Signs have gone up announcing that St Helens Road will be closed from Tuesday 7th April for three days.
The council’s Streetworks teams have advised that the closure will allow remedial works to be done to the road surface after problems arose following Northern Powergrid works undertaken late last year.
The 3-way lights at the junction with Tadcaster Road will be turned off and a temporary pedestrian crossing will be in place.
St Leonard’s Hospice, located on Tadcaster Road, is calling on residents to support efforts to maintain its valuable services during these unprecedented times.
The Hospice has issued the following appeal:
“At this time of great national concern, we hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe. In terms of St Leonard’s Hospice, we can assure you that we are following NHS guidance and have put strict measures in place to protect our patients, visitors and staff.
The need for the care we deliver has never been greater
We know that in the coming weeks and months, our services will be more in demand than ever as we support the NHS to ensure that only those patients who specifically need hospital care are admitted and remain in hospital beds.
As well as protecting patients, staff and visitors, we must also consider the financial impact of COVID-19 on the Hospice
Fundraising events scheduled to take place over the coming months have been postponed and our shops have all been closed as we follow. Government guidance on social distancing. Please see our FAQs which may be useful if you have been planning to attend any of these events.
If you can, we are asking you to please unite behind your Hospice today
At this time of increased need and reduced income, please unite behind your local Hospice, so our fantastic staff can care for everyone that needs us. I know that we all have financial concerns at the moment, but we’ve been truly humbled by the urge people have to help each other at this time. That’s why we’ll be launching a number of new ways for everyone to get involved in supporting St Leonard’s Hospice.
Most importantly, we want to make sure you know that St Leonard’s Hospice is here for you
Whether it’s providing activities for kids to do whilst schools are closed, or virtual challenges to create a sense of community to replace the events we can’t host in person, we will be doing all we can to support you.
We are enormously proud of our community, and of the tireless work our staff are still undertaking every day. We are currently working hard to ensure that we can continue to provide the care needed by our patients and their families, not only during the current crisis but long into the future as well. We truly hope you’ll join us in any way you can.
St Leonard’s Hospice has been part of your local community for 35 years and, with your support, we will be here for the next 35 and beyond. We need you now more than ever. You can give now by making a donation online, sending a cheque to St Leonard’s Hospice, 185 Tadcaster Road, YO24 1GL or calling 01904 777 777 – but please bear with our Fundraising Team as they are currently working remotely.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”
An online application portal is now up and running for businesses to use to apply for grant funding.
There have been announcements made over recent days about support available to businesses that have been impacted by the Covid-19 restrictions.
City of York Council has brought together a lot of relevant information for businesses on its website HERE
Two of the grants that are available are the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant. To qualify for these grants, businesses must have been liable for the business rates on their property on 11 March 2020 and have an entitlement to the Expanded Retail Discount.
Full details of the grants, along with an online application form, are available on the council website HERE
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:
Further details can be found online HERE
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
Libraries in York are working on delivering more online services and activities including e-books, story times and other activities.
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!
“Please look out for and enjoy our new and existing services at https://exploreyork.org.uk/coronavirus “
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.
Residents who would like to volunteer are being asked to sign up by e-mailing volunteering@york.gov.uk or go to www.york.gov.uk/COVIDVolunteering or call 01904 551550
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.
Other key sources of advice and information:
Greene King, which is responsible for the Quaker Wood pub car park on Acomb Wood Drive, has committed to filling in the large pothole at the car park entrance.
In an e-mail from their Guest Relations team, Greene King say that “the Surveyor has been made aware of the issue and that a contractor has attended and submitted a quote for the repair works which has been approved, work will commence within the next 10 days.”
Community groups across Dringhouses & Woodthorpe are invited to submit applications for ward funding to support their work in 2020/21. The application deadline is 10th April.
Applications will then be considered by the Ward Team and reviewed against the published ward priorities.
