Residents are being urged to respect the decision to close all playgrounds.
On the Revival estate, off Tadcaster Road, the playgrounds are managed by open space management company Greenbelt. In response to an e-mail from Cllr Stephen Fenton they stated that “there is no requirement to close all of our play areas.” This runs counter to Government guidance which states that “Communal spaces within parks such as playgrounds and football pitches will be closed.”
City of York Council officers stepped in and put cable ties around gates at the two playgrounds on the estate as a stop-gap measure. Sadly, one set of cable ties was cut shortly afterwards.
Stephen has asked the council to step in again to install a more permanent solution, such as a chain and lock.
City of York Council has today announced details of a new Emergency Fund totalling £1.25m to support residents facing hardship during the Covid -19 pandemic.
With the funding in place, residents will now be able to receive financial support from two funding streams, depending on their circumstances and how much help they need. The two funds are:
Emergency Hardship Fund for residents affected by Covid-19
The Easter holiday activity sessions that were to be run by York City FC Foundation and York City Knights Foundation have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
It is hoped that session planned for the summer holidays will be able to go ahead.
Local businesses around Dringhouses & Woodthorpe are operating where they can. We will try to share as much information as we can in future website posts, recognising that it is a fluid situation and that things may change.
Here is some information that hopefully will be of use:
• Tesco Askham Bar – Open 6am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 10am is priority shopping time for elderly and vulnerable residents and Sunday from 9am to 10am there is a browsing hour for NHS workers • Morrisons Acomb – Open 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Monday to Saturday 7am to 8am the store is open early or NHS workers • Ged Bell Butchers on Middlethorpe Grove – shop remains open and they can do deliveries. Call 01904 706069 or 07813 110218 • Richardsons Butchers on Moorcroft Road – shop remains open and they can do deliveries. Order online HERE or call 01904 707876
The Government has published information on the rules requiring people to stay at home and away from others as part of its attempts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
The information, which includes a link to information on which businesses can remain open, is available HERE
Posters are going up on community noticeboards around Dringhouses & Woodthorpe letting residents know how they can request assistance and how they can volunteer to help others.
Libraries in York are working on delivering more online services and activities including e-books, story times and other activities.
Dringhouses library
After receiving advice from Public Health, from midday on Saturday 21 March Explore Libraries are moving their services online. A service to safely deliver and collect books for those who can’t access the internet is also being scaled up. Residents now don’t have to return borrowed items until 30th June – and won’t be fined.
Cllr Darryl Smalley, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities, said:
“Explore Library and Archives already has many fantastic online services and are working quickly to create even more. In this period of social distancing and self-isolation, I hope and expect residents’ engagement in York’s library service to rocket.
“Reading for pleasure is a brilliant and restful way to relax – especially important for those in self isolation – and will continue to support people’s emotional wellbeing whilst they are at home.
“City of York Council will be working with communities in the coming week to ensure community hubs are in operation across York, supporting the most vulnerable residents with foods and medicines, and making the most of the city’s increasing pool of volunteers.
“We’re also looking at how council services which currently run from Explore’s Library Learning Centres can be delivered differently – we’ll keep you informed about them as soon as possible.”
Fiona Williams, chief executive of Explore Learning Library Centre, said:
“We are working hard and in close partnership with City of York Council to deliver a range of online services to support people at this difficult time.
“We are also looking at ways to safely deliver books to those who can’t access the internet. Any items currently on loan from us don’t need to be returned until June – and we won’t be fining anyone for them!
Many people are keen to do what they can to help in the current crisis, and communities across Dringhouses & Woodthorpe are rallying round in terms of looking out for elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
A structured
and safe approach to volunteering is important to ensure people get the support
they need in a co-ordinated and safe way.
Those vulnerable residents who do not currently have any access to support, but who need help because of impact of COVID-19, should e-mail Community Support Coordinators at covid19help@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551550 for assistance.
