11 librarians lose jobs in York

Dringhouses Library

Dringhouses Library

In a behind closed doors decision the Council has reduced the number of librarians in the City.
The cuts mainly affect small branch libraries.

Around £190,000 a year will be saved by the move although officials claim that customers will not notice any difference and opening hours will remain the same.

NB. New opening hours were introduced today at some branches. Click here for details The hours remain the same at York, Acomb and Strensall.

All libraries in the City are closed this Wednesday afternoon to facilitate a major staff meeting.

York residents “bulk buy” leads to savings on energy bills

Residents across Yorkshire are set to reduce their energy bills by almost £1million following the region’s largest collective energy switch.

Community Energy Direct have helped residents to source the best price deal from gas and electricity suppliers. 328 residents in York signed up to the scheme. These residents collectively are set to save just under £36,300 on their energy costs simply by switching.

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Organ proms in York Minster

A brand new Festival which showcases the astonishing range and versatility of this giant instrument – if you thought you knew what an organ sounded like, think again!

York Minster own musicians, featuring some of the country’s top young performers, and guests perform entertaining and popular tunes perfect for promenading.

Performing within the Nave itself, you can see the organist in action and even ask questions.

Music connoisseurs can also hear the Organ in special evening recitals on Summer Saturdays in August, part of a tradition of musicianship at York Minster that spans a millennium.

Fri 7 Jun 2013 12:00 to 14:00

More http://www.yorkminster.org

Four year old “Showman’s Yard” report used by York Council to justify Wetherby Road plan

The York Council has admitted that a report, which it claims justified establishing a 20 pitch “Showman’s Yard” on land located between Knapton and Wetherby Road, is 4 years old.

Proposed Showman's site Wetherby Road Knapton

Proposed Showman’s site Wetherby Road Knapton

It appears in a complete list of relevant documents which is available for download and is here on the internet,

Essentially the report, compiled by a consultancy company called “arc4” from Manchester, details the aspirations of the small group of show people who tour the country providing fair ground style entertainment.

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Drink & drugs warning to drivers in York

North Yorkshire Police and the 95Alive York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership is urging the public to get behind this summer’s drink and drug drive crackdown.

The partnership, which involves North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire County Council, the fire service and the ambulance service, has launched a new campaign encouraging people to ‘dob in a drink driver’ and ‘grass on a drug driver’.

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“Save the Green Belt” petition tops 1000 signatures. 94% say green belt land should continue to be protected in York.

Page 4 Click to enlarge

Page 4 Click to enlarge

1042 residents have now signed the petition aimed at making permanent the draft Green Belt boundaries, agreed by the York Council in 2011.

This would mean that many of the controversial developments being proposed by Labour would have to be withdrawn.

Green Belt sites scheduled for development by Labour include land next to Knapton/Wetherby Road (Showmans Yard), the Great Knoll Foxwood Lane (residential), west of Moor Lane (residential) and Dunnington (Traveller site).

The number of survey forms returned now makes the following residents survey results reliable to +/- 3%.

The population of York should increase by 25% over the next 15 years Agree 8% Disagree 71% Unde 22%

“(Draft) Green Belt land should continue to be protected from development ” Agree 94% Disagree 3% Unde 3%

“More homes should be built at previously developed sites like Terry’s and British Sugar” Agree 89% Disagree 6% Unde 5%

“I am opposed to plans to provide a “showmans” site on Wetherby Road ” Agree 84% Disagree 12% Unde 4%

Greenfield sites in Dringhouses should be protected from development Agree 99% Disagree 1% Unde 0%

“I am opposed to charging for parking at out of City centre retail parks ” Agree 78% Disagree 11% Unde 11%

“I am concerned about the development of large scale wind farms near the City ” Agree 62% Disagree 18% Unde 20%

“I don’t want to see Lendal bridge closed to private cars at the present time ” Agree 69% Disagree 13% Unde 18%

Save the green belt poster Dringhouses

Crime rates continuing to fall – York still above average

Crime trends in York and North Yorkshire. click to enlarge

Crime trends in York and North Yorkshire. click to enlarge

North Yorkshire Police are celebrating North Yorkshire being the safest county in the country fallowing the publication of the latest crime figures.

Crime in York is down although levels remain above both the average for the rest of the force area and by comparison with similar City’s elsewhere in the country.

Residents can find local information and statistics on the following web site: http://www.police.uk/

In western York Anti Social Behaviour continues to be the most reported crime.

Crime levels in West York March 2013 click to enlarge

Crime levels in West York March 2013 click to enlarge

Free compost giveaway on Sunday for York residents

Free compost giveaway on Sunday for York residents

In partnership with Yorwaste Ltd free compost is being made available again.

Bring your own bag, container and shover (it is not pre-bagged) and help yourself to some free soil improver for your garden or allotment.

When: On the first Sunday of every month from March until October: 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October

Time: 9:30am until 2:30pm or while stocks last

Where: Harewood Whin waste site, Tinker Lane, Wetherby Road, Rufforth, York, Yo23 3RR