City of York Council is joining forces with cities across Europe, including Dijon and Helsinki, by engaging local businesses and residents in tackling climate change.

In partnership with York Environment Forum, the council is launching a campaign this week (Tuesday 25 September) called ENGAGEd! which aims to encourage businesses and residents to understand the implications of a changing climate and take action by building a sustainable energy future for York.

The campaign will create tailor-made posters of residents and businesses in the city taking real actions, and hopes to encourage others to engage.
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The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, visited York on Thursday and took part in a roundtable discussion about the challenges in driving growth through infrastructure delivery. A range of key partners across the city and region discussed their experiences and ideas to enable the region to be an attractive proposition for investors and competitive in industry.

The event was hosted by Mark Perkins, Chief Executive of Shepherd Group Built Environment Division and chaired by Kersten England, Chief Executive, City of York Council. The roundtable included representation from the Homes and Communities Agency, Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, York and North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, Network Rail, Persimmon Homes, York Economic Partnership and other key organisations involved in delivering development and infrastructure across the region.

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City of York Council’s Eng-AGE 50+ Games will be kicking off next week and getting the ball rolling for a whole week of sporting opportunities for people over 50 years old.

The games aim to promote sporting opportunities across the city that are available for people aged over 50 to take part in, linked to the York 50+ Festival and supporting Move Week, an annual European-wide campaign which promotes wider participation in sport and physical activity by The International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) and its partners.

The week will be teeming with sporting tasters, coaching sessions and back to sport opportunities as sports clubs across York open their doors to help older people get more active and stay more active.

Events include a free taster of gentle Lyengar Yoga at York Yoga studio in Acomb, a beginners’ tap try-out at York Dance Works and coaching sessions for newcomers to indoor bowls at York and District Indoor Bowls Club.

As part of a fantastic year of sport with York Gold 2012, the Eng-AGE 50+ Games have been granted the Inspire Mark in recognition that this innovative project has been directly inspired by the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and promotes the Olympic Legacy to the local community.

For a full list of all the events on the programme visit www.york.gov.uk/yorkgold2012

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Work has stared on a scheme which will see Deangate paved and the entrance to the south transept of the Minster improved.

The work forms part of the Minster Revealed project which has attracted financial support from both the National Lottery and the York Council.

During the works, access to Deangate will be limited and it is likely that cyclists will have to dismount and walk for a distance of about 25 metres.

Work starting on Deangate

The area is to be paved with a gradual ramp making access to the Minster south door much easier for those with walking problems.

The Minster will also unveil a new “Orb” next month.

This is described on their web site (http://www.yorkminster.org/home.html) as “an elliptical treasure-house, showcasing some of world’s most important stained-glass, medieval art”.

The event starts on 31st October as part of the Illuminating York project

It is a precursor to the opening of an exciting new permanent exhibition in the Minster Undercroft next May which will tell – using modern technology – the story of York’s most famous building.

Mayfield Grove nature reserve

Council officials are recommending to a meeting which will take place on Thursday that the open space in Mayfield Grove is managed by the York Natural Environment Trust (YNET).

The recommendation will come as a surprise and disappointment to the Chase Residents Association who had put forward a detailed plan which would have seen them manage a site which lies at the heart of their community.

Although YNET has experience in managing local nature conservation areas, the proposal does seem to fly in the face of both Council and Government policy which seeks to involve local residents in maintaining neighbourhood facilities.

An officer report confirms that land, to the rear of Hob Moor Terrace which was sold in error by Taylor Wimpey, has now been secured by the Council.

It is to be hoped that a compromise can be found which will utilise the expertise of YNET while fully harnessing the drive and enthusiasm shown by the Chase Residents group.

Thursday’s meeting is open to public who can register to speak if they wish.

Details can be found at http://tinyurl.com/Mayfield-27th-Sept-12

Criminals are living it up at our expense – Why should they?

North Yorkshire Police is launching the 2012 Why should they? campaign today (21 September 2012) with another £25,000 of criminals’ cash up for grabs.

The Police media release reads, “This is the third year in a row that the force has made the cash available to local good causes, having seized it from crooks who have made money from their crimes.

Between Friday 21 September and 31 October 2012, non-profit making organisations, charities, volunteer and community groups whose work makes a positive contribution to reducing crime or anti-social behaviour can apply for up to £3,000 from the fund.

The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) allows the police to take money and assets from criminals such as drug dealers, fraudsters and thieves if they have gained them as result of their criminal activity.

Over the last two financial years, North Yorkshire Police’s Financial Investigation Unit seized more than £2.3m from criminals under POCA. Some of this money is returned to North Yorkshire Police and other criminal justice partners, and it is by using some of this cash that the Why should they? campaign can help local communities.

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York Council's preferred cycle path route. Click to enlarge

The Council is advertising its preferred route for the Rufforth to Knapton cycle path.

Effectively it is trying to use existing rights of way to establish a Bridleway. This would allow cycles to use the route. The route passes to the north of the Harewood Whin waste disposal site.

However the route suggested, as well as being likely to attract objections from landowners, is approximately twice the length of a more direct, and flatter, route which could be established alongside the B1224.

The latter is the route which would have been facilitated by the land acquisition required to establish a salvage centre at Harewood Whin.

Another alternative, which would be quicker for cyclists wanting to access Acomb Front Street & York City Centre, would have been to use the Grange Lane/Airfield bridleway which was reopened a couple of years ago.

Moor Lane Knapton A1237 crossing point

In all cases the main problem involves cyclists crossing the A1237 safely. The Councils preferred line uses the existing crossing point at Moor Lane (Knapton) which is less than perfect.

Whichever route is preferred, there is a strong case for installing a foot/cycle bridge (or underpass) to minimise risks at the northern by pass intersection.

Full details of the Council’s plans can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/Rufforth-cycle-path

Thanks to a new injection of funding, City of York Council will be running additional ‘noise patrols’ this autumn to establish acceptable noise levels.

Additional funding from the Safer York Partnership is enabling the council’s environmental protection unit to carry out extra noise patrols at the start of the new academic year and during the autumn festivals of Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night.

These additional patrols will operate during Freshers’ Week and enable the Council to provide advice to students on how to control noise and assistance to those affected by noise. Patrols will operate from 10pm-1am in the weeks of 17-20 September for York St John’s University and 8-11 October at the University of York.

It is also planned that extra noise patrols will operate along similar lines and similar hours on Halloween and Bonfire Night to advise on and give support to people enjoying the festivities.

The Noise Patrol’s normal operating hours are from 9pm-3am, on Friday and Saturday nights and can be contacted on (01904) 551555.

Planning permission was granted at last nights Planning Committee meeting (20th Sept) for a range of developments in York. They included:

• An athletics track and a closed road racing cycle circuit – with ancillary parking, lighting and fencing – at the Sports Village on Hull Road

• The Water End Flood Alleviation Scheme which will provide additional protection for the Leeman Road area

• A reserved matters application for the Monks Cross 2 development covering appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the retail and restaurant part of the previously approved outline application site.

• Substitution of apartments for some of the housing units on the Hungate site and an extension of time before the development has to be completed

In addition minor changes were agreed for the Poppleton Park and Ride site and the “go ahead” was given for an extension to the “Creepy Crawlies” child care business at Clifton Gate Business Park.

Details of all the applications considered can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/York-Planning-20th-Sept-12

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Additional flood prevention works in the Leeman Road area are recommended for approval at today’s Planning Committee meeting.

The Flood Alleviation Scheme will improve the level of flood protection to 393 residential and commercial properties in the vicinity of Water End.

The works include:

(a) Installing a 15m-wide and up to 1.2m-high demountable flood barrier across Landing Lane at the junction with Water End;

(b) Constructing a 300m-long and up to 1m-high flood wall on the riverward side of Water End road embankment;

(c) Raising a 150m-long section of the existing Leeman Road embankment by 1.1m. A ramp and timber steps would be provided to enable the public to cross the embankment from Lincoln Street to the river.

d) Constructing a new 400m-long flood embankment around St Barnabas’ School to connect with the raised Leeman Road embankment. The embankment would be 2m above ground level where it joins the existing embankment and 1.2m above ground level where it meets Cinder Lane;

(e) Raising ground levels (by up to 0.5m) and flood walls along the western-most section of Cinder Lane at its junction with Jubilee Terrace to tie-in with the new embankment;

(f) Provision of a kick-about pitch in the area of open space to the north of the raised section of Leeman Road embankment.

(g) Temporary use of the former bowling green off Salisbury Road as a construction compound and reinstatement after construction.

Some additional minor works would be carried out under the Environment Agency’s permitted development rights, in particular the provision of three storage cabinets within the Holgate Beck Pumping Station compound at Landing Lane.