Guildhall dig

A fragment of a comb from Viking times, a wig curler from the 1700s and the wall an even older building than the Guildhall are among the finds from this summer’s York 800 dig to be revealed by Dr Mark Whyman of York Archaeological Trust (YAT) at his lecture during City of York Council’s Local Democracy Week.

The council commissioned the dig from York Archeological Trust as an element of the York 800 celebrations which would literally delve into the foundations of the home of democracy and its civic origins. Few digs had been carried out in this area and they had not been thoroughly documented so this was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the seat of local democracy .

The Trust dug three trenches: one in the cellar beneath the arch of the Mansion House, another in the Guildhall Yard and the third beneath the Guildhall in the underground Common Hall Lane. Besides finding fragments of Roman pottery, the dig revealed a finely-built wall which may have been part of a Common Hall pre-dating the present Guildhall, itself built in the 1440s. It also unearthed evidence of domestic waste that suggested the area was being lived in before the Common Hall became a civic building.

In keeping with the participatory ethos of York 800 and the Medieval Festival which ran this summer, as well as being spurred on by a visit from Professor Mick Aston, formerly of Channel 4’s Time Team, members of the public watched, talked about and even got into the Guildhall Yard trench to help.

Dr Whyman said: “These three small excavations have produced results far exceeding their size. As well as the significance of the archaeological evidence, the work has aroused a great deal of public, official and media interest, and highlighted the importance of the history of the Guildhall in the development of civic society in York.”

The talk will take place on Wednesday 17 October 2012 in the Guildhall’s Council Chamber at 6pm. To reserve a place, contact Fiona.young@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551027.

There was little change in UK house price growth over the first nine months of 2012, according to the latest Halifax house Price Index.

• House prices in the three months to September were 0.5% lower than in the preceding three months. This compared with a 0.3% decline in August.

• House prices fell by 0.4% in September. This was the third consecutive monthly fall. These declines have more than offset the two successive rises in May and June.

• Prices have fallen very slightly over the first nine months of 2012. The average UK house price in September 2012 was 0.3% lower than in December 2011, at £159,486.

• Prices in the three months to September were 1.2% lower than in the same period a year earlier. This measure of the annual rate has moved outside the narrow range of 0% to -1% for the first time in seven months.

• Activity remains subdued but stable. Home sales have been very stable in recent months, at between 75,000 and 77,000 per month between May and August. Overall, sales in the three months to August were 3% higher than in the same period last year. (Source: HMRC)

Prices achieved by vendors in the Westfield /Woodthorpe area recently have also suggested a stable housing market.

The prices range from £103,000 in Hinton Avenue to £220,000 in Tedder Road.

Chain free properties in west York currently on the market include a 3 bed semi in Acomb Wood Drive for £175,000, a 2 bed bungalow in Stones Close for £149,950, a 1 bed flat at The Rectory (£119,000) in Dringhouses and a 4 bed detached on Briar Avenue for £329,995.

Buyers might find a bargain in properties that have been reduced in value.
These include a a 3 bed detached on Grange Lane for £250,000 (down 13%), a 3 bed semi in Duchess Mews at £189,995 (-5%), £299,950 for a 4 bed in Nairne Close (-6%) and a 5% reduction on the asking price for a 3 bed terrace in Finsbury Street (£235,000).

Properties available to rent include a 2 bed flat in Wains Road (£550 pcm), a 2 bed flat in Lindley Street (£675 pcm), a 2 bed Tce property in Milner Street will cost £650 pcm while a 1 bed flat in Holgate Road is valued at £550 pcm.

The cost of buying a home in the UK is now almost a fifth lower than renting, according to research by Halifax. http://tinyurl.com/Buying-cheaper

Would you support or oppose the following policies?

Introducing a new tax on homes worth over £2 million

Support 73%
Oppose 20%

Net: +53% (+22% amongst Tory voters, +75% amongst Labour voters, +78% amongst Lib Dem voters, +32% in London)

Source: YouGov

Police investigating the robbery outside the HSBC bank in Acomb, York on Thursday 11 October 2012 have arrested four people in connection with the investigation

They are a 22-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, both from Wallasey in Merseyside who were arrested in Merseyside on Thursday 11 October. Two men from York, aged 23 and 24 were arrested on Saturday 13 October 2012.

All four have been released on police bail while the investigation continues.

Anyone who has any information about the incident and has not yet contacted the police is urged to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for York CID, quoting reference 12120171264.

Alternatively, you can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

click to enlarge

What’s the problem?

We believe that everyone should pay their fair share of tax. Unfortunately, it’s too easy for the super-rich to dodge paying what they should. By employing expensive accountants they can use loopholes not available to ordinary working people. It’s possible for a billionaire to live in the UK and pay almost no tax at all.

Know more click www.fairertax.org

A new petition has appeared on the Councils web site click http://tinyurl.com/Stop-social-care-cuts

The petition is obviously aimed at removing the threat to the care services provided for 184 elderly residents who are judged to have “moderate” care needs.

While the present Labour run Council has established an unenviable reputation for ignoring residents wishes, however expressed, we think that this petition may be worth supporting.

The Liberal Democrats have pointed to other economies which could be made to ensure that care services are continued.

The 184 residents whose services are under threat have not even been told officially when their support packages will end. This makes it very difficult for them to arrange for an alternative service provider.

A shameless insult to some of our most vulnerable senior residents!

Residents of the City of York whose homes have been flooded, who are on a low income, have little capital and who are not adequately insured, may be eligible for help from York’s Disaster Fund, a registered charity which was established after flooding in York in 2000.

Applications to the charity may be made at any time but, to assist with decision-making, residents are encouraged to send in their applications shortly before 2 and shortly before 30 November 2012. Businesses are not eligible for help from this fund.

For more information about how to apply for a grant, please call City of York Council’s Welfare Benefits Advisors on 01904 552233 or 01904 552252. When lines are busy there is a voicemail service where callers can leave a message and their contact details

From next week residents will receive a new winter timetable from City of York Council which outlines the changes to garden waste collections between November and March 2013.

Residents with a garden waste collection will receive a new calendar attached to their grey (rubbish) bin and are advised to refer to their collection calendars to find out what their arrangements are over the winter months as collections will be less frequent during this time.

The new calander also includes information about rubbish and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period.

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The Keep Your Pet launch date is 13 November 2012

Two local organisations are offering a new service to help older and vulnerable people to look after their pets in times of illness. Following a need identified by both organisations for a Yorkshire-based service, RSPCA York has joined forces with local branches of Age UK to set up Keep your pet (KYP).

Keep your pet offers services including short-term fostering of animals during periods of illness or hospital stay, walking of dogs when the owner is unable, lifts to a vet, etc.

Sally Hutchinson, Chief Officer Age UK York said:
‘We often find that care of their animals is a particular worry for older people when they are unwell. But we also know how vitally important the animals are in speeding recovery & promoting wellbeing in the long term. We see this service as a natural extension of our work and are delighted to be collaborating with the RSPCA.’

For the owners, the contact & friendship with the volunteer is almost as important as the benefits to their animal, but experience elsewhere has shown that the service is equally valuable to the volunteers.

There are many people who are unable to have an animal of their own, or those whose own animals have recently died may not feel ready for another animal of their own but wish to have contact with animals.

KYP really does offer a win-win situation.

Your help needed

KYP now needs to recruit volunteers of all ages to provide the service throughout the York & Selby area to launch the scheme on 13th November 2012. Volunteers will be fully protected by insurance provided by KYP. Don’t be put off if you can only offer a small amount of time – volunteers can give as much or as little time as they wish and even a couple of hours a week can make all the difference to a housebound owner and their animal. We also need help with admin work.

Download the volunteer application form http://tinyurl.com/Pet-sitting-York

Details: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/york/our-services/keep-your-pet/

If you would be willing to help in any capacity please contact: York 634061

Heworth Golf Club

City of York Council is teaming up with Heworth Golf Club to banish the half-term holiday boredom with junior golf lessons for children aged 16 and under.

New four-day courses are being put on at the club from Monday 29 October to Thursday 1 November, following the success of the junior golf lessons that took place earlier on in the year.

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