Healthy lifestyle campaign starts in York

Click to go to web site

Click to go to web site

This September Change4Life is asking families in Yorkto make the most of the fresh start of the new school year by signing up to a healthy change when the kids go back to the classroom. Families across York are being encouraged to take on one change for the better, for six weeks – to help them lead healthier lifestyles for longer.

By the end of summer we can all tend to slack off a bit and it’s easy to let good intentions slide. But the new school year is the perfect time for a new beginning and for the whole family to get fit and healthy for the best year yet!

To help families in the York area do this, Change4Life is encouraging them to sign up to the FREE Smart Restart campaign and pick one healthy change for them to try when they go back to school.

Once signed up, families will receive support from Change4Life via email and text messages for six weeks from the start of term, as well as details of special offers, competitions and virtual rewards for the kids.

(more…)

Sky Ride

On Saturday 14 September York will be hosting it’s first big bike ride event, Sky Ride York. In partnership with British Cycling, the City of York Council is hoping this free event will encourage more people in York to get on their bikes and ride for fun.

click for more details

click for more details

The Sky Ride will take in some of York’s most famous landmarks and picturesque views including Clifford’s Tower, York Minster and Rowntree Park. Residents and visitors will be able to ride the traffic free route from 10:30am until 4pm.

The first 1,000 cyclists that register for Sky Ride York will be entered into a prize draw to win a signed Team Sky jersey. This exclusive prize has been signed by the 2013 Tour de France winner Chris Froome and other members of Team Sky Pro Cycling. To register for Sky Ride York, visit www.goskyride.com/YorkSkyRide.

This summer York residents can also enjoy taking part in a series of free guided bike rides with Sky Ride Local. Guided by friendly British Cycling Ride Leaders along scenic planned routes, they’re a great way to get out and see your local area on two wheels. With different levels, there are rides for all abilities – whether you’re building your confidence or already comfortable on a bike and looking for a challenge. To book you and your family onto one of these fun local bike rides, visit goskyride.com/York

To get more women on their bikes, British Cycling’s Breeze network is also coming to York. Breeze is the biggest programme ever to get more women into riding their bikes for fun. The aim is to help thousands more women feel confident and comfortable about going on a ride, to find out more about Breeze, visit breezebikerides.com

To find out more about cycling in York go to www.york.gov.uk/getyorkcycling

Life expectancy in York relatively low

death rates

A new website called longer lives http://longerlives.phe.org.uk/ says that life expectancy in “deprived” parts of York is one of the lowest in the country when compared to similar areas.

York has the highest overall death rate at 252 (per 100,000 population) when compared to the best Dorset (207) in its peer group.

The City is highest for death from cancer & lung disease.

Residents are advised on the web site how to improve their chances of avoiding these conditions with smoking and poor diet high risk factors.

Residents unhappy with York Council’s ice and snow clearance policies

30 days hath September, April, June and November all the rest have 31 save February which has 28 and January which has 80 (and rising)

Damaged salt bin Cornlands Road

Damaged salt bin Cornlands Road

Residents responding to a survey carried out in the Westfield ward, have criticised the York Councils winter maintenance performance.

57% were disappointed with icy weather arrangements.

An overwhelming 97% felt that the Council should top up all salt bins at the beginning of winter.

This winter – for the first time- the Council only filled some of the local salt bins and had to be forced by public opinion to fill the rest around the middle of January.

Unfortunately the bins had been left out over the summer period and many had been damaged. Lids were missing from some of them while many of the rest had become informal litter bins.

We believe that the Council should recover all the bins this summer and repair them.

Then they should make sure that they are out on the streets again, and full, before the icy winter weather starts.

Complaints about blocked drainage gullies up by 43% in York

Blocked gulley complaints. Click to enlarge

Blocked gulley complaints.
Click to enlarge

The Labour Councils decision to reduce the routine cleaning of gullies in much of the City has proved to be a false economy.

During 2012, 649 complaints were received by the Council from residents who were concerned about carriageway and footpath flooding.

Block gullies were blamed.

Special cleans had to be arranged on 201 occasions.