There is a lot of traffic congestion in the Haxby/Wigginton area today as the A1237 road works continue.
Up to date traffic reports can be found at http://roadworks.org/ or click map
Only 7076 new Minster badges sold
98 residents fined for using old badges in evening
Only a small proportion of the 30,000 old style Minster badge holders have opted to pay £20 to get a new badge
The latest figures released by the York Council suggest that 7076 of the badges have been sold
The badges entitle holders to free parking at Council car parks in the evening.
98 residents have incurred Penalty Charge Notices for relying on the old style badge during September.
It seems though that some are opting to pay the £2 a night evening charge. Evening car park income has increased since last year
- 2013 £34,042.05
- 2014 £40,754.50
No assessment has yet been made on the effects of the increased charges on the evening economy.
NB. The Minster badge also entitles users to pay lower day time car parking charges.
Bus services face new threat
Some park and ride sites to operate free service on Boxing Day
Labour Councillors have announced that they will be considering reducing subsidised bus services in the City at a meeting which will be held on 11th December.
Labour were criticised during the recent Westfield by election for keeping secret their plans to reduce services like the number 13A which serves the Hamilton Drive area.
There has so far been no consultation on the proposals which will seek to reduce the annual £800,000 spend by the Council on sustaining off peak bus services and those to remoter parts of the City.
The latest crisis reflects problems which started to develop when Labour took control of the Council in 2011.
They concentrated their efforts on scrapping the popular (with passengers) ftr service but failed to put anything in its place. Routes were chopped and changed with stability only achieved during the last 12 moths.
Now even that seems to be under threat.
Bus service usage peaked at 12 million passenger journeys with the introduction of the ftr in 2006 before declining last year to 10.4 million.
Overall bus usage has held up with a gradual increase in the numbers using Park and Ride services which themselves peaked last year at 4.4 million.
Further increases are expected this year with the opening of the larger Askham Bar site and the new service from Poppleton Bar.
NB. The Council has announced it’s Christmas Park and Ride services.
A late night shopping service on all six Park&Ride routes will operate every Thursday, with the last bus leaving the city centre on all routes at around 9.30pm (for exact timings visit http://www.itravelyork.info/).
The first extended service will run from the 20 November ahead of the biggest Christmas market in York’s calendar – St Nicholas Fair starting on 27 November.
In addition to this, passengers will also be able to take advantage again of the, now traditional, FREE travel on Boxing Day on the three key P&R routes which will be operating.
Three Park & Ride services will operate on Boxing Day:
- Askham Bar (white line – route 3) – First bus at 7am from the site, last bus back from Tower Street at 6.42pm
- Designer Outlet (red line – route 7) – First bus at 7am from the site, last bus back from Rougier Street at 6.40pm
- Monks Cross (silver line – route 9) – First bus at 7am from the site, last bus back from Rougier Street at 6.43pm
All three services will operate at a 15 minute frequency throughout the day and will be FREE for all passengers (and will stop at all usual stops along the route).
To find out more about the offer or to find the best bus route through York, try out the council’s new i-Travel York online Journey Planner at http://www.itravelyork.info/
Mental health upgrade in York
Funding to improve mental health services in York has been approved by NHS Property Services.
Cherry Tree House
NHS Property Services and NHS England have been working with local NHS services to address property and facilities issues in York to ensure that all mental health services can be accommodated appropriately within safe, secure and modern environments.
The first of the two schemes proposed will see the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS Tier 4) move out its current base at Lime Trees on Shipton Road into Mill Lodge – a refurbished building that will provide modern and safe mental health facilities for young people.
The second scheme will upgrade Cherry Tree House in the Heworth area of York to provide a purpose built unit for elderly patients currently cared for on Ward 6 at Bootham Park Hospital.
Tang Hall Big Local films premiere
A series of short films about life in the Tang Hall area of York will premiere at a special screening at Burnholme Community College on 29 November.
A graduation ceremony is being held on Monday 17 November to celebrate the success of over 1000 York apprentices and the businesses that employ them.
Alcohol Awareness Week
City of York Council is supporting this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week which is taking place from 17 to 23 November with a theme of “Facing our alcohol problem; Taking back our health and high streets.”
Young Inspectors put Mansion House under the microscope
York’s Young Inspectors will present a report on the Mansion House and its projected uses to the Lord Mayor on Monday 17 November following a trip to the historic house in the city centre.
Where the skips are on Saturday
The skips below are funded by your local residents association using their Estate Improvement Grant. The skips are removed once they are full so please make sure you arrive in good time if you intend to make use of them.
1. Please remember to take your waste to the site only on the dates advertised
2. If the skip is full or not on the site, please do not leave your waste. This is classed as fly tipping and is illegal
3. Bulky items including furniture, fridges and freezers are not accepted. To arrange disposal of Bulky items including furniture, fridges and freezers are not accepted. To arrange disposal of one of these items please ring York (01904) 551551.
Click the following links for more information
Dringhouses Library event on Saturday
