Dringhouses Library – Freedom of Information revelation

Dringhouses Library

Dringhouses Library

A freedom of information request  has revealed that the Dringhouses Library building was gifted to the Council in 1942 for use only as a “Library or for other public uses”.

The revelation comes at a time when there are increasing concerns about the future of small libraries.

The Labour Councils decided to cut the libraries budget by £250,000 in 2013/14 and a further £150,000 in the forthcoming financial year.

The library service is now in the hands of an independent social enterprise trust which is currently looking to appoint new Directors

There will be an Open Evening at Acomb Explore, Front Street, Acomb, on Wednesday 12 March from 4pm – 6 pm, for anybody who would like to learn more. The management team and other Explore directors will be in attendance and able to answer questions. The person specification and role information for the new posts and can be found here.

To express interest in becoming a Community Director or the Finance Director of Explore, email fiona.williams@york.gov.uk by 24 March 2014.

International Women’s Week events in York

Woman cricketer
International Women’s Week, from 8-15 March will be marked with a vibrant and thought-provoking series of events this week by City of York Council’s libraries.

An event, ‘Find your words, Find your voice’ will take place on Wednesday 12 March from 10.30am-1pm at Dringhouses library. Join Pauline Kirk, novelist and editor, and Rose Drew, poet and editor, and enjoy developing the craft of writing and publicly sharing work. Tickets are £4 and include refreshments. They are available from dringhouses.library@york.gov.uk or phone (01904) 552674.

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Today (Thursday) is world book day

 

Children and young people across York are being urged to join the celebrations for World Book Day (Thursday 6 March).

rowntree_library

World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of books and reading, marked in over 100 countries all over the world. This year marks the 17th World Book Day and nurseries, toddler groups, children’s centres and schools across the city are getting involved, with a variety of activities such as guest story tellers and book-themed dressing-up.

Youngsters travelling on First York’s number six route (Tang Hall to Clifton) will be able to get involved by reading books which will be available on the buses on World Book Day. The books have been kindly loaned by City of York Council’s Explore Library Learning Centres.

And, visitors to City of York Council’s West Offices will be able to drop in to the main foyer where a ‘comfy’ reading area will be available for families and children and members of the council’s Early Years team will be on hand to read stories.

Visit the World Book Day website (http://www.worldbookday.com/) to find out more about encouraging children to read.

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New pedestrian crossing for Heslington

The York Council is considering installing a new pedestrian crossing on University Road in Heslington.

The have been four injury accidents on the road in recent years.

The scheme could cost £70,000 and also involves introducing a 20 mph speed limit.

The Council has so far not revealed why this area is apparently being omitted from its wide area speed limit plan for the eats of York.

The University is also going to invest around £150,000 in off carriageway works some of which may encourage students to use a footbridge to cross the road.

Details of the plan can be found by clicking here

 

Click for detail

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Richard III

City of York Council’s Archaeologist will be leading a series of walks retracing Richard III’s steps around York, this Spring.

Richard III head

Richard III head

The walking tours are open to the public, and have been devised by John Oxley FSA in response to public interest in the identification of the monarch’s remains and as part of the collaborative Richard III: Rumour and Reality project.

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Crime and policing update

Mobile safety camera routes week commencing 05 March 2014

Below are the enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday 05 March 2014.

Safety camera van

The safety cameras are now more visible then ever before with each of the three vehicles bearing the same hi-vis livery as North Yorkshire Police’s marked vehicle fleet.

Click here for list

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Concern grows for missing York man

Police in York are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a missing man from the city.

Ben Clarkson, 22, has not been seen since 3.30am on Sunday 2 March 2014, outside Fibbers Nightclub, Stonebow.

When Ben was last seen he was wearing dark skinny jeans, a grey t-shirt with an Eiifel Tower logo on the front and dark pumps with white trim and white toe caps.

More click here

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Police investigate York riverside sexual assault – enquiries continue

Detectives in York are continuing their appeal for information after a serious sexual assault in the city.

Incident

The incident occurred on the steps near Skeldergate Bridge just after 1.30am on Monday 3 March 2014, when a local woman, in her early twenties, was subjected to a serious sexual assault by an unknown man.

A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident on Monday 3 March 2014, has now been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries.

More click here

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Scheme to help protect domestic violence victims extended across North Yorkshire and the City of York

A national scheme to help protect domestic violence victims will begin across North Yorkshire and the City of York from 8 March 2014.

Domestic Abuse icon

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) also known as ‘Clare’s Law’, introduces recognised and consistent procedures for police to consider the disclosure of information to relevant parties. This could be the partner of a violent individual or concerned third parties such as relatives or friends – whoever is best placed to protect a victim or potential victim.

More click here

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Image of York theft suspect released

Police have released an image of a man they would like to trace in connection with the theft of three sat-navs from an electrical store in York.

On 14 October 2013, three Tom Toms were taken from a shelf in Maplin Electronics on Hurricane Way at Clifton Moor.

Officers are appealing to anyone who recognises the man from the image to contact them with information.

More click here

York Councils “new” litter policy

The Council is to introduce what they describe as a “new” policy on litter. Details click here

Litter complaints

In reality most of the policy is little different from that which was implemented over a decade ago.

Mechanisation has increased the areas that can be swept – particularly in the City centre – but in sub-urban areas litter has been a growing problem since bins were removed a couple of years ago.

The “policy” makes no mention of dog fouling – again a problem that has been on the increase since the Dog Wardens were cut. More joint use litter/poop scoop bins are, however, promised.

Other essential street level posts have been cut leaving York’s front line dangerously undermanned.

The effective, and much missed, Street Environment Officers have now gone to be replaced by an, improbably named, “Smarter York Officer”.

Once again the emphasis is on forcing residents to undertake work previously done by the Council.

“Spring cleans” are promised but not in areas like the Cornlands estate where standards are now very poor.

Residents will want to be sure that their taxes are being spent wisely.

They expect to see performance measures, clear targets and a real on the ground improvement plan.

Sadly that is not part of the agenda for York’s Labour Council.

York visitor numbers show small increase

increase-footfall-retail

Continuing mild weather, and a recovering economy, boosted visitor numbers in York City centre by 3% during February compared to the same month in 2013.

Although the increase is less than is being experience in similar High Streets elsewhere in the country, no doubt tourism chiefs will point to the success of special events such as the Viking Festival as part of the explanation for the reversal in fortunes.

The modest increase is unlikely to be enough to deflect criticism from the unpopular Lendal bridge closure which continues to dog the reputation of York City centre.

Huge increases in car parking charges – which are scheduled to be introduced later in the spring when York residents will lose their “Minster badge” discounts – are another cause for apprehension.

The first Saturday in March saw 38,882 visitors recorded on the Parliament Street footfall cameras.

This compared to 50,054 on the equivalent Saturday last year.

The full footfall figures can be seen by clicking here.