Young craft-cyclers are being tasked with designing and building either: a hotrod racing car, a plane or an out-of-this-world spaceship, with a twist, in an exciting competition to promote reuse of recycled materials amongst children.

Zero Waste York, in partnership with local publisher,Junkcraft Books , is running the competition for Key Stage 2 children where all entries must be made from recycled items found around the home.

Get building, as the best creations will be in with a chance of winning great construction set prizes by Meccano, plus a Super Construction Set prize for their school.

Children have until February 8th 2013 to submit their entries. To enter upload a digital photograph of the finished creation with a short description to the competition page at www.junkcraft.com.

Full competition details and entry requirements can be found on www.junkcraft.com/york-schools-competition/

North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 24 October and Tuesday 30 October 2012.

•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster

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During the Illuminating York Festival 2012, a short film capturing the stories of York-based or linked armed forces personnel, their families and local communities will be screened in St Helen’s Square.

The film has been produced as part of the York Stories 2012 project which celebrates York 800 by recording and sharing local people’ stories, and has been funded by the Community Covenant Grant and City of York Council with the aim of building bridges between the armed forces and local communities.

The film will be screened every night from October 31 – November 3 between 6:30pm and 9:30pm on a mobile screen.

The award-winning leisure centre “Energise” located on Cornlands Road has doubled the size of its gym.

The gym now accommodates 95 users – previously 56 – at any one time, and has extra space to improve access for disabled users.

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Dringhouses Library

There is mounting speculation that York’s library service will be outsourced and removed from council ownership after a recent review of council management jobs did not include any discussion on the future role of the ‘Head of Libraries’.

In a related development, the Labour Cabinet Member in charge of libraries has confirmed that current staffing levels can not be guaranteed after planned reforms are completed.

Last month the Lib Dems revealed that Labour was drawing up proposals to take libraries out of council control and ownership. The plans have seen a City of York Council ‘project board’ set-up which is working on how assets could be transferred and how alternative ownership models could work. Despite promising a “full and frank” discussion, the six-week public consultation launched by Labour on the city’s library service, has been criticised as it does not include any questions on future ownership or management changes.

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Council Officers are processing requests for cold calling controlled zones on Grassholme. Residents need to respond positively to the consultation in order for the zone to be granted.

The Willow tree on Woodthorpe Green has been Crown lifted where it overhung the footpath.

The Grassholme road sign on Moor Lane has been moved across the road to the same side as the junction to avoid the problem of it being obscured by vegetation. The Kinbrace Drive sign on Girvan Close has been replaced.

A request for dropped kerbs to be provided on Moorcroft Rd at the Moor Lane junction has been added to the Council’s list.

The next Ward Committee will take place at Woodthorpe School, Summerfield Rd on 29th November.

On the agenda will be the plans for the 20 mph speed limit that Labour want to introduce across the whole of the City—including all of Dringhouses—at a cost of £500,000.

Liberal Democrats support a targeted approach to speed limits based on accident records and residents views.

Cllr Ann Reid said
“Labour want to implement a blanket 20mph speed limit although they have said that they will listen to residents views. Most residents say to me that they would like to see current speed limits enforced rather than reduced.
Come along to the Ward Committee and have your say on this important issue.”

20 MPH – THE MEETING THAT THEY’D RATHER YOU DIDN’T ATTEND!

Ann Reid helps out at the Woodthorpe shops clean up

Improvements are slowly being made at Woodthorpe Shops

The front canopy has been replaced and the car park resurfaced.

Some of the walls around the flower beds have been repaired and the Coop has re-laid some paving slabs.

Following Westhorpe Scouts planting of the flower beds in the summer pupils from Woodthorpe School and local residents have been weeding the beds.

Ann says “Working with Woodthorpe School we are hoping to establish “Woodthorpe Weeders” next Spring to maintain and improve the flowerbeds.

Keep an eye on the notice board for weeding sessions if you want to get involved.”

Workers, pupils and residents in York have spent the last three weeks walking enough miles to take them from Land’s End to John O’Groats 19.4 times as part of City of York Council’s i-Travel initiative.

The York Walking Challenge results are in and participants to this popular annual event clocked up an impressive 16,962 miles on foot. This is the equivalent of burning off 2950 muffins and saving 2934 kg of CO2

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The City of York Council has issued a media release saying that it “is asking traders, shoppers and visitors for their initial thoughts on plans to secure a flourishing future for the historic Newgate Market and its contribution to the city’s retail offering.

This preliminary consultation will involve all traders, including businesses inside and adjacent to the market, working groups and shoppers both local and visiting. It also links to city-wide projects such as Reinvigorate York and Smarter York which are focussing on the appearance and quality of the city.

Dependent on the outcome of the consultation, a bid could be made to the council’s Economic Infrastructure Fund (EIF) which aims to kick-start critical economic infrastructure projects that may not otherwise receive external funding support. If successful, and subject to further consultation on a more refined vision, the visibility and overall appearance of the market could be enhanced in line with an ambitious improvement plan.

This consultation outlines the council’s aims and objectives for the market which includes creating extra jobs from increased footfall and contributing to the evening economy with evening markets and extended trading hours. To do so, consultation respondents will be asked about the appearance of the existing market place and how it might be made more inviting and attract a wider range of businesses”.

The consultation launches on Monday 22 October. To take part, people can visit a mobile exhibition unit at Newgate Market everyday until Sunday 28 October from 9.00 until 4.30pm daily. People can also participate online at www.york.gov.uk or by email at york-markets@york.gov.uk or write to Darren Lovatt, City of York Council, 5 Silver Street, York YO1 8RY. All responses must be received by 31 October 2012

The Council have already announced that they intend to make changes to the market so really the consultation is about what should be done, not whether major change is needed. Stand by for a deluge of reponses asking for the market to return to parliament Street!