Young people’s bus fare reductions extended as ticket sales reach half a million
Free and reduced price bus tickets for York’s young people will continue until 30 March 2025, after an extension to the subsidy was agreed as part of the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). Unaccompanied under 19s currently pay just £1 for a single fare and accompanied under 16 year olds travel for free, in a…
Introducing The York Clinic
The York Clinic is a new private medical service set up to provide menopause support for individuals and organisations. Who are we? We are a new healthcare company, comprising two specialist doctors, and one specialist nurse, founded with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of women experiencing menopause. All our clinicians hold postgraduate qualifications in…
York-based investigation helps jail criminals behind £1m home improvement scam
Four men who exploited the Government’s ‘Green Deal’ initiative and cheated their way to more than £1 million were sentenced on Friday at Leeds Crown Court (13 December 2024). The group offered home improvement services – particularly supplying and fitting windows and doors – and targeted victims across Yorkshire and Derbyshire between April 2017 and…
Does your polling district and station work for you?
City of York Council is starting a review of its polling district boundaries and the places where people can vote, and is asking residents to comment on the new proposals as well as on existing arrangements. Like all towns and cities, York is divided into polling districts in which local residents can vote at polling…
Planting to brighten up Front Street
As work to improve Front Street continues to progress, green-fingered volunteers have been planting flowers and trees to brighten up the area. The Greater Acomb Community Forum has branched out, lending their hands and expertise to sow the seeds for a brighter future. The council has worked with the community forum to select the trees,…
Christmas cheer comes early to Teesside as sold-out flights jetting off to Lapland
Fantastic winter trips to meet Santa in the snow are jetting off from Teesside this week. This morning saw a packed flight for a stunning a day trip to Pajala, in Swedish Lapland, take off with Newmarket Holidays. The trip included return flights including meals, a reindeer sleigh ride, a meeting with Santa plus a…
The Lord Mayor prepares for festive Community Carol Concert
Following some 400 older residents enjoying the annual Christmas Cheer receptions held last week, another festive treat from the Lord Mayor of York is being prepared. The receptions have been held every year since the mid-1950s and are free to the residents who attend. They are funded in part by York’s annual Community Carol Concert….
Support for Blue Badge holders against fraudsters
To address any misuse of Blue Badges and to uphold the rights of disabled people, counter fraud investigators and council officers carried out a day of action. On 4 December 2024, officers patrolled high-traffic areas around the city to check that Blue Badges were being used correctly and by their legitimate holders. Of the 162…
Increased hours of access through new Central Hall building
City of York Council has welcomed news that the National Railway Museum has agreed to additional hours of pedestrian access through Central Hall, once major works are complete and it is open to the public. Central Hall is the National Railway Museum’s brand new welcome building. It will include a welcome and orientation hall, a…
York teenagers give community space a makeover
York teenagers have been working with experienced tradespeople and an artist to breathe new life into a youth and community centre in The Groves. Community interest company Volunteer It Yourself provides free, hands-on work experience opportunities for local young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and at risk of becoming NEET. Whilst renovating…
Boosting walking, wheeling and cycling in York
Plans to create new and improved walking, wheelchair-use, wheeling and cycling facilities across York will be considered by senior councillors this week. At the meeting on 12 December the council’s Executive will be asked to approve the first Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the city. The plan proposes aspirational strategic networks for…
Enforcement against dog control and public urination could change. Do you agree?
The Council is looking at updating the way in which it can deter people behaving in anti-social ways including urinating in public or not controlling their dogs, and issue fines which are fair and timely. New proposals for powers to enforce these offences by police and council officers are being proposed. These Public Space Protection…
City of York Council invites residents to help shape the future of library services
City of York Council is calling on York residents, students and workers, other users and non-users, to participate in an early engagement exercise to help shape the future of the city’s library services. This exercise launches on 6 December 2024 and will remain open for nine weeks, closing on 7 February 2025. The Council has…
Consultation opens for York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Forum redesignation- Have your say on the future of planning in the Minster Precinct area
City of York Council is inviting York residents, businesses, and stakeholders to share their views on the redesignation of the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Forum. This follows the Forum’s application to renew its designation, which was first granted in 2019 for a five-year term. The York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Forum has played a pivotal role…
Council presented with gold award for its support for armed forces’ members
The revalidated Gold Award has been presented yesterday (Tuesday 3 December) to City of York Council for the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme for its work to support past and serving members of the armed forces. This prestigious medal acknowledges the depth and breadth of the Council’s ongoing work since it signed the Armed…
Plans to improve air quality on York’s most polluted street
A trial that seeks to tackle congestion and improve air quality on Gillygate will be considered at a decision session this week (5 December). At the meeting, the Executive Member for Transport will review options and decide whether or not to carry out a trial in 2025 to understand how changing the traffic signal sequencing…
Date changes for some Christmas waste and recycling collections
Waste and recycling collection dates in York will be changing for some households over the Christmas and New Year period. On average, City of York Council collects waste and recycling from around 18,000 households every day. Crews carry out around six million waste collections every year and is proud to be the only frontline service…
City of York Council joins national campaign to showcase rewarding careers in local government
City of York Council is proud to support the national “Make a Difference, Work for Your Local Council” campaign, a ground-breaking initiative designed to highlight the vast range of career opportunities available in local government and attract new talent to the sector. As part of this government-funded campaign, the council aims to demonstrate the transformative…
Time running out for York businesses to get free green makeover to slash emissions and energy bills
Scheme has already identified 587 Tonnes of CO2 Savings for local businesses Free onsite support and training tailored to help cut carbon, reduce energy bills, and boost competitiveness Scheme aims to help businesses meet net zero goals – firms must apply before January York businesses are being urged to sign up in time for a…
York St John University hosts the latest free, thought-provoking event in the Ebor Lecture series
“God Is Not a White Man: Race, faith and belief in a post-riot world” York St John University hosts the latest free, thought-provoking event in the Ebor Lecture series On Wednesday, 4 December 2024, York St John University’s Centre for Religion in Society will host the Winter 2024 Ebor Lecture, “God Is Not a White…
Appeal to York businesses to support local young people leaving care
City of York Council is thanking businesses and residents across the city who have already contributed Christmas gifts for children in need and young care leavers in York. The festive season can be a difficult one for many children and young people, particularly those who have had a challenging start in life and who live…
Fighting the Fakes: Data scientists create cutting-edge tool to verify image authenticity
York St John University-led research is “essential in helping people to navigate the fine line between reality and fabrication” Data scientists at York St John University have announced the launch of a pioneering new tool to spot fake images. Pixelator v2 uses a new combination of image veracity techniques with capability beyond what can be…
Startup programme supports stained glass studio launch
A stained glass studio has been supported in its early business stage by a startup programme, commissioned by City of York Council. Since they first met several years ago while studying for their MAs in Stained Glass Conservation at the University of York, best friends and Megan Barnett and Zoe Harrigan have been united by…
Ousewem unveils second video in partnership with The Artery
Ousewem, an innovative flood resilience project supporting vulnerable North Yorkshire communities, is proud to release the second video in its compelling series exploring the transformative role of natural flood management (NFM) in building resilient communities. Created in collaboration with The Artery, a champion for creativity and collaboration in North Yorkshire’s rural and coastal communities, the…
Guide dog puppies enjoy festive ‘school trip’ to Castle Howard
A group of guide dog puppies from across Yorkshire have been exploring Alice’s Christmas Wonderland as part of a ‘school trip’ to Castle Howard ahead of the festive season. The puppies, each with a festive name or a special connection to Christmas, are at various stages of their training with their Puppy Raisers who volunteer…
Blue Badge holders’ Christmas market access to city centre confirmed
Following the Council’s Executive decision to establish limited Blue Badge holders’ access into York city centre during this year’s Christmas market, it’s been confirmed that it can start from 5pm on Tuesday 26 November. The delay in implementing the new access arrangements is to allow time for a suitable temporary barrier to be fixed in…
Health trainer team celebrate top performance in country
New NHS figures show that City of York Council’s Health Trainer team are providing the most effective stop smoking service in the country. The figures, which relate to the period between April and June 2024 , showed 82 per cent of people who set a quit date with the service had successfully stopped smoking four weeks…
Back-to-back winners! Teesside wins Leisure Airport of the Year for second year running
Teesside Airport has clinched the title of Best UK Airport for Leisure Travel for the second year in a row at a prestigious awards ceremony. The airport took home the prize once again at the British Travel Awards at a glittering ceremony in London on Tuesday night (19 November). The public vote saw Teesside come…
Ousewem further expands flood resilience efforts
Ousewem is thrilled to announce the continued expansion of its natural flood management (NFM) focus areas within the North Yorkshire Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse catchments, expanding its focus initially to communities in Arkengarthdale, Masham, Bellerby, and Bishop Monkton, with other communities to follow where resources allow. This follows the previous phase which targeted communities…
Senior residents invited to apply to attend Christmas Cheer receptions
The Lord Mayor and Sheriff invite 400 of York’s senior residents to join them at the city’s spectacular Assembly Rooms to celebrate at the Christmas Cheer Receptions. The annual receptions for residents aged 65 and over will take place on Tuesday 3 December 2024, when a spread of tasty Christmas fare will be served and…
City of York council unveils key proposals in ‘Our Big Budget Conversation’ amidst unprecedented financial pressures
City of York Council is asking for the community’s continued engagement as it tackles one of the most challenging budgets in its history. As part of Our Big Budget Conversation, residents, businesses, and partners are invited to provide feedback on proposed budget changes designed to protect essential services while ensuring the council operates within its limited…
Research shows over two thirds of pupils avoid using the toilet at school amid fears about safety and dirty and inadequate facilities
Pupils working with academics to address problems with school toilets A ground-breaking research project, Toilet Talk, is supporting school pupils to explore issues with school toilets and work with their schools to drive change. Pupil toilets are known as a problematic space in many schools and were the subject of several pupil and parent protests…
Blue Badge holders’ access to extend during Christmas markets
The Council’s Executive has decided to establish Blue Badge holders’ access into York city centre for two hours daily at less busy times during this year’s Christmas market. Senior Councillors were asked to consider a number of access options, recognise the risks with permitting access but consider these alongside the various human rights and equalities…
Buses are best in York this Christmas
Residents and visitors are being encouraged to use York’s bus network and Park and Ride sites this Christmas, with the launch of a new marketing campaign aimed at reducing congestion across the city and lowering the cost of Christmas for families. Funded by Government via York’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, the collaborative project between City…
£87,000 secured to support rough sleepers this winter
An extra £87,000 has been secured by the Council to support the expected rise in rough sleeping with up to 29 extra emergency beds and additional support this winter. This emergency winter provision ensures that everyone sleeping rough has the option of a warm place to stay this winter, whatever the weather. The extra funding…
York pupils screen their short films at international festival
Last weekend, pupils from schools across York showcased their filmmaking talent as part of special celebration at York’s international film festival, the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024. Now in its 14th year, the festival attracts audiences and filmmakers from across the world to York over a five-day period. This year, it developed the citywide Filmmaking in Schools project…
Prestigious awards win for ground-breaking sustainability project from York St John University
Living Lab’s campus food project honoured at the UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards 2024 York St John University is celebrating a second Green Gown Awards win for its pioneering Living Lab initiative. The Living Lab is a unique network of students and staff from across the University, collaborating to investigate real-life, local ecological justice…
Long-awaited flights to Malaga coming to Teesside Airport in Summer 2025
Long-awaited flights to hugely popular holiday hotspot Malaga are coming to Teesside Airport in summer 2025 after a new route was confirmed by Ryanair. The new service will connect families with the sun-drenched Costa del Sol – one of Spain’s most popular holiday destinations, renowned for its golden beaches and amazing weather. A service to…
Alice’s Christmas Wonderland at Castle Howard
Fall down the rabbit hole into an experience like no other: Castle Howard opens their jaw-dropping Christmas extravaganza The iconic North Yorkshire stately home is transformed into Wonderland, until 5th January Castle Howard has opened their 2024 Christmas event, Alice’s Christmas Wonderland. The 300-year-old House becomes an immersive Christmas experience, dressed in set pieces, decorations,…
Council seeks to support care experienced children and young people
A report calling for the council to support children and young people in care by treating ‘care experience’ as if it was a protected characteristic – in a similar way as ethnicity or age – will be discussed at a meeting later this week (Executive, 14 November). The proposal follows a wealth of national evidence that…
York Business Festival
I am delighted to inform you about the inaugural York Business Festival that will celebrate and showcase all that the York Business School at York St John University and local support partners do to support the business community of York and beyond. This week-long festival, 25 – 29th November 2024, is organised by the York…
UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO Celebrates Landmark Success with Over 3,000 Attendees, Fuelling the Creative Economy in York & North Yorkshire
The first-ever UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, organised by Aesthetica in partnership with Make It York and the Combined Authority, has set a powerful precedent for the future of the creative industries in York and North Yorkshire. With over 3,000 visitors flocking to York’s Guildhall, the EXPO became a vibrant focal point for celebrating…
University welcomes new director for pioneering mental health partnership
Dr Simon Procter has become the new Director of Converge, the partnership between York St John University and mental health service providers that offers educational opportunities to adults who use mental health services. Simon, a Professor with the School of the Arts at York St John, is a music therapist and music sociologist who…
Preparations underway at Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland as HARIBO Goldbear arrives at the ice rink
It may have been a mild autumn, but it’s turned chilly at York Designer Outlet as construction of the outdoor ice rink at Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland is underway. The countdown is on for the opening of the award-winning event this Friday, 15th November 2024, with festive fun guaranteed for all ages. This Year, Yorkshire’s Winter…
H2Boost project welcomes government officials to witness progress with waste-to-hydrogen technology
The government-backed H2Boost project, led by the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC), recently hosted a delegation from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to its demonstration facility near Selby. The visit highlighted the project’s innovative approach to clean hydrogen production and carbon capture, which could support the UK’s net-zero ambitions. The delegation included…
A neighbourhood plan for Murton
Murton Parish Council has formally submitted the Murton Neighbourhood Plan for examination. Government rules introduced in 2012 give local communities greater powers to create their own plans and policies. As part of the Localism Act 2011, local communities are encouraged to come together to get more involved in planning for their areas by producing plans,…
Accessibility, sustainability and connectivity at the heart of York’s future transport plans
A detailed plan to deliver York’s future transport network has been released ahead of a City of York Council Executive meeting on 14 November. Elected Members will discuss the Local Transport Strategy’s (LTS) Implementation Plan, which has been produced following the adoption of the LTS itself in July 2024. The Implementation Plan sets out the…
Private tenants protected from unlicensed landlords
City of York Council has used its powers to protect tenants in four properties in York, where landlords were not complying with housing licensing legislations. The vast majority of York’s private landlords ensure their homes meet the required legal standards and most homes which require a house of multiple occupation (HMOs) license have one. Such…