The fixed penalty notice in York for car parking offenders has been set at £80. Anyone paying the fines within 10 days will see the fine discounted to £50.

The options, set by central government, are that fines should “not be less than £60 or more than £80”.

They go on to say, “A discount can be applied to the fixed penalty if paid within 10 days, after discount the fixed penalty must not be less than £40. Local Authorities can set the amount of the fixed penalty and discount. The default amount of £60 will apply if the Authority does not set the amount”.

York has therefore opted for a fine level at the top of the available range.

Between 1st April and 30th June 2012, a total of 13 appeals relating to CYC decisions were determined by the Inspectorate. Of those, 7 were allowed. At 53.85%, this rate of appeals allowed is significantly higher than the 33% national annual average.

One appeal that was successful recently was for the erection of 3 storey 64 bed care home for older people at Plot 6 Great North Way (York Business Park) . (more…)

Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 22 and Tuesday 28 August.
•A56, Thornton-in-Craven
•A65, Clapham by-pass
•A65, Settle by-pass
•A65 Hellifield (more…)

City of York Council Trading Standards has been informed by residents that they are receiving new e-mails, purporting to be from HMRC, offering a tax rebate.

The e-mails state that, in order to process the refund, recipients should confirm their bank details. Residents are advised not to click on the links. The e-mail is not from HMRC. If people receive such e-mails they should forward them to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete the e-mail.

The amount paid by drivers in parking fines in the City has gradually fallen over the years. The most recent published figures show the revenue collected from the penalty charge notices issued by the York Council was:

2006/07 £658,950

2007/08 £606,368

2008/09 £514,741

2009/10 £516,198

2010/11 £581,408

2011/12 £465,866

2012/13 £95,510

In 2011/12 4,021 recipients of tickets disputed them.

Of these, about half led to the notices being withdrawn.

York’s Paralympic Lantern will follow the route of the main flame when it takes a turn at York Racecourse’s winners’ enclosure on the closing day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, Saturday 25 August.

It will be in the hands of one of York’s inspirational para-athletes. No stranger to the winner’s podium, the Lantern’s bearer will be Sianagh Gallagher, a 15-year-old gold medal winning paraclimber from York.

The Olympic Torch itself was a visitor to the Racecourse back in June when it was carried the final furlong of the day on horseback by former Olympic show jumper Harvey Smith. (more…)

Ben Fogle

Join celebrity Ben Fogle in York as he talks about his inspiring new book the ‘Accidental Naturalist’.

Explore York, Wednesday September 5 12.30pm.

Ben Fogle is a TV presenter, a writer and an adventurer. Since he first came to fame as part of the BBC Millennium project Castaway he has rarely stood still. He has raced across the Sahara, rowed across the Atlantic and crossed Antartica in a foot race to the South Pole. He has also presented several TV programmes including Animal Park, Countryfile and Crufts as well as making documentaries on Captain Scott, crocodiles and much more. Ben is an ambassador for WWF, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and supports many charities including Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Tusk.

Ben’s new book is the ‘Accidental Naturalist’ which tells the extraordinary true stories of Ben’s amazing encounters with animals and how they changed his life.

Tickets cost £5 (including a glass of wine) and are available from Explore York on 01904 552828 or exploreyork@york.gov.uk, or call into your local library.

The police have today launched a campaign to promote better understanding of what to do if someone is suspected of having taken a drugs overdose.

Across North Yorkshire and York emergency health services will respond to drug overdose calls for help without routinely notifying the police.

A campaign is being launched between 20 August and 24 August 2012 to raise awareness of the agreed procedure.

The campaign is being led by local Substance Misuse Partnerships and North Yorkshire Police, and includes support from a number of other local organisations, including NHS North Yorkshire and York, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Local Authorities and drug treatment services. (more…)

Traditional jewellery stolen from York woman

York police are appealing for witnesses after a woman had a large amount of jewellery stolen while shopping in the city centre.

The 41-year-old victim, who had just moved to the UK from Brunei, had the items in a black box in her handbag as she shopped on Thursday 2 August 2012.

At some point during the day the jewellery was stolen from her handbag which was hanging from the handle of her child’s pushchair.

The jewellery, which consists of traditional items from Brunei and Nepal, is quite unusual and is valued at between £4000 and £5000. (more…)

The York Council has today announced a report on its work in safeguarding children.

” The role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) is to ensure all agencies work effectively together to safeguard children. LSCB’s are required by the Government to produce an Annual Report to report on key issues relating to safeguarding children in their area. (more…)