York Council amnesty on Lendal bridge fines?

The media is reporting that the Council will waive the fines due from motorists who have used Lendal Bridge during the last 10 days.

No indication has been given of the number of penalty notices this would affect.

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The Council is saying that it will the number plate recognition cameras (ANPR) to enforce the access restrictions from tomorrow (Wednesday).

The amnesty statement has not apparently been issued by Cllr Merrett who is responsible for the closure.

No statement has been made about any amnesty for those who have fallen foul over the last month of the extended restrictions on Coppergate.

The restrictions there are also being enforced through the use of ANPR technology.

Meanwhile the City centre is very quiet today raising fears that shoppers are being discouraged by the controversy surrounding the Lendal bridge closure trial.

The Council are being asked to publish daily data from their footfall cameras.

Although most City centre traders and visitor attractions have reported a buoyant summer, the period leading up to Christmas is the most critical time of the year for City centre shops.

If shoppers shun the City centre then it could be the death knell for some small traders.

York Council now spending £1/4 million each year clearing fly tipping

Dumping and litter on Tithe Close snicket1400 hours 23rd Aug 2013

The York Council has admitted that it is costing taxpayers £250,000 a year to clear fly tipping in the City.

7 people are employed full time on the task.

They use 3 specialist vehicles.

The Council was heavily criticised last year when it closed the recycling centre in Beckfield Lane.

Residents forecast that fly tipping would increase.

The Council claimed then that the closure would “save” £40,000 a year.

Other contributory factors to the problem with fly tipping can be traced to the decision to stop the provision of mobile skips in some neighbourhoods.

Many litter bins have also been removed, while this winter there will be no green bin collections over a period of nearly 6 months.

The Council has also claimed that it no longer gets any income from the sale of materials returned to Hazel Court for recycling.

New initiative tackles housing fraud across North Yorkshire

An initiative to tackle housing fraud across North Yorkshire is being launched by a regional alliance led by Veritau.

In the past two years Veritau, a company owned by City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council which investigates fraud within the public sector, has freed over 40 misused properties allowing them to be legitimately let. In addition Veritau has provided information to prevent 15 false applications for housing to City of York Council.

Veritau and City of York Council have now joined forces with eight other social housing providers within North Yorkshire to create an anti-housing fraud alliance. The partners are Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, Richmondshire District Council, Broadacres Housing Association, Harrogate Borough Council, Yorkshire Housing, Craven District Council, York Housing Association, and Selby District Council.

This partnership initiative focuses on identifying and prosecuting people who lie about their circumstances in order to obtain a property; tenants who unlawfully sublet their property; tenants who stop living at their property and people who provide false information to gain a property through succession rights.
(more…)

York Police and crime update 30th August 2013

Trees illegally felled in Fulford

York police are appealing for witnesses after a number of trees were illegally cut down.
Sometime between June and August this year around 30 to 40 willow trees were felled on Fenby Field in Fulford.

More http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/11993

CCTV appeal as woman’s jaw broken in York assault

York police have issued CCTV images to assist their appeal for information after a woman’s jaw was broken when she tried to break up an altercation in the street.
The assault happened at around 4am on Saturday 17 August 2013 on the corner of Piccadilly and Coppergate when a man was shouting verbal abuse at two women.
The victim of the assault, a 21-year-old York woman intervened and was struck in the face by the suspect before falling to the ground.

More:

York Police and crime update

Cyber-Crime

Fight against York burglaries continues

York police are continuing their campaign against house burglaries in the city with another arrest, and the hunt for a suspect.

A 45-year-old man from York, was arrested just after 3.30am on Wednesday 21 August 2013, on Newton Terrace on suspicion of a burgling a house in the street.

Click here for more information

Fixed penalty fine levels increased

North Yorkshire Police is reminding drivers of the increase in fines for motoring offences announced last week as they continue to support a European-wide crackdown aimed at improving road safety.

• a non-endorsable offence (where the driver does not receive points on their licence) £30 fixed penalty notice has risen to £50

• an endorsable (where points are given) £60 and non-endorsable fixed penalty notice has risen to £100

• an endorsable £120 fixed penalty notice has risen to £200

• the fixed penalty notice for driving with no insurance has risen from £200 to £300

Click here for more information