November 2008 Archives

Its time to nominate someone for this year's Youth Award.


Details here, or download a poster here.

This was the view this morning at the bottom of Main Street. Hopefully no one was hurt, but some advanced driving lessons might be called for!

The Environment Agency has announced proposals to generate its own renewable energy - enough to power a city the size of York - at its sites across England and Wales.

As part of the plans, up to 80 wind turbines could be built on Environment Agency owned land across the country, developing around 200 megawatts of renewable energy capacity - enough to power 90,000 households and save around 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

In addition the turbines will generate up to £2.4 million of revenue every year - money that will be ploughed back into protecting and improving the environment, and adapting to climate change.

So if we use 80 turbines' worth here in York, how many of these would we need across the UK. The mind boggles!

The old palace gates have been shut this week.

'Keep Out' is the strong message from the palace. Not only are the new gates firmly closed but a chained sign across the doors says Private. How sad for the residents of Bishopthorpe. The view through the gates has always been one that attracts visitors, and closing the gates shuts off some of our architectural heritage. It feels now as though the Palace is no longer part of our community, and that the Archbishop clearly has more important things than local concerns.

The 2000 Pageant saw a re-enactment of a storming of the Palace gates in support of the 1832 Reform Bill - perhaps a swell of opinion will get them opened again this time?

What do you think? - use the Comments facility (speech bubble above).

 

There are still a few tickets available for the Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights performances of this years Panto 'Snow White' available from the Ebor.  A record 500 tickets were sold on the first day (see picture) with the Friday & Saturday night performances being sold out. The Ebor Players sincerely hope that everyone who has bought tickets enjoys the show and we look forward to seeing you there.

Good news today that the Post Office Card account will continue to be operated by the Post Office. This is much better news than the cessation of Royal Mail postal collections from our Post Office from 12.30 on Saturdays to sometime on Monday morning. And better too than the abandonment of second postal deliveries each weekday.

Especially as today my post was delivered not at the previously normal 09.30 but at 12.25. Oh - sorry - they've abandoned first deliveries.

Perhaps if the concentration was on giving better services instead of cost-cutting the Royal Mail group might make more money?

Did you know that you could have two green wheelie bins!! Useful for this time of year when there are leaves to pick up and garden's to tidy.

All you have to do is contact City of York Council's Recycling Team on 01904 551551 or e - mail them here recycling.team@york.gov.uk

They usually deliver on a weekend. My new green bin turned up last Sunday!

 

We can only imagine the relief and joy that the armistice brought to the residents of Bishopthorpe.  Unfortunately, there are no records to show how they reacted to the news 90 years ago.  Many villagers worked and shopped in York and if they were there on Monday, 11th November 1918, they would surely have joined in the spontaneous celebrations that spilled onto the streets. 

The news that the armistice had been signed was received in the city a good hour before noon.  The local paper, the Yorkshire Gazette, reported that, "Within a very short time the streets were thronged, the crowds growing deeper and deeper until Coney Street was well nigh impassable.  Flags and bunting quickly appeared and by noon the city was in gala array". 

It is proposed to improve pedestrian safety outside our Infant School by building out the pavement at its entrance, outside no. 38 Sim Balk Lane. This will obviate the narrow footway, and will be combined with a re-surfacing and de-cluttering of the entrance to remove a (never planted) planter and pavers.

The road width for a short distance will be reduced to 6 metres. Local residents and the Crossroads@Bishopthorpe scheme have been informed. If you want to comment on this proposal, contact Ben Potter at ben.potter at york.gov.uk, 01904 553496.

Following discussions with local people, the proposals for this have been changed. The proposed build out has been reduced in length and scale: we have until 14^th November to make any further views known.