Fitness for over 50’s at Energise

York’s over-50s can get into gear for the very popular third Eng-AGE 50+ Activity Day which will take place on Monday 17 February from 9.30am to 4pm at Energise.

Energise Pool

The day is the first big sport and activity event of the 2014 health and fitness calendar, in a year when York residents are being encouraged and inspired by the Tour de France to do more physical activity.

With the Tour de France setting off from York on 6 July it’s only right that this year we have included some bicycle related activities for the over 50s such as beginners spin classes, cycle maintenance and cycle training. This is a great opportunity to try some activities, meet new people, have fun and become fitter all at the same time! 

The day is led by coaches and fitness professionals who will give those taking part the confidence to have a go at different sports and physical activity sessions in a friendly and supportive environment. Useful information will also be provided on where and how to continue the activity at venues across York. A wide range of other activities are on offer to sample and include group classes of tai chi, aquafit, swimfit, synchronised swimming, pilates, short tennis, badminton, yoga, boxercise, chair based exercise, inclusive sports and zumba gold. Individual and team challenges in orienteering have been introduced and the popular introductions to the gym and climbing wall will also be available.

Participants may join in either morning or afternoon sessions at a cost of £3 per half day, or may attend for the full day for £5.

Further information, including a full timetable of events is available at www.york.gov.uk/engage and from libraries. Booking opens at 9am on Monday 3 February on a first come basis by calling Catriona Sudlow, City of York Council’s older peoples physical activity officer on 01904 553377.

York Council complaint levels high

The Council have belatedly published answers to questions posed at its meeting in December. One of the questions tabled asked about complaint levels towards the end of last year and also sought information about the source of service reports.

Concerns had been raised about whether some web generated reports had found their way into the system.

The number of complaints received by the Authority is reported as

Complaints

Jun – Nov   2013

Stage 1

511

Stage 2

126

Stage 3

2

Total

639

Stage 3 complaints are the most serious. The classification means that the complainant remains dissatisfied with the response provided by the Council

The overall number of contacts with the Council (by channel) are:

 

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Total

Total telephone calls 2012

23980

23525

22654

22654

22373

23938

140851

Total footfall 2012

5775

6167

5706

6456

5997

6427

36528

Total Emails 2012

3716

2969

3232

4570

4134

3413

22034

“do it on line” calls 2012

1230

709

1101

1606

1291

1841

7778

Total telephone calls 2013

33587

29971

26320

34132

26385

32990

183385

Total footfall 2013

10415

9757

8061

10123

10259

12226

60841

Total Emails 2013

7088

5199

4474

5823

4825

4697

32106

“do it on line” calls 2013

755

634

934

1667

1471

2387

7848

“Smarter York” App 2013 – 200 reports.

So the number of reports of public service failings being made by York residents to the Council continues to grow.

The much vaunted Smarter York mobile phone “app” has proved to be a flop. The “app” was under-developed when launched and is very limited in its scope when compared to commercial alternatives like “My Council”.

The costs of dealing with contacts made by residents are much higher than were expected when the Council moved to its new HQ.

They bring further into question the wisdom of the decision by Labour Councillors to close down local branch offices in sub-urbs like Acomb.

Free City centre car parking on Saturday

Car park Richard iii

All council owned car parks are offering free parking all day and evening on Saturday 1 February 2014.

Thirteen car parks will be free to use for residents and visitors to help them enjoy York’s vast city centre offering.

The car parks that will be free to use on Saturday 1 February are: Bishopthorpe Road, Bootham Row, Castle, Castle Mills, Esplanade, Foss Bank, Haymarket, Marygate, Monkbar, Nunnery Lane, Piccadilly, St George’s Field and Union Terrace.

The initiative aims to counter the decline in shopper numbers in the City centre following the closure of Lendal Bridge.

The Council is already forecasting that it will be £200,000 under budget for car parking income this year.

Government announces more vehicle recharging points for York

Eight new rapid chargers for electric vehicles are to be installed  in York, following an announcement from the Department for Transport today that an additional £244,500 funding is to be made available to support a national ‘ultra low emission vehicle’ campaign.

car recharging point

The new points can charge an electric car in around 20-minutes and will be located at Park&Ride sites and convenient locations across the city including the new Sports Village.

This means that electric vehicle drivers can travel around Yorkshire and be confident of being able to charge up their batteries quickly and at low cost. Electric vehicles can run for as little as two pence per mile and pay nothing for road tax.

The take up of electric powered vehicles in York has been slow.

More about existing electric vehicle charging points in York at itravelyork.com

City centre paving consultation

The York Council is delivering a leaflet to all households outlining its plans for resurfacing works in the City centre.

Exhibition Square plans

Exhibition Square plans

They are right to do so but, in pointing to improvements planned for Exhibition Square, Blake Street and Fossgate, they lamentably fail to answer the question that will be on every taxpayer’s lips.

How much will these paving schemes cost?

There is little new in the leaflet.  The Labour Council changed the Council’s forward programme in 2011 putting the modernisation of Kings Square ahead of the Fossgate pedestrianisation scheme which had been set to go ahead in 2012.

Next in line were to have been improvements to Duncombe Place, which could have provided a large and useful pedestrian precinct.

But the Councils increasing financial problems meant that progress would inevitably have slowed.

Residents might usefully have been asked when completing the “on line” survey whether they want any of these schemes to go ahead or whether the money might be better spent repairing the roads in sub-urban areas?

The danger in the Councils approach is that the improvement of the City centre may become politically toxic.

Against a background of plans for a further £1 million cut in road maintenance in sub-urban areas, residents are likely to demand of Council candidates – at the next local elections in 2015 – a commitment to improving public service standards in residential areas.

The City centre may find that its share of available resources is reduced.

Latest Planning application Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward. 

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

——————-

Location:       257 Thanet Road York YO24 2PE

Proposal:       Erection of two-storey dwelling to side

Ref No: 13/03571/OUT

Applicant:      Mr C Newby      Contact Guy Moorey      Consultation Expiry Date        17 February 2014 Case Officer:   Jonathan Kenyon Expected Decision Level DEL

——————-

Location:       St Leonards Hospice 185 Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York YO24 1GL

Proposal:       External alterations including replacement windows and solar panels

Ref No: 14/00063/FUL

Applicant:      Mrs Janet Morley   Contact Mr Peter Bentley        Consultation Expiry Date        17 February 2014 Case Officer:   Victoria Bell   Expected Decision Level DEL

————————

Location:       8 Alness Drive York YO24 2XZ

Proposal:       First floor side extension inc new chimney stack

Ref No: 14/00075/FUL

Applicant:      Mr And Mrs Bellwood     Contact Mr David Moverley Consultation Expiry Date        17 February 2014Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

————-

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.

Rubbish skips this weekend in Dringhouses Saturday 1st February

Although the Council has cut back on the number of amenity skips it provides, several residents associations continue to run programmes aimed at making it easier for tenants to get rid of unwanted items.

The skips are only in place for a few minutes and residents must ensure that they put any rubbish into the skips and do not leave it on the path or highway.

1 Dringfield Close 08:30 09:30

2 Jute Rd 10:30 11:30
4 Hebden Rise 08:30 09:30

5 Ganton Place 10:30 11:30

8 Dale St 10:30 11:30

‘The only way is Essex’ say Lib Dems

Liberal Democrats say that Labour run York Council should follow the example of Essex and introduce an amnesty for drivers fined for breaking controversial traffic restrictions.

Earlier this month Essex County Council said that 30,000 drivers penalised for using a new bus lane in Colchester will be repaid or have their fines cancelled after the council agreed its signs were unclear. Fines, amounting to about £1m have been paid to the council, will now be handed back and any outstanding charges will be cancelled.

In York, over 40,000 fines have so far been issued to drivers crossing Lendal Bridge after Labour run City of York Council partially closed it to traffic at the end of August. The council has been inundated with complaints about the closure, particularly regarding the poor signage. Indeed, at the beginning of December the council was forced to install new warning signs. It is thought that the authority is now routinely not contesting appeals against fines; however, thousands of motorists are believed to have already paid.
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