Santas got his socks, now he needs more sweets!

Thanks to the nimble fingered residents of York who have donated over 800 stockings to this years Santa’s socks appeal we now need more sweets to fill them all!

These will then be given to those who are the most in need across the city.

The Santa’s Socks initiative is a community arts project organised by the council’s York Learning team. The project encourages groups and individuals to make stockings which will be filled with sweets and stationery items. They will then be donated to food banks across the city, IDAS, (Independent Domestic Abuse Service) and homeless shelters for young people. Extra stocking will be donated to changing lives organisations.

Due to the overwhelmingly generous response we’re asking residents and businesses to donate sweets to help fill the stockings. People are asked to ensure that the sweets will still be in date by 30 December 2017 and that they have all the wrapping intact, but not wrapped in Christmas paper.
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Christmas bus services in York

“Free” Park and Ride from some sites on Boxing Day

All Services
Click to access
Click to access

[5]Additional buses from:

  • (1) Wigginton at 0607, 0633, 0725 /
  • Chapelfields at 0625, 0655 /
  • (5/5A) Strensall at 0620 /
  • Acomb at 0620, 0650 /
  • (11) Bishopthorpe at 0703 /
  • Ashley Park at 0753 /
  • (12) Foxwood Lane at 0635, 0725 /
  • Monks Cross at 0658, 0728
Park and Ride
Click for full timetable

Click for full timetable

[6] Free buses on 3, 7 and 9 running every 15 minutes, calling at all stops: York Boxing Day timetable

No to cuts in Policing numbers in York – Petition launched

The Conservative Government is planning to cut the Home Office budget in November’s Comprehensive Spending Review and change the ‘Police Funding Formula’.

Teresa May police cuts

The North Yorkshire Police Federation has warned that these comibined cuts could see a reduction in police numbers and leave North Yorkshire Police (who cover York) with fewer police officers than when the force was founded in 1974. The Federation has called for North Yorkshire to be given a “fair deal” by the Government.

To show our support for North Yorkshire Police we have started the folloiwng petition which we urge you to sign:

I/We the undersigned oppose plans by the Conservative Government to cut the funding for the North Yorkshire Police.

Click here

Mobile wardens to help elderly in Dringhouses and Woodthorpe

Mobile wardens support customers to maintain their independence within their own homes for as long as possible.

Commissioned by City of York Council Supporting People Team and delivered by Yorkshire Housings Mobile Warden Team this service is available to people of retirement age and people with physical disabilities who live within City of York Council boundaries.
Mobile wardens support customers to maintain their independence within their own homes for as long as possible. Support may include promoting independence by developing life skills, accessing community and social activities, support to complete forms, financial assessments to maximise income/benefits, support to access healthcare and/or assistive technology. It’s all about customer choice and what support they would like.
Services we cannot provide but can signpost to include personal care, cooking, cleaning, shopping and transport.
A mobile floating support warden visits the customer in their own home and the service is available Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm” (excluding Public Holidays).

If you need any more information or would like to discuss any aspect of the service please contact Sam Jones telephone 07848 011 260, email: samantha.jones@yorkshirehousing.co.uk

Beacon to be lit in York tomorrow

York will join more than 200 Beacon locations around the country in lighting a special beacon to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on the evening of Friday 8 May.

Slieve Donarde Peak beacon for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

City of York Council is inviting residents to a moment of celebration when a beacon will be lit at 9.32pm at Triangular Gardens, Leeman Road (between Memorial Gardens and the Royal York). Beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, following the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside Windsor Castle by Her Majesty The Queen.

In addition the council is encouraging residents and businesses across the city to hold a two minute silence at 3pm, marking the moment Winston Churchill broadcast his historic speech formally announcing the end of the war.

VE Day marks the official end of hostilities in Europe for the Second World War on 8 May 1945, following the formal, unconditional surrender of German Forces. It was an occasion of national celebration, yet also one of sombre reflection for those who would not return.

This anniversary will celebrate the achievements of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the allies in their victory overseas and on the Home Front, but will also pay tribute to the 580,406 UK and Commonwealth Forces and 67,073 UK civilians who lost their lives during six years of conflict.

The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Ian Gillies said: “This promises to be a special event and it is important that we as a city mark this important day in the country’s history. As well as marking this milestone the event will also look to remember those who sacrificed so much to protect our freedom.”

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of the VE Day 70th Anniversary Beacons said: “VE Day on the 8 May represents a further important milestone in the history of our country. It was on this day, 70 years ago, that peace brought an end to nearly six years of war across Europe. We must not let this day pass without reflecting on the sacrifice, courage and determination of the people who saw us through this dark period.”

Further information about VE Day events taking place can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/ve-day-70th-anniversary.

For further information about the lighting of the Beacon in York call Liz Topi on 07443 912935.

Lib Dem Candidates – City of York Council Elections 2015

Group shot 2 ()

Please click on the ward for further information

Bishopthorpe – Daniel Khan

Copmanthorpe – Richard Brown

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe – Cllr Ann Reid, Stephen Fenton, Ashley Mason

Fulford & Heslington – Cllr Keith Aspden

Haxby & Wigginton – Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, Martin Lewis Crosby, Sue Willer

Heworth Without – Cllr Nigel Ayre

Huntington & New Earswick – Cllr Keith Orrell, Cllr Carol Runciman, Chris Cullwick

Osbaldwick & Derwent – Richard Hill, Linda Maggs

Rawcliffe & Clifton Without – Richard Shrimpton, Mark Waudby, Sam Waudby

Rural West – Jayne Bradley, Gareth Morgan

Strensall – Tony Fisher, David Goodall

Wheldrake – Jonathan Stott

York Central Wards (please click on the ward for further information):

Acomb – John Ballantine, Reuban Mayne

Clifton – Tobie Abel, Derek Wann

Fishergate – Charlie Kingsbury, Shawn Imeson

Guildhall – Mike Green, Nick Love, Derek Waudby

Heworth – Ian Packington, Ben Rich, Matthew Smithson

Holgate – Robert Adamson, Jonathan Morley, Matthew Reid

Hull Road – Tom Davies, Rachel Edwards, Lizzy Roberts

Micklegate – Carlotta Allum, Martin Bartlett, Aileen Hingston

Westfield – Cllr Andrew Waller, Sue Hunter, Sheena Jackson

If you would like to contact any of our candidates please contact info@yorklibdems.org.uk

Information on our Parliamentary Candidates can be found here for James Blanchard (York Outer) and here for Nick Love (York Central).

Battle to save York pubs

York Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to save local pubs from the threat of closure.

Turf Tavern

The drive follows research from CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) which shows 26 pubs across the country are closing every week. The Lib Dems say York currently has a thriving pub and beer scene, but it is not immune from economic and policy pressures.

The Lib Dems will move a motion at this week’s full council meeting asking City of York Council to back the campaign. The motion calls on the council to help give pubs better protection under planning legislation and to encourage residents to register their local pub as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ – to ensure they have more chance to buy it if it goes up for sale. The motion also calls on the Chancellor to freeze beer duty in next year’s Budget.

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Labour add £1 million to York’s annual debt repayment levels in just 24 months

The Council has admitted that increased borrowing means that Council taxpayers are now paying £1m a year more in debt charges than in 2011.

Kings Square work

Kings Square work

Most has been used to bolster what the Council describes as its Economic Development Fund.

£18 million has been committed to this fund already which is being used to pay for projects such as:

• Refurbishment of Kings Square

• Acquisition of an “Arts Barge”

• Tour de France start

• Newgate market refurbishment

• New City centre bus stops

Of the annual additional payments around £0.5 million goes on interest charges while £0.5 makes staged repayments of the principal.

It will take over 20 years to fully repay the borrowing