February 2008 Archives

Collect your new bus pass from the Salvation Army Citadel next week (3rd - 7th March) surnames A-K; the following week (10th - 15th March) surnames L - Z.

Ian 

We all received our water rate demands recently, and there appears to be something going on.

According to Ofwat in a report published today, in April 2008, bills for water and sewerage services will go up by an average of 5.78% (this includes 4.28% inflation). The table which follows shows the picture for all combined water and sewerage companies.

Some changes have been made to the layout of Bishopthorpe dot net.

The first is the creation of a new News and Views site (that you are reading now), which also has a new look and feel, and is a little easier to navigate.

Fronting the web site is a new home page that welcomes you to the overall site. This is located at the internet address where you have been used to reading the latest news. 

This means that you will need an extra click to reach the news and views page (unless you bookmark it and go straight to it). To offset this disadvantage, the new home page however will draw your attention to new features that are planned, and will allow facilities that the software used for the news, transport or Parish Council pages makes less easy to provide.

We hope you like the new layouts as they develop.  

Just before one a.m. this morning there was a substantial earthquake centred on Market Rasen that was clearly felt here in Bishopthorpe.

Your correspondent awoke to feel the bed shaking and a low rumbling sound that thankfully subsided just as full conciousness was reached.

Do you have any stories of the effect it had on you? Just click on 'Comments' below and let us know. 

Two boats, City of Hull and Waterstart, are planning to come to York in the summer of 2008, to give groups who live in York and the surrounding area the opportunity to experience the many benefits of community boating.

M/V City of Hull, based at Sobriety’s Surewaters project in Selby, and M/V Waterstart, part of Sobriety’s Waterstart project in Thorne, are both broad beam canal boats capable of carrying up to twelve passengers and are fully fitted out with galley and toilet facilities.  Both are accessible to wheel chair users and have experienced crews well used to working with people who have special needs.

The boats are available for use by organized, although not necessarily formally constituted, groups who then have sole use of the boat.

M/V Waterstart in York:
Monday 12/05/08 - Wednesday 20/05/08

Monday 07/07/08 - Friday 18/07/08 inc.

M/V City of Hull in York:
Monday  18/07/08 - Thursday 30/07/08

For the dates that the boats are available in York bookings should be made through The Yorkshire Waterways Museum. 

A copy of a leaflet about this can be downloaded here.

The Sobriety Project
The Yorkshire Waterways Museum.
Dutch River Side
Goole, East Yorkshire, DN14 5TB.
Tel: 01405 768730
Email: info@waterwaysmuseum.org.uk

Here is a picture of the snowdrops and wild daffodils in Acaster churchyard.

Nice! 

Each week - starting now - Bishopthorpe.net will have a photo page with pictures taken by you of your favourite household pet in the new Pet of the Month feature. If you want to see Hammy, Rover or Cuddles looking their best, just attach a digital photo * and send it attached to an email to mailstuff atsign bishopthorpe dot net

*It's best if you reduce the photo size to 300 pixels wide before sending it in. Let us have your name, pet's name and any comment.

A Lib-Dem pamphlet recently distributed has several items associating individuals with successful Bishopthorpe projects.

The people concerned are good people who have contributed a great deal to our community, and it is right that their efforts should be suitably recognised. It does, however, seem invidious that they should be picked out for recognition rather than people who, in some instances, have contributed much more to the taks specifically identified.

Since I have direct knowledge of the Crossroads Project, perhaps I could here identify (from amongst the many who have played their parts) the main movers in the Crossroads project.

The Leader of Crossroads and the man mainly responsible for the Sensory Garden was Martin Dudley. The Designer and Project Manager of the Pinfold was Richard Parkin. The work of John Bettridge as Chair of the Millennium Trust inspired, guided and supported all who participated.  Thanks to them all.

Ian 

A political pamphlet distributed in the village outlines dates, times and places for the issue of the new National Bus Pass.

For details see the Latest News section of our Transport Pages, or ring 551670.

Controversially, they will not be issued in Bishopthorpe. First issues will take place at the Salvation Army Citadel. (Ring 551670 if you need to find out how to get there!) Later (and belatedly) they will be issued at the Guildhall. 

Ian 

People will have noticed that the Pinfold has recently been fenced off (see previous entry.)  This is pending work to be carried out under the auspices of the Parish Council. In the meantime the Pinfold remains out of bounds to all but authorised personnel. The police have been advised (there has been at least one forced unauthorised entry with minor damage done.) Villagers are requested to report any suspicious activity to the police.

Those of you who read 'The Press' will see tonight that Bishopthorpe Parish Council are opposing ALL planning applications on the site until a 'detailed traffic management plan' is produced.

I totally agree with this. It's bad enough now with all the traffic that use Church Lane/ Bishopthorpe Road rather than Tadcaster Road.

The link to read the article in the paper is here.

Phil

The newly named Bishopthorpe Dental Centre opened its doors this week to show off its wholly refurbished look.

Established by Dr Kris Leeson, the practice builds on the model of the already establshed centre at Woodthorpe. 

Kris, who has wandered here from his home town of Bolton, employs a team that includes dentist Andrew Batley and hygienist Clare Payne. The whole building has been refitted with new equipment as an investment for what is described as a new level of service. As Kris explained, he has funding from the Primary Care Trust until April 2009 for one dentist. However, he intends to serve patient demand in Bishopthorpe with two dentists, and the likelihood is that the practice will be entirely private from then on.

A membership scheme is being introduced for a flat monthly fee that guarantees a level of dental care.

Full details are available from the Centre in Sim Balk Lane, and other information can be found here. 

Links:

How to get dental treatment on the NHS

NHS Primary Care Dental Services site

A new retail shop is to open on Acaster Lane in the premises once occupied by an electrical business.

Called  Zak & Flo it is to sell designer children's wear and gifts, and according to a notice in the window is expected to open on 1st March.

There is a web site 'under construction' at www.zakandflo.co.uk. 

it is always good to see an empty shop let (and not to an estate agent!) 

Yesterday the City Council installed two bike racks at the pull-in in front of the shops in Acaster Lane.

The installation is part of the ongoing Parish Council programme, see (and add your own) Comments below.

 You may have seen the fencing put up around the Pinfold. This is to protect the site as further work is done by the Parish Council that now has responsibility for its maintenance. It is planned to replace the wooden seating with york stone as this has not proved satisfactory, deal with the drainage and install the historical interpretation board.

You can read the full Pinfold story here. See also comments here.

I noticed when reading City of York Council's website that they are trying to crackdown on rogue traders.

Cold Calling Controlled Zones are a way of discouraging cold calling and preventing residents becoming victim to crime. The zones encourage residents to report traders who breach resident's wishes. I hate that knock on the door...usually as you are having tea.

A good idea for your street in Bishopthorpe?

Contact Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Phil