The offer for York residents to apply for carbon cutting and money-saving free loft insulation and free cavity wall insulation has been extended.

Called Wrapping up York, this popular scheme has secured additional funding from City of York Council partners the Yorkshire Energy Partnership.

Now, more people who would like their loft insulation topped up, or their cavity walls filled with insulation can call a new, local helpline 01904 55 44 06. Besides calling and arranging for their home to be surveyed, they can also ask for information to keep their homes warmer and get information on local carbon-cutting schemes.

Since December 2011, Wrapping up York has already helped nearly 450 residents save over 10,000 life time tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2).

York residents can claim their FREE loft and cavity insulation by calling Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904 55 44 06 quoting Wrapping up York.

As part of the Budget, the Chancellor has announced that from next year, the Income Tax threshold will be raised further, ensuring that no one pays any income tax on the first £9,205 they earn.

In York, that means 6,830 people will be lifted out of paying Income Tax all together and 76,900 will receive a £220 tax cut. This is on top of tax cuts of £200 last year and a further £130 next month.

Commenting, Dringhouses Ward Liberal Democrat Councillor Ann Reid said “The Chancellor has done the right thing in listening to Liberal Democrat calls for the Income Tax threshold to be raised further.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I want to see a fairer tax system where help is provided for those who need it most and where the richest pay their fair share.

“Raising the Income Tax threshold to £9205 will help working people on average incomes in York who have been struggling with bills and higher cost of living.”

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said “Liberal Democrats have been clear in our priorities for the Budget. We wanted to see a Budget for the millions, not the millionaires.

“The Coalition Government inherited an unfair tax system from Labour, who in their 13 years hit ordinary working families hardest by abolishing the 10p tax rate while letting tycoons get away with shameless tax avoidance.

“Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are doing the right thing to clear up the mess Labour left behind, making sure the wealthiest pay their fair share by clamping down on tax avoidance, introducing a ‘tycoon tax’ and putting an end to stamp duty dodging by the super rich.

“Raising the Income Tax threshold is a key Liberal Democrat commitment that the Coalition Government is implementing. The announcement in the Budget will mean almost 2m people will be taken out of paying Income Tax all together in the UK and give nearly 25m people a £220 tax cut.”

Notes:

1. The Budget includes a number of measures to make the rich pay their fair share. These include a Tycoon Tax to cap tax breaks the wealthy can use; raising the rate of stamp duty to 7% for being who buy £2m mansions; and closing loopholes that allow people to buy houses in company names to avoid Stamp Duty when the property is sold.

2. When the Coalition came to power in 2010 the Personal Tax Allowance was £6,475. Increasing it to £10,000 will mean £700 back in the pockets of working people, or approximately £60 a month.

A £3.5bn tax cut for working people
• Biggest single ever uplift in the tax threshold
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Tycoon Tax raises FIVE times as much from the super-rich
The Liberal Democrats have ensured this is a budget for the millions not for the millionaires, delivering a £3.5billion tax cut to average working people.

That’s why the biggest move in this Budget is a tax cut for ordinary workers, going further and faster towards the Liberal Democrat goal of making the first ten thousand pounds you earn tax-free. From the front page of our manifesto directly to the pockets of working people.

Thanks to Liberal Democracts, people working full time on the minimum wage, will have seen their income tax bill cut in half.

We have delivered on Nick Clegg’s pledge to go further and faster on the personal tax allowance. This means that 21m basic rate taxpayers will get an extra £220 cut in their income tax bills and a further 840,000 people will be taken out of paying income tax altogether.
• This Budget brings the personal allowance to £9,205 in April 2013
• This Budget brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550.
• This Budget brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Lib Dem Top Ten
1. Biggest ever uplift in the tax threshold to £9,205
2. 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
3. Tycoon Tax raises FIVE times as much from the super-rich
4. Cutting corporation tax to help British business
5. Stamp duty increased to 7% for multi-million pound homes
6. Lib Dem tax cuts have saved average working people £550
7. 2 million low paid no longer face income tax
8. New 15% tax on companies buying property over £2m
9. Child benefit protected for middle-class families
10. Getting more money from the banks to loan more to British businesses

City of York Council is to carry out essential carriageway resurfacing works to part of Bootham Row.

Preparation works started on Monday 19 March, and are taking place between 8am and 4pm.

Resurfacing works are due to take place on Friday 23 March and will be carried out between the hours of 7pm and 11pm. In order to carry out these works safely a temporary road closure of Bootham Row will be necessary during these working hours on Friday.

The road closure will be supervised to inform residents of access availability. Please be aware that whilst the resurfacing works are ongoing there will be no vehicular access to or egress from to Bootham Row, this is for safety reasons.

click to enlarge

The petition has also attracted 148 supporters on the Councils web site. It is now the fourth largest petition submited this way and it still has until 11th April to gather more support.

Use this address to “sign” the petition electronically

http://tinyurl.com/Save-Beckfield-Lane

A petition seeking to Save the Burnholme College is also attracting a lot of support

Brian Watson leaves the recycling centre on Sunday

With over 1000 signatures now obtained on the petition, under the terms of the Council’s constitution a full debate on the future of the recycling centre is assured.

One user on Sunday was veteran Labour Councillor Brian Watson who wheeled his barrow into the centre from his nearby home.

In 2004 Coun Watson said the site could be expanded into council-owned land directly behind it.

He said:
“The site has been there for years and that’s where people go.

“If they move it somewhere else people aren’t going to go. We are going to go back to the old fly-tipping.

“This is an amenity for Acomb.”

He was commenting on the plan at the time to provide a new centre at Harewood Whin on the Wetherby Road which is about ½ mile from the existing site.

He is no doubt now wondering how long it will take him to push his wheel-barrow 4 miles to the Hazel Court facility which is now being promoted by his college Cllr Williams as an alternative.

North Yorkshire Police have re-issued a warning to residents to lock their doors, windows and cars.

The warning comes following a spate of overnight house burglaries and thefts from cars including four from insecure property and outbuildings.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Smith of North Yorkshire Police, said: “As the spring weather approaches and more people are out and about, please remember to take basic security measures such as locking your doors, windows and outbuildings – even while you are at home. Thieves are opportunist and will be on the look out for insecure doors and windows and will take the first opportunity your give them.

“Don’t hand your belongings to thieves on a plate, remember not to leave your keys, bags and other valuables on display and in easy to reach places. Hide them where they can’t be seen by prying eyes.

“Also remember to remove all your valuables and tools from your vehicles.”

“The effects of burglary should not be underestimated,” added DCI Smith: “The targeting of your home, followed closely by the theft or damage of personal possessions, often has devastating and lasting effect on the homeowners, their family, and the local community.”

Incidents over the last 24 hours include:

• Insecure outbuilding entered in the Tockwith where thieves stole a portable generator and tools.

• An insecure rear door was used to enter a house in King Edwards Drive, Harrogate, where burglars took the keys and stole the owner’s car parked outside.

• As unlocked BMW was entered in Hookstone Close, Harrogate and a Blackberry phone and loose change were taken.

• Tools were stolen from a house in York when thieves used a ladder to gain access through a landing window, which was believed to have been left open while the house was under renovation.

• Two burglaries were reported in Scarborough, during one, thieves forced open a window and stole a TV, in the other, they smashed a window and stole a TV and games console.

DCI Smith added: “Use the following check list to ensure you take the most basic security measures.”

· Lock doors, windows garages, sheds and gates – even when you are at home

· Hide your keys away at night where thieves cannot see them or easily find them

· Don’t tempt thieves by leaving valuables on view through windows, letterboxes or cat-flaps.

· Always lock your car and remove valuables

· Keep your car in the garage if you have one. If thieves can’t see your car – they can’t steal it.

· Fit a car alarm or tracking device if finances allow and remember to use them

· Don’t leave garden implements or tools outside as thieves can use these to gain entry to your property

· Leave a light and radio on when you go out at night

More detailed advice can be found on the North Yorkshire Police website www.northyorkshire.police.uk/crimeprevention

Since the beginning of 2012, North Yorkshire Police have made more than 140 arrests in connection with burglaries.

Ashley Mason who is one of the residents who are organising the petition aimed at continuing the distribution of refuse sacks

Residents living in the South Bank and Clifton parts of the City have launched a campaign aimed at persuading the Council to continue issuing refuse sacks to those living in terraced houses and flats. Labour Councillors are currently planning to discontinue the service at the end of the month.

The petition reads:
“We request the York Council to continue to issue refuse bags free of charge to those households in the City who are unable to accommodate other types of waste container”.

In support of the petition residents say; “For many years the Council has issued a supply of biodegradable refuse sacks to properties such as terraced houses and flats where the provision and storage of wheeled bins – which are provided free of charge to other households in the City – is impractical. The sacks ensure that refuse is stored and presented for collection in a tidy and sanitary way. The Council has announced – without any consultation with residents – that it will cease the distribution of the sacks shortly. This means that residents will have to buy their own. There is a concern that refuse will be presented in unsuitable containers increasing the risk of spillage and vulnerability to attacks by rodents and other animals. The new policy would discriminate against those residents living in areas of terraced housing. The petition seeks a review of the Councils policy”.

The petition can be “signed” on the Councils web site at http://www.york.gov.uk/ “Have your say” ePetitions.

Meanwhile volunteers have collected a further 200 signatures on the “Save the Beckfield Lane recycling centre” petition. They had a stall on Front Street on Wednesday. This petition can also be “signed” on the Councils web site where it has already secured the support of 128 visitors.