Working in partnership with the council, First York has successfully operated all five P&R sites for more than 15 years and will continue to do so for another three years.
In addition, one of the city’s principle bus companies has now also been signed-up to operate the new P&R site at Poppleton, which is set to open in 2014.
Vehicles used in York eco bus trial in 2010
As part of the new agreement First will be operating a new electric bus service from the new 600-vehicle facility at Poppleton Bar, which is set to open in Spring 2014. The purchase of the buses has been part funded through the Coalition Government’s Green Bus fund, which awarded £594k to First in May.
Six electric buses are set to be deployed on the York Park & Ride network, though a bid submitted by First York. The new buses will provide cleaner and greener bus journeys for thousands of passengers across the city.
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Police seek youths following a small fire on York Knavesmire
York police are appealing for information to help identify a group of youths following an arson incident in the city. It occurred at 9.45pm on Thursday 11 July 2013, on the Knavesmire, when a number of portable toilets, used at York racecourse, were set alight, causing around £400 worth of damage. More
Workman’s wallet stolen from van in York
York police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after an electrician’s wallet was stolen from his van.
The victim, a 51-year-old local man, was working on traffic lights at the junction of Poppleton Road and Boroughbridge Road at around 12pm on Thursday 11 July 2013, when his wallet was taken from his works van which was parked next to him. More
Views needed on changes to Firearms and Explosives Licensing services
North Yorkshire Police and Julia Mulligan, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, want feedback on planned changes to the way Firearms and Explosives Licensing services are accessed across the county.
Following national eCommerce guidance, applications and renewals for Firearms Licences will soon be available online.
This means customers can log onto the North Yorkshire Police website at any time to fill in their forms rather than having to fill them in by hand and send them to the police. More
Two men from the west of York have banned from football matches for three years
Lewis James Myers, 19, of Ouseburn Avenue, York and Huseyn Akdag, 18, of Girvan Close, York, pleaded guilty to using threatening words and behaviour during a violent disturbance in Gillygate.
