July 2008 Archives

Bish dot net News has learned that the application to the Big Lottery Fund to build a children's play area in Bishopthorpe has been turned down.

Lead by the Parish council, the £239 000 bid was developed by Catherine Bruce and Lisa Thornton. Their tremendous energy created what the York CVS described a model application. Although on this occasion funds have not been forthcoming, the case for the play area and its benefits has been strongly made, and we should all be supporting ways in which the dream of a multipurpose facility for our young people can be brought to fruition.

The Bishopthorpe Bowling Club has challenged the Bishopthorpe Pétanque Club to a a two match competition in both sports.

The first match - Pétanque - will be played at 6.30 om Monday 4th August at the terrain at the rear of the Marcia, and the return Bowls match at the same time on Thursday 14th August at the Bowling Club green in Acaster Lane. Spectators are welcome to watch players coping with small steel balls on bumpy ground and large wooden ones on flat ground.

The Parish Council have for over a year been trying to get details of overall traffic plans and associated surveys associated with the Terrys Development with no success.  We have no general problem with the overall plans for the site but do not believe enough effort or thought has gone into the related traffic issues.

 

We believe the last survey of traffic travelling through Bishopthorpe was several years ago and conducted in August when the schools and subsequently people are generally on holiday.

 

I would like to thank the Micklegate Ward Councillors for arranging a public meeting with the developers on 2 July at the Racecourse. Our own Councillor John Galvin was also at the meeting but as he is on the Planning Committee is unable to contribute to the discussion. However it was most unfortunate that although invited there was no representative from City of York Highways/Transport Department. 

 

This was very disappointing for everyone as all questions raised were about traffic issues. The developers were unable to answer the questions but significantly had not even included Bishopthorpe on the map of their traffic routes to site - perhaps they felt they had to keep their heads down!

 

We felt we were getting nowhere with the traffic survey so the Parish Council has now decided to undertake our own.  This will be from Monday 7 July until Friday 11 July at 7:30 -9:30am and 4:30 - 6:30pm. We will be counting cars travelling to and from Bishopthorpe to York along Bishopthorpe Road.  This will be split between those travelling from Acaster Lane/ Main Street Bishopthorpe and those travelling along Church Lane (probably using Bishopthorpe as a "rat run" to/from the A64).

 

This will give us base line figures so we are able to build on these for the expected traffic to and from the Terrys Development thereby giving the full picture of the expected traffic density.  We are told that there will be well over 2000 new jobs created by this development and obviously this could have a major impact on the traffic flow through Bishopthorpe.

 

Currently, as you are fully aware, Church Lane is very busy as it has the Doctors surgery, the Church and an entrance to the Infant School on what is a narrow lane and if cars are parked 2 way traffic halts.  The junction with Bishopthorpe Road is also very sharp and vehicles are unsighted coming from Main Street.

 

We believe the majority of traffic should be directed to the site along Tadcaster Road, as specified by the developers, but we are unclear how they expect to achieve this objective.  The construction of a specific link road to and from the A64 connecting with Bishopthorpe Road is one solution but we are aware to allow the shops and pubs to flourish in our village some traffic must be allowed and in some instances encouraged to come into Bishopthorpe on race days.

 

Stewart Harrison

Chairman - Bishopthorpe Parish Council

Both teams before the game begins

 

Well we were blessed with a break in the recent rain and following a late pitch inspection the match commenced with a new 15 over format.

 

In keeping with the recent matches, this one also had a nail biting finish and a controversial ending. The match had everything, dodgy bowling, even dodgier umpiring and a record crowd.

 

Under leaden skies, the Ebor Players won the toss and elected to put the Parish Council into bat. Openers Carole Green & Liam Godfrey marched confidently to the crease.

 

A good opening bowl by former captain Lisa Thornton kept the Parish Council pinned down as they were finding their feet. Making his debut Matthew Edwards was next up to bowl and before long had a wicket, bowling to Green the ball hit the wicket but controversially did not dislodge the bail. The umpire gave Green out nevertheless, not the last controversy of the night.

Thankfully we were blessed with fine weather this year and the Gala appeared to be a great success. The Ebor Players were out in force raising much needed funds for this year Panto 'Snow White.' They had two activities 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey' and 'Can You Enter The Enchanted Castle?' the latter an adaptation of the 'Key In A Box' activity used in previous years Millennium Trust stands. Set designer Mike Rodgers did a splendid job adding the castle. Just over £100 was raised. Profound thanks to all helpers and all who contributed.

From the rich matrix that is the worldwide wide web comes news of a new sport, that if adopted in this country, and given the full support of British Olympic Association, might prove a gold medal winning opportunity for Britain's young people.