Local services under threat in Acomb

Sainsbury’s

Speculation is mounting about the future of the Sainsbury’s Local store on Beckfield Lane. Sources suggest that it may close towards the end of the summer.

The rumours have been reinforced by the recent decision by the company to close its Argos stores, make redundancies at its head office and close 10 large supermarkets and 110 local branches

Sainsbury’s has performed well during the pandemic recording an increase in sales of 8.5% last year.

The Supermarket was rebuffed by regulators in an attempt to merge with Asda 2 years ago.

Sainsbury’s operates 10 stores in York. The Beckfield Lane store is their only outlet in Acomb. The next nearest Sainsbury’s Local is in Blossom Street.

Lloyds Bank closing this week

Lloyds Bank confirmed recently that it would close its Front Street branch on 11^th March (Thursday).

It was still attracting a steady stream of customers this morning.

Details of the closure and other options for customers can be found by clicking these links

Closure part one

Closure part two

Corona virus update – 31st March 2020

Police advice on staying safe – live video tomorrow (Wednesday)

At 1pm on Wednesday 1 April, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be live streaming safety advice, along with colleagues from North Yorkshire County Council. Find out how to keep yourself and your family safe whilst staying at home and saving lives. The broadcast will also include advice for businesses. Watch LIVE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_JZLQd6LYE

Public service monitor

Police appeal on gangs of youths

If you see people congregating in groups please contact Police on 101 as soon as you can so the Police can respond accordingly. This action is in relation to recent Covid-19 regulations and groups causing general ASB. #stayhome #staysafe

Waitrose moves to help vulnerable with home delivery priority

To support our elderly and most vulnerable customers, we have decided to give them priority access to our home delivery and Click & Collect slots.

These customers are being identified using data we currently hold. We are actively working with the UK government to identify further vulnerable and elderly customers.

We are working with the UK Government to identify customers who are vulnerable to Coronavirus. If you believe you should be considered vulnerable, please use the Government service website to identify yourself.

You can register for yourself or someone else
The government will share details of those who are registered with us in the coming days
We’ll be in touch to let you know when you’ve been added and can book slots

Register on GOV.UK

We’re doing all we can to make more delivery and Click & Collect slots available soon.

Home food deliveries

Sainbury’s will try to help any vulnerable persons who is unable to secure a delivery slot. The contact telephone number is 08000 525500

Morrisons have already announced a basic box of essentials delivery service https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/how-it-works

Coop reduces store opening hours

Coop opening hours are changing to 7am-8pm. Petrol stores will remain open until 11pm.

Some Coop stores are closing but none so far in York

Rough sleepers

The Council says that all rough sleepers accepted accommodation and stayed in it on Friday night. Using hotels and hostels, temporary and Housing First accommodation, we have enough for all known rough sleepers and can provide them with food too.

“The situation is very fluid regarding individuals who may choose to leave the accommodation provided: there is no enforcement around them staying in it”.

Council ready to process £40m coronavirus support grants to local businesses

Following further guidance from the Government, City of York Council will now distribute government support grants of up to £25000 to York businesses.

Many small businesses which receive small or rural business rates relief will receive a payment of £10,000.

Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, with a rateable value of under £51,000, will receive either £10,000 or £25,000 grants.

The council has created a short web form to gather the information required by the government, including VAT registration details.

The secure web form can be found at https://www.york.gov.uk/COVIDBusinessGrant .

Any business wanting to find out more about the grant process should contact covid19.businessgrants@york.gov.uk.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said:

“The Council has been working hard to to deliver these support packages as quickly as possible, and to date, we have already applied the business rates holiday to over 4000 accounts and have now created a secure new system to process grants totaling nearly £40m across 2500 eligible businesses.

“We have already created our own local support package totaling £1 million to support small and micro businesses in the city, on top of existing government support, and we will continue to act swiftly to support local businesses through these extremely challenging times.”

The council has written to all 2500 businesses it has identified as eligible for the grants.

With many business owners unable to access their premises, the council wants to reach as many businesses as possible through local media, social media and partners and representative bodies across the city.

Councillor Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said:

“We’re determined to overcome these obstacles and get these grants to York businesses, and that is why we have contacted all 2,500 businesses identified as eligible for the grants.

“On top of delivering the government’s support, we’ve developed our package to help our creative and resilient business community through these difficult times, including the deferral of rent for our commercial tenants and having made commitments to support our key suppliers.

“We’re also working with York BID, Make it York, the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships and other partners to speak up on behalf of our business community.”

“Any business can get up to date advice and guidance through our support page www.york.gov.uk/BusinessSupport.”

Which businesses are eligible?

Small Business Grant Fund

Under the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) all businesses in England in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief (RRR) in the business rates system will be eligible for a payment of £10,000, in line with the eligibility criteria.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant

Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) businesses in England in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for the following cash grants per property.

Eligible businesses with a property that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000

Eligible businesses with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000

Key York planning decisions scheduled for 22nd January

Future of B&Q, former Council offices and Del Monte sites to be determined

B & Q Hull Road

Sainsbury’s have applied to convert the premises into retail food store with external alterations including reconfiguration of the shop front, canopy, installation of new customer cafe and associated toilets, installation of ATMs, removal of existing garden centre and builders yard and reconfiguration of site access and customer car park.

The store will have 5,591 Sq m of retail floor space and 505 car parking spaces.

There have been 93 objections to the proposal mainly on transport grounds. Several competitor traders have also objected.

71 people have written in support of the plan.

The application is recommended for approval but will be referred to the Secretary of State who will decide whether to call it in for further consideration.

Del Monte site Skelton

The application seeks outline consent for the use of the site for residential development for up to 60 dwellings. The site has previously been used as a factory, which was demolished last year.

20% of the homes will be “affordable”.

The application is recommended for approval. If approved the new homes will reduce the pressure to build on Green Belt land.

Offices to be turned into homes

Former Council offices, 1-9 St Leonards Place

This application seeks planning permission for the change of use of 1-9 St Leonard’s and 2- 4 Museum St, and includes the former stable block to the rear.

At present these buildings are vacant and were last used as City of York Council offices. The applicants wish to convert the buildings into 5 town houses and 29 apartments.

The former stable block would be converted to 1 mews house with a double garage and 5 mews houses over 5 double garages would be developed along the rear lane. The layout of the existing St Leonard’s place car park would be revised to create a private car park with 30 parking spaces. Gates and railings would be reinstated around the car park area.

The Council is seeking a contribution of £298,169 towards the provision of “off site” affordable housing. Concerns about air quality for rooms facing St Leonard’s Place, means that windows will be fixed and fresh air ventilation will be drawn mechanically from the rear of the buildings.

The application is recommended for approval together with a parallel application which would permit limited works to the Listed building. This is another project that will reduce the pressure for building on the Green Belt.

Planning permission is also recommended for approved at Hagg Lane, Dunnington for the extension of a car park currently used during the week by Costcutter staff and of Saturdays by footballers.

White Swan refurbishment starts

White Swan Hotel York

Work to help regenerate a prominent unused building in the city centre has begun, as contractors have started to strip out The White Swan Hotel.

A £450,000 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Empty Homes 2 programme is helping to create new accommodation including 18 affordable homes plus new ground floor retail units in the city’s central shopping area.

Sainsbury’s has submitted several planning applications to cover the remodelling of the ground floor of the building. They include details of the planned signage, security blinds and an ATM click

Recent research carried out by the North East Civic Trust has identified the potential for hundreds of new homes in unused spaces above shops and offices in central York.

Tees Valley Housing and local affordable housing experts CoHo Ltd are moving forward to identify specific opportunities for new housing in the city centre over the next 18 months, and is asking local landlords and agents to come forward to discuss and realise new schemes.

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