Christmas concert and open day announced

Students, tutors and organisers from the council’s arts academy for young people are issuing an open invitation to come and get in a festive frame of mind listening to their work at the annual Christmas Concert, and to find out more about the academy at its Open Day.

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York Arts Academy’s Christmas Concert will take place on Saturday 7 December at the University of York’s Central Hall. Performances will take place at 11am, 2pm and 7pm and feature around 250 instrumentalists and singers from the academy’s ensembles who will be joined by pupils from Huntington Primary School.

The groups taking part in this festival of seasonal music are:

· 11am – First strings, Huntington Primary School, Folkestra, String Orchestra, Junior Guitar Circle,

· 2pm – Umbu Drummers, Brass and Wind Ensemble, Young Voices, Improvisation Group, Intermediate Band

· 7pm – Concert Band, Chamber Choir, Senior Guitar Circle, Minster Minstrels, Big Band, String Quartet, Symphony Orchestra.

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British Sugar plans now online – no mention of “large supermarket”

Plans, and “options”, for the redevelopment of the British Sugar site off Boroughbridge Road are now “on line” (click)

click to visit web site and complete survey

click to visit web site and complete survey

The web site claims that;

Redevelopment of the former industrial site can deliver around 1000 new high quality homes, new public open spaces and a community hub which could incorporate a new community hall, sports hall, nursery and primary school.

That is pretty much as expected.

The principle of residential development had enjoyed broad support across the Council.

The main concerns relate to transport issues and the nature, location and scale of any commercial and retail developments.

The consultation concentrates mainly on the location of open space and transport corridors.

It says absolutely nothing about the location and size of any “large supermarket” which Council leaders claimed a couple of weeks ago was an important feature of the scheme.

A small local store to meet the needs of the residents living on the development would be essential.

Another superstore would, however, raise all sorts of transport issues.

The most obvious community facilities (shops) don’t figure on the list of options for the “community hub” listed on the web site.

Nor is there any commercial development which could provide jobs within walking distance of people’s homes. Thus, an opportunity to establish a sustainable community, has been lost.

There are no traffic generation figures listed and the phasing of the development – and community facilities – is also very vague.

There is a final chance to see the plans at an exhibition which is taking place tomorrow Saturday 30 November at the former Manor School site, Low Poppleton Lane, York, YO26 6BB between 11am and 4pm.

Site tours will also be offered to those attending the event.