York’s PV panels wins national recognition

solar

A York project with Photo Voltaic (PV) panel specialists NWS to combat fuel poverty and serve as a national exemplar has won a national award.

To date, 8,511 Solar PV systems have been installed on 479 York council homes.

This week, The Green Organisation’s Green Apple Award was presented by Doreen Lawrence OBE to NWS which created and completed a ground-breaking, self-funded Solar PV project l.

A winner in the category of ‘Construction Companies: Energy Efficiency’, the project’s key aim was to create a viable model for providing free solar PV installations for housing authorities following the UK government’s reduction of the feed-in-tariff associated with micro-generation systems.

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Celebrate the past, the present and the future… Armed Forces day

Sun 30 Jun, 12noon to 4pm in Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square

York has a long standing association with the militiary, of which it is extremely proud. This event will have representatives from the Army, Navy and Air Force and will provide entertainment and fun irrespective of age.

From the Variety Marquee featuring a variety of acts including the Military Wives Choir, the sight and sound of the Yorkshire Regimental Band to a paint balling experience and many other activities. There will even be a field hospital, military kitchen and weapons display as well as military vehicles and a world war 1 cinema!.

For further information please go to www.yorkfestivals.com

Bonding Warehouse plans revealed

Bonding warehouse

Bonding warehouse

The Bonding Warehouse may be turned into a restaurant and/or offices with the upper floors becoming 4 apartments.

A planning application, being considered on 4th July, also includes the erection of an “external access tower and bridge link to Skeldergate” as well as a new “mansard” roof to the southern part of the building

Details of the proposal – which is recommended for approval – can be found by clicking here

The building has been empty since 2000. In spite of the implementation of a “tanking” scheme inside the ground floor of the building to minimize the impact of flooding, the building is deteriorating and is highlighted as being “at risk” in the Central Historic Core conservation area appraisal.

Reduction in “children in care” numbers in York

The number of children in the care of the local authority has fallen in York.

An annual review shows that there were 243 children in care at the end of March 2013 compared to 258 in 2012.

Of the 248, 67% had been placed with Council appointed foster carers. A further 9% were living with people who had a previous connection to the child (e.g. an aunt)

The City has 113 approved foster carers at the end of the year.

Around 20 families apply to become foster carers each month.

Foster carers are paid a weekly fee of between £149 and £642 depending on the age of the child fostered and the skill level of the fosterer.

Income from fostering is tax free up to a limit of £25,000 a year.

Despite £300,000 taxpayers investment, York traffic camera information still not available on web

County Council weather camera. Click photo to access North Yorkshire cameras

County Council weather camera. Click photo to access North Yorkshire cameras


The York Council was today celebrating opening a new CCTV control centre.

It was immediately criticised for not making the output of traffic/weather cameras – which monitor congestion levels in the City – available on the internet. Anyone currently trying to access the York Live web site will find that all the displayed cameras are marked as “unavailable”

York Live traffic information. Click image to access

York Live traffic information. Click image to access

This contrasts with the policy of the neighbouring North Yorkshire County Council which has, for several years, allowed travellers to check the traffic and weather conditions displayed by 12 “real time” cameras.

The York Council media release says,

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Record LOW number of speeders caught in York last week

The Police speed camera van caught only 32 drivers speeding in the York area last week. This was lower than normal. Most were identified on Greenshaw Drive in Haxby and on the A1237 at Monks Cross.

North Yorkshire Police mobile safety camera routes for the period 26 June to 2 July 2013.

Below are enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday 26 June 2013.

• Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York

• Beckfield Lane Acomb York

• Main Street Askham Richard

• Millfield Lane Poppleton York

• Temple Lane Copmanthorpe York

• Malton Road York
• Murton Way Murton York
• Skipwith Road Escrick
• Stillingfleet Mine, Escrick Road
• Strensall Road Huntington York
• The village Stockton-on-the-Forest York
• Towthorpe Road Haxby
• Greenshaw Drive Haxby
• York Road Haxby York
• Grange Farm, Wheldrake Lane, Elvington
• B1228 Dunnington Lodge Elvington

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Latest planning application Dringhouses and Woodthorpe area

Below is the latest planning application received by the York Council last week affecting the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe parts of the City. Full details can be found by quoting the application reference on the “planning portal” web site.

Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

Location: 33 Moorcroft Road York YO24 2RQ Ref No: 13/01971/FUL Proposal: Sub-division of dwelling to form 2no. self-contained flats and dormer to front (resubmission) Applicant: Mr Andrew Henderson Contact Mr Andrew Henderson Consultation Expiry Date 16 July 2013 Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level DEL

Neighbourhood Watch “ringmaster crime alerts” available on line

Recent crime alerts issued by York local policing teams can be found by clicking here:

West – http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/west/

Central/East – http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/cande/

North – http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/north/

The links can also be accessed form the new Neighbourhood Watch web site http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/

For details of crimes committed in west York click the map below and enter your local post code

click map to go to Police web site

click map to go to Police web site