The Dringhouses Local History Group’s 2024 programme kicks off on 18th January at 7.30pm at St Edwards Church Hall with a talk from Catherine Warr on Yorkshire folklore, customs and traditions.
![](https://dringhousesandwoodthorpeward.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2024/01/Poster-A-Yorkshire-Year-Jan-2024-724x1024.jpg)
Local Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed concern that a ‘ban’ on allocating ward funding could lead to planned summer holiday activities for young people being axed.
In recent years, Lib Dem councillors in wards across the city have jointly commissioned York Knights Foundation and York City Football Club Foundation to deliver free activity sessions for young people, which also included the provision of drinks and snacks. These sessions are open to all. When the council budget for 2023/24 was passed in February, Lib Dem councillors protected ward funding so that schemes such as these could continue.
Dringhouses & Woodthorpe’s Lib Dem councillors have now been told by council officers that they cannot allocate some of the 2023/24 ward budget to fund activities for young people in the July / August summer holiday period. It is understood that this ‘ban’ has been imposed as the incoming Labour administration plans to propose an ‘emergency’ budget in July, meaning that ward funding is in limbo.
Dringhouses & Woodthorpe councillor Stephen Fenton has called on the new administration to commit to retain the full ward funding allocations agreed in February, so that ward schemes and projects can go ahead.
He said “The summer holiday sessions run by the Knights and York City have been very popular, and at a time when family budgets are stretched, the ability to offer free-of-charge activities is more important than ever. It would be such a shame if we had to axe the planned summer programme because of a ban on allocating the ward funding that was agreed back in February.
“At this time of year, ward councillors would ordinarily be inviting local voluntary and charitable organisations to apply for ward funding to support local projects that benefit the community. It now looks as though we won’t be able to do this, unless there is a commitment from the new administration to protect ward funding.”
Explore York have announced that Dringhouses Library will re-open on 16th March after heating upgrade work has been completed.
The library closed on 13th February in response to concerns about the low temperature in the building, caused by a combination of winter weather and ineffective heating. A new boiler is being installed along with new convector heaters and new radiators. It has been confirmed that Listed Building Consent is not needed for these internal improvement works.
Cllr Stephen Fenton has welcomed the news, commenting “I was grateful that the Chief Executive of Explore agreed to meet with me when news of the closure broke, which came as something of a surprise. It is encouraging that the council’s Facilities team has been able to work with Explore to agree the specifications and get the equipment ordered and ready for installation.”
Arsonists have badly damaged play equipment at the Leeside playground, which recently benefited from £14,000 of investment.
The damage was done on the evening of Saturday 30 April and the Fire Service were called to extinguish the blaze.
Cllr Stephen Fenton has asked council officers to repair or replace the damaged equipment and surfacing.
This Easter holiday, York City Knights Foundation will again be offering free inflatable arena activity sessions for young people. The sessions are open to all children and young people aged five and upwards, with food and drink provided. There’s no need to book – just turn up.
Sessions in the west of York are listed below:
More information is available at https://yorkcityknights.com/future-knights/
York’s artists and makers are inviting residents into their home studios on the weekends of 2/3 & 9/10 April.
To find a full list of the open studios, go to https://www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk/
Here is a list of the open studios in the Dringhouses, Foxwood and Acomb area.