Click to update. Teatime expected to be busy today
Still heavy traffic around St Leonards Place.
Don’t forget that the Council is saying that it will levy £60 fines on those misusing Lendal Bridge from today
Monk Bar Traffic lights are out of order, please proceed with caution
— York Travel (@york_travel) September 4, 2013
National data is showing that the number of adoptions in England and Wales increased by almost ten per cent last year compared to 2011.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that there were 5,206 adoptions in 2012 compared to 4,740 in 2011.
The number of children adopted in York has also increased in the same period, with 13 adoptions in 2011/12 and 14 in 2012/13. A total of 20 children are preparing to be placed for adoption during 2013/14, once arrangements with their new families and the courts have been finalised.
The figures from the ONS are made up of adoptions that took place following court orders in England and Wales in 2012 and apply to adoptions by relatives and step-parents as well as adoptions from care. More information is available at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
For information about how to adopt in York contact the council’s Family Placements Team on 01904 555333 or email adoptionandfostering@york.gov.uk
click to update
It looks like many drivers have heard about the fine amnesty on Lendal Bridge this afternoon.
Many are opting to use that route in preference to the heavily congested Bootham/Clifton Bridge link.
As a result there is standing traffic on St Leonards Place as well as on Lendal Bridge itself.
The Council is being pressed to reveal the value of the fines- levied during the first 10 days of the Lendal bridge closure – that it is cancelling.
Some estimates put the figure at over £100,000.
The Council is understood to be employing a third party to process the penalty notices and it is unclear how that contractor will now be paid for the work that it has done.
The Council says that it will levy fines for misuse from tomorrow (Wednesday)
York is to to welcome highly regarded technology speakers who will share their knowledge with York firms over a free business lunch on Thursday 5 September.
To register your attendance visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/7239201647.
The event will see Jonathan Mitchener and Nick Bassett speak to York firms about their experiences with The Technology Strategy Board.
The Government backed Technology Strategy Board drives high-impact investments in innovation projects and businesses across the UK, with a headline budget of £500m a year.
Continue reading
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.
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.
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.
Good advice from theYork Police on mobile device security can be found by clicking here. http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/mobiledevices
The article explains how to set up your mobile phone so that it ca be detected if it is lost or stolen.
It explains how to erase the phones contents remotely.
Well worth a read
Click to update
The first real test of the Lendal bridge closure came today with some schools returning after the summer break.
Clifton Bridge, Bootham, Gillygate and Wigginton Road are heavily congested.
There are also major tail backs on the A1237.
Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward. Full details can be found by clicking the application reference
Ref No: 13/02888/LHE
Location: 23 Middlethorpe Drive York YO24 1NG
Proposal: Erection of single storey extension extending 4.1 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.3 metres and a total height of 3.4 metres
Applicant: Mr And Mrs Bullock Contact Kate Macneill Consultation Expiry Date 23 September 2013 Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level DEL
Ref No: 13/02944/LHE
Location: 2 Alness Drive York YO24 2XZ
Proposal: Erection of single storey extension extending 4.825 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.5 metres and a total height of 3.575 metres
Applicant: D Poole Consultation Expiry Date 23 September 2013 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL
Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/
NB.The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.
The winter maintenance survey has been extended.Have your say on how& where CYC provides this service across the city http://t.co/9AZ8g0NolG
— City of York Council (@CityofYork) September 2, 2013