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York Central development site – consultation starts

Taxpayers asked to provide £10 million subsidy for development

Papers released by the Council today suggest that York taxpayers will still be expected to contribute £10 million towards the development of the York Central site.

Enterprise Zone boundary

Enterprise Zone boundary

The expectation had been that this funding – provisionally allocated to fund an access bridge from Holgate Road  by the last Council – would not now be required. The site has now got Enterprise Zone status and also has financial support from the Homes and Communities Agency

Instead, a separate delivery company would set up to fund all infrastructure work. In turn this company would recover its investment from the uplift in the value of the site (currently estimated at £623 million)

Officials are reporting that the Council has already committed £1/2 million to the scheme and are asking for a further £250,000 to fund the administration of the project. The Council could only fund initial infrastructure investment from borrowing leaving taxpayers with an annual bill of nearly £1 million a year.  It could be decades before any return on the investment benefited local residents.

At the moment all the risk  – from what is a complicated project – seems to be falling on York taxpayers

The York Council has only a very small land holding in the area at present although it is seeking compulsory purchase powers to acquire the UNIPART site.

York central land ownership. Yellow -Network Rail, Purple - Railway Museum, Red - York Council taxpayers

York central land ownership. Yellow -Network Rail, Purple – Railway Museum, Red – York Council taxpayers

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Flooding in York – update

Provisions in place to protect the city from flooding

Pumping 7th Dec 2015Provisions are in place and York is open for business – is the message following a multi-agency York Flood Group meeting which took place this morning.

The group is reassuring residents and businesses that provisions are in place should river levels rise. The group comprises of representatives from City of York Council, the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, Yorkshire Water, Northern Powergrid and the Army.

The group only meets when the River Ouse levels reach 4.2 meters above normal summer level (asl).

River levels are currently at 4.25 meters asl and are expected to peak at 4.3m asl today and will remain at these high levels throughout the week.

As a result of the high river levels Rowntree Park, St George’s Field Car Park and Millenium Bridge are all closed.
City of York Council has erected sandbag defences at Peckitt Street, Tower Gardens and Tower Place. The access bridge to City Mills Residential Home has also been erected.

Front line teams are on standby from all organisations to work round the clock if required to protect residents, tourists and keep York open for business.

The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation. The Environment Agency Floodline number is 0345 988 1188 or visit http://apps.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood/31618.aspx

What’s on: St Nicholas Christmas Festival

Continues until Wed 23 Dec
St Nicks ChaletsWith a new twist for this year, Parliament Street will be home to a Scandinavian style tipi, a new Ice Trail, a new Choirs’ Weekend and the whole St Nicholas Festival and Fair will now run for 35 days.

Snug wooden chalets, dressed with twinkling lights will line Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and Coppergate and for the first time will appear on the terrace of The Judge’s Lodging on Lendal.

In Kings Square, York’s Chocolate Story will be welcoming a very special guest, namely Father Christmas himself, who arrived into York on 19th November and will have his very own cosy wooden grotto.

Bringing ice back to the city centre, as part of York’s Christmas Festival, businesses from across York have sponsored thirty specially commissioned hand carved ice sculptures, designed by Glacial Art.

Thor’s Tipi will offer a festive experience, where friends and family can gather around a roaring fire, with cosy furs to keep the cold at bay, all in a beautiful giant tipi. Thor’s Tipi will be serving a delicious outdoor winter BBQ, homemade sweet treats, festive hot chocolate, mulled wine, draft ales and Christmas cocktails.

Over one hundred stallholders at the St Nicholas Fair will be selling a range of gifts including jewellery, ceramics, homewares, crafts and Yorkshire produce such as locally made wines and cheeses.

For more information please see www.visityork.org/christmas.aspx

“It’s not OK” seminar

Childcare professionals across the city will have the chance to attend the fourth ‘It’s not ok’ professional seminar at West Offices next week [8 December].

The seminar covers ‘sexual abuse committed by trusted adults’ and will be led by Trish O’Donnell and Lynn Cardwell from the NSPCC. It is particularly relevant to people wanting to learn more about the key things to consider in knowing if someone poses a risk of sexual harm to children.
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York talk on climate change ahead of United Nations conference

For_the_love_of_yorkshireExperts in the field of sustainability and climate change are inviting community groups to join them at one of several events being held across the region to talk about tackling climate change.

The special event takes place at City of York Council’s West Offices (Snow Room) from 12noon on Thursday 3 December.

The engagement session focuses on the new ‘For the Love of Yorkshire’ climate campaign and also the benefits of tackling climate change for cities and regions.

This session takes place during the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference on 30 November to 11 December, which is recognised as being one of the most important international efforts in recent years. The’ For the Love of Yorkshire’ campaign will also be taking climate messages from York to the European conference.
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Cyclists without lights targeted in York police safety campaign

A clampdown on people cycling without lights in York has been hailed a success.
Incident - Cycle

Police officers and PCSOs, supported by volunteer Special Constables, took part in an operation at Bootham, Micklegate and Walmgate bars last night, aimed at keeping cyclists and other road users safe.

The vast majority of cyclists seen by officers were correctly and safely using lights. However, 36 Traffic Offence Reports were issued to cyclists who didn’t have lights on their bikes

A number of sets of emergency cycle lights and high-visibility rucksack covers were issued to some people who didn’t have lights, to enable them to carry on their journey safely – for example, to young people who would otherwise have had to walk a long distance home.

The lights and rucksack covers have been funded by City of York Council – part of a cycle safety campaign that ran for the first time last year.

Inspector Lee Pointon, of York Police, said: “The operation was really well received, with many pedestrians stopping to make positive comments about the proactive campaign.

“We will undertake further operations over the next few weeks, ensuring that we continue to have a direct and positive effect on the safety of people in the city.”

Cyclists are urged to visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/cyclesafety for police videos and advice on cycling safely.

Don’t putt up with property theft – police launch new security marking drive for golfers

Golfers in York are being urged to protect their clubs and other valuable equipment as part of a new property-marking drive.
Dotpeen

Golf clubs and accessories can be worth thousands of pounds, making them an attractive target for criminals. Now police in York are offering to mark them with a permanent, unique number – deterring thieves and making stolen property easier to trace.
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York Dementia Action Alliance event

Groups committed to making York a ‘Dementia Friendly City’ are joining forces tomorrow (Tuesday 10 November) to share information and find out more about plans for the future.

The Action Alliance  a group of organisations, individuals and businesses who are working together to make York a dementia friendly city for residents and visitors – is hosting the event at New Earswick Folk Hall between 9.30am – 1pm.

The event will be introduced by the Chair of Yorkshire and Humber Dementia Action Alliance, Steve Poole, and sessions include hearing best practice about how to make cities more dementia friendly, the work of Dementia Friends and Champions, how technology can support people living with dementia, and their carers and help for organisations to create their own action plans.

Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive member for Adult Social Care and Health, City of York Council, said: “With 47 organisations and businesses signed up to York Dementia Action Alliance, more and more people across the city are becoming aware of dementia and how they can help make their work places more dementia friendly. I hope this event will enable organisations to share their experiences and find out what more we can do to make York a Dementia Friendly City.”

12 month gap in York Councils speed check data …… accident levels up

A report to a Council meeting taking place next week has admitted that there have been no vehicle speed checks undertaken in the City for over 12 months.
Serious road traffic accident levels in York up during last three years

Serious road traffic accident levels in York up during last three years

The equipment is used to build up a picture of the speeds that traffic using specific roads has apparently been faulty.  The equipment is normally used by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service although its maintenance (and replacement) rests with the Police Commissioners Office in Northallerton.

Roads awaiting speed monitoring equipment Click to access

Roads awaiting visit from  speed monitoring equipment Click to access

Judging by published meeting minutes, the issue of the missing equipment does not appear to have been discussed by any committee of either the Police or Fire Authorities. It is mentioned only by the York Council in an annual speed management update.  Money taken from speeding fines was used to purchase new equipment in July although “teething problems” prevented it being used for three months.

There is a backlog of 45 sites where speed surveys are required. Some date back 2 years.

The Police have continued to use their camera vans to monitor “problem” locations but they rarely use them for “reassurance” visits roads like Green Lane and Wetherby Road.  20 mph speed limits

Residents remain concerned about vehicles speeds (in both locations vehicle activated warning signs are in operation – and they are triggered by about 25% of passing vehicles).

The Council promises that the results of all speed checks will in future be made available publicly on a “Traffic Bureau web site”.

An electronic form which would allow residents to report speeding concerns was promised over 5 years ago. Officials claim that its introduction is now imminent.