North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 10 October and Tuesday 16 October 2012.

•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•Skipwith Road, Escrick
•A63 Hull Road, Hemingbrough
•Church Lane, Wheldrake
•A64 Malton by-pass Malton east and west-bound
•A64 Seamer by-pass Scarborough
•A64 Seamer Road, Scarborough
•A64 Between Whitwell Hill and Barton Hill
•A64 Between Barton-le-Willows and Jinnah
•A64 Between Barton Hill and Whitwell Hill
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The new Autumn leaflets for City of York Council’s guided walks, part of the i-Travel programme, are now available to view online or from pick-up points around the city.

Volunteer led walks will take place across York on a regular basis, with walks ranging from 30 minutes to two hours offering up a suitable walk for everyone.

Tasters in Nordic Walking – which uses special poles to enhance walking style, with an upper body technique similar to that of cross country ski-ing – courses and groups are also available. Details can be found in the led walks information leaflets from local libraries, leisure centres, doctor’s surgeries and the Visit York office on the corner of Lendal and Blake Street.

More details about the walks and rides can be found by contacting Sarah Prescott by email on sarah.prescott@york.gov.uk by phone on 01904 553377 or by going to www.york.gov.uk/healthwalks

North Yorkshire Police is urging residents to be vigilant and follow basic home security advice after a series of burglary incidents in the York and Selby areas in recent days.

Homes have been targeted while people are away on holiday, property has been stolen while the owners were at home but have left doors insecure, and an elderly man was targeted by suspected offenders who tricked their way into his house.

As part of Operation Haven, the force’s ongoing burglary reduction campaign which has seen an 18% drop in houses being targeted between April and September 2012 (168 fewer crimes – from 937 incidents in the same period in 2011 to 769 in 2012), police are emphasising the importance for residents to play their part by taking extra measures to secure their homes.

In York, officers are urging residents to lock-up after three burglaries in the city in the past two days.

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City of York Council has teamed up with York St John University and Sport England to offer young people across the city new, subsidised football sessions this autumn.

This new programme will kick off on Thursday 18 October at York St John’s all-weather pitch in Heworth, from 6-7pm. Aimed at young people aged 14 – 25 years old, it includes both boys and girls of all abilities and costs just 30p per session. Run by City of York Council, volunteer coaches are a much-valued part of the sessions.

The council has been able to subsidise the programme using Sport England’s Sportivate fund. This funding can also give participants – who attend over a certain number of sessions – a discount on the cost of sports training such as tuition to gain a coaching qualification.

Football has many health benefits; it’s a great aerobic workout as it involves running and sprinting which can improve cardiovascular health; it helps build strength, flexibility and endurance; it teaches team work and can help build self-esteem and increase confidence.

For further information contact Robin Lavin, City of York Council, robin.lavin@york.gov.uk or call 01904 553377.

Witness appeal following collision near York

Police are appealing for a vital witness to come forward following a road traffic collision near Whixley, York.

It occurred at approximately 6pm on Saturday 6 October 2012, on the B6265 just north of the junction with Station Lane. The collision involved a green Audi TT and a blue Renault Clio, which were both travelling towards Boroughbridge at the time.

As a result of the incident the Clio left the road and ended up in a field upside down. The 38-year-old woman driving the car and a 47-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl who were passengers in the Clio were taken to hospital, where they were treated before being released.

The 21-year-old man driving the Audi was not injured.

Traffic Constable Steve James, of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said: “I am asking anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward and contact the police as soon as possible.
“I am particularly keen to speak with the driver of a small car, believed to be a Honda Jazz which was in the area at the time of the collision.”

Anyone who can help with this enquiry is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, press option 2 and ask for Steve James. Alternatively information can be emailed to steve.james@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk quoting reference number 12120168392.

Police looking for wanted woman

Samantha Barr

York police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a wanted woman.

Samantha Barr, aged 40, who is from the Tang Hall area of the city, is wanted after failing to attend York Crown Court in May after breaching a suspended sentence order.
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North Yorkshire police have issued the following advice

Police in North Yorkshire are supporting National Personal Safety Day 2012 by circulating advice from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s Tech No Chances campaign which offers everybody valuable advice on how to ensure that their technology works to improve their safety not put them at greater risk.

To support the campaign, get involved and receive and share the advice by following the Suzy Lamplugh Trust @live_life_safe or North Yorkshire Police @NYorksPolice on Twittter and retweet to your followers or search for #TechNoChances.

Technology is a wonderful thing that few of us could see ourselves doing without, and when it comes to personal safety, it can be of great benefit. However there can be risks associated with some technology so it pays to take a few simple precautions to ensure that yours works for you, not against you.

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Following a lot of criticism of its leadership during the recent floods, the City of York Council is now co-ordinating support for residents directly affected by the flooding and who are assessing any damage to their homes and any repairs necessary. This includes:

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Abandoned salt bins Dringhouses area - click to enlarge

The Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward fares worst in the list of salt bins that the Labour Council has decided not to fill this winter. For map see http://tinyurl.com/empty-salt-bin-map

Several of the abandoned bins – which will remain on the streets but will not be filled – are in areas with large number of pensioners or where there are inclines.

As reported recently (see http://tinyurl.com/salt-bin-inquiry-Oct-12), Labours controversial decision has been called in and will be reviewed at a meeting next Monday.

Residents can register to speak at the meeting

A complete list of bins that WILL be filled (by ward) is as follows
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The British Crime Survey has revealed, by category, the top ten items stolen from vehicles. The most commonly targeted in England and Wales is ‘Exterior Fittings’, according to this Home Office Victim Study. This includes items such as windscreen wiper blades, badges, and trim.

1. Exterior fittings Included wiper blades / badges / trim

2. Valuables Jewellery / cash / handbags / briefcase / purse / wallet / Cheque book /credit cards / clothing

3. Electrical Equipment Sat nav /tv / mp3 / pc / computer equipment

4. Car Radio

5. Other vehicle parts Dashboard / Seats / Steering wheel / parcel shelf

6. Tools

7. Entertainment CD / tapes / video tapes / DVDs

8. Glasses/sunglasses

9. Mobile phones

10. Wheels

Fortunately, motorists can minimise the risk of becoming victims. Step one is to park in properly lit areas monitored by CCTV. Step two is to hide everything from view – even small items of limited value. This is tedious but worthwhile.

Survey results. Click to enlarge

On the day when most passengers will be getting their first taste of the new number 4 and 12 bus service timetables, the results of a survey of passenger views on the old services are published.

They reveal disenchantment with a number 4 service which, only 12 months ago, was one of the most widely praised in the region.

90% say that the buses were unreliable.

82% criticised the lack of space for buggies and wheelchairs, while 2/3 also felt that there was inadequate room for passengers.

The fares were not considered to be reasonable for a service which was erratic.

Only 30% said that the bus got them to their destination quickly.

We will be keeping a close eye on the new number 4 service which is being run more frequently but using single deck vehicles. We fear that there may be capacity issues at peak times.

The number 12 is also being rerouted to Monks Cross. Our hope is that slightly shorter loop will improve reliability.

The York Council has been asked to invest in real time “next bus” information displays at busy sub-urban stops.