Locations across York are being hung with the work of some of the finest quilters in the UK, as 30 contemporary artworks are threaded across 30 different public locations to help celebrate York 800.

From 14 September to 16 November, Quilt City celebrates 800 years of the city of York with a time-honoured traditional skill which today’s needleworkers are reinterpreting for the future. The city-wide exhibition has been funded by City of York Council, the National Lottery through Arts Council England and The Quilters’ Guild.

The Quilter’s Guild has commissioned quilts from two leading quilters specially for the exhibition. A colourful quilt map stitched by award-winning quilter Alicia Merrett will be hung at York Explore Library Learning Centre. Influenced by John Speed’s 17th century map of York, the quilt celebrates the permanence of the main landmarks of York – hopefully many of which will stand for at least another 800 years.

The second quilt by Linda Barlow represents a lively party scene attended by famous people associated with York. This will be hung at the Guild headquarters at St. Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green, and includes figures such as ghost Roman soldiers enjoying a drink at Betty’s, Guy Fawkes sorting fireworks and Dick Turpin.

The other quilts have been made specially for the exhibition and many are for sale. They can be found at venues including Barley Hall, York Theatre Royal and the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall as well as at retailers such as Cath Kidston, Purple Haze Vintage Clothing, Ramshambles and York Cocoa House. Quilts will also be on display in The Bar Convent, Lady Ann Middleton’s and Monkbar Hotels. Continue reading →

York residents are being urged to sign up for free home insulation before the offer expires in December.

The Wrapping up York scheme, which entitles all residents to free loft and cavity wall insulation, is tackling fuel poverty by keeping houses warmer and helping householders save up to £310* on their fuel bills. People on certain income-related benefits can also claim a £100 ‘cash back’ incentive for insulating.

“There’s no catch – it’s simply a case of calling Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904 55 44 06 to arrange a free survey. The scheme is open to all homeowners in the city – including landlords – but please do take advantage of the scheme whilst funding lasts.”

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a house can lose up to 60 per cent of its heating through its walls and roof – and insulation can help householders save up to £310* per year on their energy bills.

For more information or to claim your FREE insulation, call Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904 55 44 06 quoting ‘Wrapping up York’.

Yorkshire Energy Partnership can also help residents with advice about renewable energy – including sourcing accredited installers in the Yorkshire area. To find out how you can save, (and earn) money through using renewable energy, call them on 01904 55 44 06.

Application location. click to enlarge

A planning application has now been made to provide an athletics track and closed road racing cycle circuit with ancillary parking, lighting and fencing, and including re-routing of public right of way on the part of the University Campus lying between Field Lane and Low Lane, the A64 and Hull Road York. The scheme will form part of the recently opened Sports Village complex and is intended to replace the athletics track at the Huntington stadium. The facilities would be delivered as a joint venture between the University of York, City of York Council and British Cycling and form part of the “Community Stadium” project which was agreed in 2010.

The new athletics track will have 8 lanes rather than the current 6 and will have long jump pits outside the track, which will allow throwing events to take place at the same time as jumps. The cycling track will allow off road cycling for beginners, disabled participants and competition. It has the backing of local cycling clubs and accessible bike providers. A track in this region has been identified as a priority in British Cycling’s facilities development plan.

A combined grandstand and pavilion building would be provided but is not included in the current planning application. Whilst the design and specification have yet to be agreed the pavilion is expected to be single-storey and provide a reception, changing rooms, toilets, showers and a multi-function room. The pavilion would also provide facilities for the closed road racing circuit, including a cycle store, workshop and use of the showers, toilets and multi-function room. The grandstand would be provided alongside the pavilion, facing the athletics track.

Officials are recommending approval of the application. Details can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/York-Athletics-Sept-2012

City of York Council’s leisure centre Energise and its fitness equipment supplier, American company Cybex, are raising money for a cancer charity during October.

For every mile gym users log on a new pink Cybex treadmill at Energise gym, the American company will donate 10 cents to local charity, York against Cancer.

Monthly members and registered casual users at Energise are being invited to keep this pink treadmill busy at all times and raise as much money as possible. The gym instructors will also be reminding people to ensure that the treadmill is in constant use throughout the whole period. The machine will be located in the main fitness suite making it easy to use and very visible to all those working out.

Janice Wilford from York Against Cancer is delighted that they have been chosen as the charity to be supported. She said: “York Against Cancer encourages exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. Keeping fit, whether for health or competition is proven to be important in helping prevent cancer. Be inspired by the Olympics and help raise funds for the Charity by running a few miles on the Pink Treadmill!”

York Against Cancer is a small, local charity that funds facilities and services that are not provided by other organizations. This includes care services, a commitment to education about cancer and research undertaken through a collaboration between York Hospital and the University of York.

Cybex is the fitness equipment supplier who will be equipping the new, extended gym, which opens at Energise in October.

An anthology detailing York in poetry, artwork and photographs will be published this week as part of the latest chapter of York 800 and York Stories 2012.

‘York: in poetry, artwork and photographs’ will include original artwork and historic photographs from the York City Archives, as well as a selection of poems about the city edited by John Coopey and Sally Guthrie.

The anthology includes the poem composed on twitter by a relay of 20 poets stationed along the route of the Olympic Torch relay in June this year, and features the work of the council’s Poet in Residence, York writer Oz Hardwick whose poem “Relay’ was inspired by the journey of the Olympic Torch as it steamed out of the city aboard the Scots Guardsman locomotive. Continue reading →

LoveWhereYou LiveYork – Litter Awareness Day

Just a couple fo months after removing over 33% of York’s litter bins the Council have issued this media release:

“On Wednesday 12 September, City of York Council will be asking residents and tourists alike to think about how they dispose of litter and be part of the Love Where You Live York campaign and Smarter York through its annual litter awareness day.

During the day, the council will operate an amnesty on Fixed Penalty Notices for littering to highlight the matter, while members of the council’s Street Environment Team will be in Parliament Street, spreading the message that dropping litter can seriously damage your wealth – with a £75 fine – as well as spoiling the environment in which we live. Continue reading →

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The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust has issued a warning notice (see right) about safety issues at its newly refurbished playground on Sherringham Drive.

The playground is not ready for use yet but children have been climbing the 2 metre high railings to gain access.

The playground will be opened later in the autumn.

City of York Council is offering residents an opportunity to take part in an archaeological dig on the site of York’s newest Park & Ride.

Part of the Planning Approval for the construction of the proposed Park & Ride facility off the A59, was that the land should be assessed in detail to understand its archaeological significance.

So, from Monday 24 September experienced and novice community archaeologists will be able to work alongside professionals on the site of Poppleton Bar adjacent to the A59 and Northfields Lane.. Continue reading →

York Guildhall

Launch of international design competition to influence the future of York’s historic Guildhall and riverside

The Council have provided more details of the “design competition” that they hope will determine the future of the Guildhall when administrative staff leave the building early next year. In a press release they say,

“City of York Council will be launching a competition tomorrow (Tuesday 11 September) seeking nationally and internationally renowned architects to submit their design proposals which clearly demonstrate potential future uses for York’s historic Guildhall and riverside complex.

Registered architects are invited to develop their ideas for the Guildhall, the associated office accommodation, river frontage and boat yard, as part of an ‘Open Ideas’ competition, run by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Entries will be sought from architects putting forward innovative ideas on how the potential of the Guildhall site and riverside could be maximised for the benefit of the city and its residents”.

Labour’s plan has been criticised for failing to guarantee the buildings future as the civic hub of the City and for glossing over the costs of, and timescales involved in undertaking, a major remodelling project. The concern is that the building – will be empty for a long period of time and will become a blot on the streetscape of a very sensitive part of the City Centre.

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It has now been confirmed by the Council that the Landfill Tax penalties, that will have to be made by Council Taxpayers, are set to increase by nearly £400,000 this year.

More commercial waste is going to landfill and the amount that residents are composting was down in the early part of the year.

The closure of the Beckfield Lane recycling centre in April will save the Council only £40,000 a year (10% of the extra Landfill Tax bill that we now face).

The Council have confirmed that Labour’s Green Bin Tax plan will not be published for consultation until 2013. Instead there will be “a review into working patterns and shifts as well as a move away from same day collections for refuse and recycling”.

Labour have also threatened to privatise the waste collection service next year.