Acomb small business event

A special event aimed at supporting small businesses outside the city walls is being hosted by City of York Council and the Federation of Small Businesses this month.

The event takes place on Monday 14 October between 5.30pm and 7.35pm at Acomb Gateway Church, Front Street, Acomb, YO24 3BZ.

During the event, Tony Webster will be talking about how his fish and chips shop in Bilbrough has become a must-visit destination for Chinese tourists.

Sally Parker of Pick and Mix Marketing will be presenting a piece on how to make businesses stand out on social media.

The council’s skills team will also be on hand to share how apprenticeships can benefit small businesses.

Carolyn Frank, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “York is packed full of small businesses and I welcome the council’s work to further engage with the business community via events like this.

“I hope that businesses will grasp the opportunity to come along and help shape local policy, to network at the event with other business owners, and to explore how we can all work together to make York a better place to do business. No business is too small to have a voice and collectively the small business community across York and its hinterland is vital to its economic development as a world leading city.” 

Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “We really want to support local businesses across York and help them grow and prosper. These workshops are a great opportunity for independent businesses to share their experiences, and talk through how we can better support them, and where appropriate to use this evidence to lobby for changes to help the high street to thrive.”

For information on how to register, click here

Latest on missed bin collections

More streets in York have not had their refuse, recycling and garden waste collected today.

Areas affected included Dringhouses (Middlethorpe), Bishopthorpe, Acomb, Chapelfields, Tang Hall and Lockwood Street

Some residents have called for the service to be “outsourced” (privatised).

Until the Council is more candid about the causes of its current problems, then it is difficult to know whether different management arrangements would lead to a more reliable service.

Another planning forum for Westfield – we think not

The York Council has started consultation on whether to recognise an “Acomb and Westfield Neighbourhood Forum”

A small group of residents, mainly living in the Front Street area, want to establish a “neighbourhood plan”. It would supplement the Councils own Local Plan which will be subject to a public hearing over the summer months.

Proposed neighbourhood plan area (Acomb and Westfield)

Unfortunately, the area they hope to cover includes the whole of the Acomb and Westfield wards (approximately 10,000 homes). It would stretch from Foxwood to Boroughbridge Road, encompassing a disparate group of neighbourhoods with little obvious community of interest.

If agreed, it would be by far the largest such plan in the York area. In the main those plans that have been approved cover smaller villages. All have a shared commonality of interests.

Westfield is not short of groups which seek to influence Council policy.

There are several Residents Associations, a “planning panel” (which scrutinises planning applications), a “ward team” and a “ward committee” together with several “action groups” which tend to focus on stimulating, or preventing, specific developments.

Adding an additional tier of representation, although only a consultative body, would involve additional costs and could lead to confusion about roles and responsibilities.

When it comes down to it, Foxwood has little in common with Chapelfields or the Gladstone Street area.

It has even less shared interest with Ouse Acres and vice versa. Arguably Foxwood has more in common with the Woodthorpe area.

In our view, this proposal represents an unwelcome diversion and could take resources away from the key task of raising public service standards in the area. Residents Associations are bested suited – and of the right scale – to identify changes that need to be made in local neighbourhoods.

They deserve more Council support.

In most built up sub-urban areas, there is little scope for redevelopment anyway with the focus being to retain existing open spaces. There is an opportunity for more public open space on land lying between the existing development and the A1237 bypass. The proposed Neighbourhood Plan boundaries exclude this land from consideration.

Ward Councillors are already aware of the need to move the extra public open space issue forward.

Front Street in older times. This part of Westfield may require better protection from developers in the light of the current problems at the Bowling Club building site.

There may be a case for a neighbourhood plan covering the Acomb village conservation area and its immediate environs.

The “forum” organisers would be wise to focus on a smaller area like this – where there may be a need for more clarity on its future – rather than try to “boil the, proverbial, ocean”.

In the meantime residents should email the Council to oppose this unnecessary proposal.

neighbourhoodplanning@york.gov.uk

Front Street racial abuse incident – Police seek witnesses

Officers are appealing for information and witnesses following a hate related public order crime.
The incident occurred at Morrisons on Front Street, Acomb when a man was subjected to threatening and racially abusive language.
The offence occurred at around 3pm on Wednesday, 20 June.
Anyone with information which could assist the investigation is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, selecting option 2, and ask for PC David Ellison. You can also email david.ellison41@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
If you wish to provide information anonymously then information can be given to the independent charity Crimestopper on 0800 555 111.
Please quote reference 12180110039 when providing information.

Contact details: DAVE ELLISON david.ellison0041@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk Incident reference: 12180110039

With crime levels on the rise, Crime Commissioner offers to meet residents in Acomb

Residents from Acomb, York and the surrounding area have their chance to their raise concerns about policing or community safety issues when the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Julia Mulligan, comes to Acomb on Thursday 12 April.

The appointment based surgeries will take place between 3.00pm, and 5.00pm at Acomb Parish Church hall, Front Street, Acomb YO24 3BX, giving residents the opportunity to raise personal or private issues, good or bad, on a one to one basis. Surgeries are by appointment only.

If you would like to book some time with Julia – or for further information about other Surgeries – please call 01423 569 562 or email info@northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk

 

Action taken on issues in and near Westfield

Shame to see so much disrepair and vandalism in the St Stephens graveyard in Acomb. Several who fell in the First and Second World Wars are buried here. We hope, as part of the commemoration of the end of WW1, some refurbishment work might be possible. More to come

As a minimum, we’ll ask for the War Memorial on The Green to be given a good clean and tidy up in the spring

Good progress is being made on levelling the footpath on the Library side of Front Street

Recent rain has meant that some paths and roads have standing water on them. Part of the footpath on Askham Lane is almost blocked at one point. We’ve reported the locations that we have spotted. To report issues go to https://www.york.gov.uk/reportproblems

Good to see that all the noticeboards in the Westfield Ward are now back in use and are being updated regularly. If you wish to advertise a local event email Foxwoodra@btinternet.com. They have taken over noticeboard management in most of the area

Action taken on these

Employers lining up to recruit at Acomb Jobs Fair

Acomb Jobs Fair has around 25 local employers, employment agencies and training providers lined up for the event which is open to all on 15 November 2017 at the Parish Church Hall.

City of York Council, through its 4CommunityGrowthYork project, is delivering the fair together with Job Centre Plus. Besides recruitment opportunities on offer, there will be help with job searches, further training and support into employment.

On Wednesday 15 November from 10am-2pm at the Parish Church Hall on Front Street, Acomb, York YO24 3DW, employers including Tesco, Lindum Group, Park Inn by Radisson, Gear4Music, HM Prisons and the Probation Service as well as City of York Council will be looking to recruit for live job vacancies.

In addition, job agencies including Bright Beginnings Childcare Agency, Job Centre Plus and WorkWithYork will be looking for people to fill current and future vacancies.

Employment support will also be on offer by York Learning, thanks to support from 4CommunityGrowthYork. Staff will be on hand to help people looking for work to brush up their CV-writing and job application skills, as well as helping people find the right sort of training to set them on the career path they want.

Councillor Keith Orrell, interim executive member for economic development and community engagement, said: “Our job fairs are very successful for workers and employers alike. I’m delighted that the council’s York Learning organisation is being supported to attend by 4CommunityGrowthYork to build on our ongoing work to help York residents secure jobs and the training opportunities they want.

“I’d encourage anyone interested to visit and see the opportunities at what promises to be a really worthwhile event.”

Find out more at http://yorklearning.org.uk/yorkjobsfair/

Vital road link resurfaced as wind brings down branches in parts of Westfield

The Council has finished resurfacing the carriageway linking Askham Lane and The Green. The road had become badly potholed with the road humps posing a particular threat for cyclists. The Council completed the resurfacing work this week

In the same area, residents continue to complain about vehicles parked on the bend. They obstruct traffic and cause sight line problems. The Council will be asked to consider introducing restrictions on this section of road.

Recent winds have brought down several branches from trees in the Wetherby Road and Askham Lane areas. The problems has been exacerbated by lack of routine maintenance to highways trees in recent years. In some cases branches are fouling over head communications cables while in others public footpaths have been obstructed. It is hoped that some maintenance work will take place this winter.