The Council have detailed more plans for the torch relay taking place on 19th June.

The evening event at the Knavesmire – which is now all ticket – is scheduled to end at 7:30pm just 15 minutes before the Ukraine vs England Euro cup match kicks off.

As the excitement of the Olympic Torch in York draws closer, City of York Council is planning to keep expected and significant traffic disruption to a minimum and public safety a priority.

This is York’s moment to shine in the light of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the legendary Flame and be a part of the event. Everyone is invited to line the streets and cheer the inspirational Torchbearers who will carry the Flame through York – but allow plenty of time for the journey to the Torch Route or the Racecourse.
On 19 June, rolling road closures will be activated between 10-15 minutes ahead of the cycling escort which will leave York College at 5:15pm. Once the whole convoy has passed and pedestrians are off the road, it will be removed.

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Grafitti on cycle path near Bishopthorpe

Overgrown path near Park and ride car park

It’s the time of year again where a combination of warm temperatures and rain will accelerate the growth of hedges on trees.

We reported the blockage to the path near the entrance to Tesco today.

Also an increasing problem again is grafitti on the York – Selby cycle path. Again we’ve reported the issue but would urge others to do likewise if they see a problem.

While you can’t report overgrown vegitation using a smartphone “app“, you can send off details of grafitti. http://www.smarteryork.org.uk

With the beginning of Euro 2012 just one week away, North Yorkshire Police are urging the public to enjoy the football tournament in the right spirit.

Pubs, bars and clubs will be packed with fans supporting the national team which could potentially lead to alcohol-related disorder. (more…)

Free tickets released to “allow a bigger Torch celebration event”

City of York Council has issued a statement saying that the Olympic Torch celebrations “at York Racecourse from 2.30pm on 19 July will become ticketed, to allow more people to join in the highly anticipated event”.

Anyone arriving at the Racecourse on “19th July” is likely to be seriously disappointed as the event is, of course, taking place on Tuesday 19th JUNE

The FREE tickets for the events can be obtained from Visit York’s Visitor Information Centre on the corner of Museum Street and Blake Street, or from any York Explore Library Learning Centre, Acomb Explore on Front Street, Acomb, or Tang Hall Library on Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall. They will be available from 2pm on Friday 8 June.

Tickets will be limited to six tickets per applicant, all young people aged 14 years or under must be accompanied by an adult and admission will be by ticket only. (more…)

A petition is now available on the Council’s web site http://tinyurl.com/No-to-20-mph-limit-in-York which can be “signed” by those opposed to a City-wide 20 mph speed limit.

The new limit was agreed by Labour Cabinet member Dave Merrett at a recent meeting. Initially it is to be rolled out across the west of the city.

The Liberal Democrat Council Group produced a critique of the plans which can be found here http://tinyurl.com/LibDems-20mph-in-York

Warnings from the local Lib Dems and others that money and effort would be better spent on tackling known speeding hot spots have been ignored.

The local media and transport experts have also criticised the plans.

Under Labour’s plans, 20 mph signs would be erected at the entrance to each street with repeater signs every 300 metres. The costs of the scheme are put at £500,000 with an extra £100,000 allocated for more traffic calming.

The proposed blanket limit is being opposed by LibDem and Tory Councillors. Green, and many Labour, Councillors are so far supporting the new limit.

YORK GATEWAY TO HISTORY PROJECT – SURVEY

York Libraries are inviting residents to comment on the access arrangements for the City Archives. They say, “the aim of the Gateway to History project is to improve the city’s Archive and Local History Service. The project includes the refurbishment of the existing local history library at York Explore, the creation of new spaces to provide additional facilities and services, and the provision of a new programme of activities, both at York Explore and across the city”.

The project will:
• Merge York’s internationally important city archives and local history library and store it in one conservation-grade premises at York Explore
• Provide an extensive programme of activities including exhibitions, displays, walks, group visits and learning sessions tailored to a wide variety of audiences from all backgrounds and interest levels
• Deliver archive and local history services to residents of York in their own community by using the City of York Council’s network of Explore Centres and branch libraries

You can access the survey at http://tinyurl.com/yorkarchive

Students from the York school are going to line the way to the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

That’s a line that maps the route for the athletes as they head to the Olympic Stadium.

School children from 20 Get Set network schools in Yorkshire and Humber will form a Guard of Honour to line the route as athletes make their way through the Olympic Park into the Olympic Stadium, for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. (more…)

The Jubilee beacon was lit at 10:15 yesterday evening. About 150 residents attended the short ceremony.

The organisation of the event was criticised by some residents who said that it had not been publicised properly. This may have been responsible for the modest turn out.

National beacon web sites continued to advertise the Knavesmire as the location for the event.

PCN statistics. Click to enlarge

The income received by the York Council from parking tickets has fallen by 23% over the last 5 years.

Nevertheless over £466,000 was collected from the last year after 16,505 tickets were issued.

Around 20% of issued tickets are subsequently cancelled or written off.

North Street remains the street on which drivers are most likely to get a ticket.

The numbers for each of the top 5 streets are:
2011/12
• North Street 405
• Piccadilly 291
• Walmgate 274
• Duncombe Place 208
• Toft Green 205

2010/11
• North Street 434
• Piccadilly 415
• Walmgate 291
• Micklegate 276
• Duncombe Place 234

As in any other part of the country, North Yorkshire and the City of York suffer from bicycle theft – both from street locations and from houses and out-buildings.

The Police work hard with agencies and the public to reduce bicycle crime and to promote security. This includes talking to schools, workforces and individuals to ensure cycle users understand the principals of prevention and how to report a theft if one occurs. (more…)