APRIL 2018 guildhall ward GREENlight SERVING MARYGATE, BOOTHAM, GILLYGATE, THE GROVES, WIGGINGTON ROAD, HAXBY ROAD, MONKGATE, HUNTINGTON ROAD, LAYERTHORPE, FOSS ISLAND, THE CITY CENTRE, ALDWARK, HUNGATE, TOWER STREET, WALMGATE/NAVIGATION AND LAWRENCE STREET AREAS. Things to do, places to go! Council cuts and other changes can make it difficult for many people – heart of York’ with 24 acres of green space young and old – to find affordable and activities for everyone (mostly free). activities and places to meet up near As well as a great play area there is pond where they live. dipping (equipment provided) in Spring Here are just a few places around the and Summer, free activity sheets and ward some of you may not know about. loads of room to play out. Monday Gaming Café (4 – 6pm). There are drop in events suitable for all St Nick’s Environment Centre To find out more go to:www. ages including an Eco-Crafters Club, Green A 10 - 15 minute walk outside the city belfreyyouth.org Exercise sessions and an ‘Ecotherapy’ walls, off Lawrence St. via Bull Lane (on programme with free activities foot or cycle) is ‘the green The Zoo Skatepark each weekday for anyone over 18 The Skatepark is located under including cycling, gardening and Sainsbury’s between Fossbank and Lord Guildhall Ward conservation skills, nature walks, Mayor’s Walk. It caters for skateboards, art, Nordic walking, woodworking rollerblades, scooters and BMX. Residents Meeting and creative writing. Open Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri evenings and Crime and Anti-Social See www.stnicks.org.uk for daytime Sat, sessions for 5-25 year olds Behaviour more information are £3 or less. [email protected] The Storehouse More information is available on the All residents welcome! Facebook page “TheZooSkateparkYork”. 1-14 Mansfield Street (off Foss Wednesday April 25th 2018 Island Road) is a Youth Centre Cuppa and Chorus at the 6.30pm – 8.30pm run by St Michael le Belfry National Centre for Early (6.30 – 7.00 informal, main meeting at 7pm) Church with activities for Music Wellbeing Centre at 14 Merchants Place, children and young people up Located off Walmgate – a cup of tea, Merchantgate, York YO1 9TU to age 18. cake & a chat and a good group sing. This meeting was postponed from March 1st due These include a ‘Dads No previous experience needed. “Fun, to the snow. The local police will be there to answer & Little ‘Uns’ Group on inspiring, makes you feel better.” questions and discuss issues across the ward, Saturday mornings (Contact Tickets just £1.00. Sessions coming up along with other agencies who work on Anti Social [email protected]); a Behaviour. With some focus on the Walmgate area & Mon 23rd April, Mon 14th May, Thurs. Parent & Toddlers Group the Walmgate Police Survey. 21st June, all at 2pm – 4pm. To book tel. on Tuesday mornings Walmgate Community Association and the 01904 658338 or www.ncem.co.uk/ (Contact liz.hunt@belfrey. Council’s Emergency Planning Unit will be present cuppachorus and there will be time to raise other issues including a org); a Youth Group and ward budget update. Friday Cage Football To be added to the mailing list for updates on this and drop in (7 – 8.30pm) and more inside future events please email [email protected] around the ward on Fossgate, welcoming the change as an improvement. the city These changes have reduced the centre amount of traffic in the street. She called on the Council to Stonebow House get on with using the money set aside running costs, although to improve the physical environment we are told the objective is to improve Denise and June campaigned to of the street and to make it part of the this area at the heart of our city centre. protect the tree and against the loss footstreets. “It’s just worrying that a budget for a of public space at Stonebow House. She also welcomed the news that the replacement isn’t being identified before The Council has promised to look further new Fossgate sign is to be installed soon, demolition.’ at protecting ‘pocket-sized’ green spaces having ‘called-in’ to planning committee a City centre access in the city. recommendation to refuse it permission. Plans are underway to make The Fountain! substantial changes to vehicle access Green Group councillors have to the city centre, prompted by argued that if the existing fountain is security concerns. removed, it must be replaced with a Denise has been pushing for Guidlhall focal point and meeting place the city ward councillors to be involved at an can be proud of, following a public early stage. consultation - with options including She says “Green councillors have been a new modern fountain. arguing for a car-free city centre for a Denise said “We were shocked to finally long time. uncover that the existing fountain could “However, we also believe it is very be restored to working order for £13,000 important that the needs of people with Fossgate - not a large amount in Council budgets. disabilities and city centre traders are Denise has submitted comments on “We can only conclude the main reason given a high priority, taking the opportunity the trial reversal of the one way system for wanting to remove it is to avoid any to improve the centre for everyone.”
Nestle South in your views about the area or to get involved tel: 07824 154312 or contact The Groves /Haxby/ Denise has responded to pre- Wiggington Road area planning proposals for the [email protected] development of the Nestle South The Groves Regeneration Project Crossing Lowther Street site between Haxby and Wiggington The Groves Regeneration Project roads with up to 600 new homes. is a Government funded scheme, Denise spoke when an Executive Member for Transport decision She said “Aspects of the plan are very aimed mainly at the council housing session considered the 220 attractive but I would like a stronger areas in the Groves, as well how they connect with their surroundings. signature petition calling for better commitment to reducing trips by private crossing facilities on Lowther Street. car including guaranteed frequent bus It is creating a detailed plan for She welcomed the decision to look into services through the site”. improvements. possible engineering measures to make The Groves Association You can contact Samantha Richards for it easier to cross the road and urged The Groves Association has a new more information: officers to act as quickly as possible. chair and committee and lots of Email: [email protected] ideas for building on previous Tel: 01904 553 069 achievements to improve the area. Also look out for public events on the To be added to their mailing list, to feed Groves Association Facebook Group. Building a safe, healthy, green ward for everyone
The Red Tower Contact: [email protected]. uk for booking enquiries. Walmgate area The Red Tower, which is located at the Walmgate Community end of the city walls on Foss Island 36 one and two bed Road, is now ‘open for business’ as Association apartments on the same ‘footprint’ as a community space. The Walmgate Community the existing building – this is all still Association is now up and subject to planning permission, so not running, although still getting fully yet certain, nor is the proportion that established. may turn out to be “affordable”. The committee has been working with Sadly, the Council Executive insisted on the police on the Walmgate Police continuing to include the green space Survey and met with Housing Dept. officers. in the land sale, so public access to the To be added to the email list or get area in future is uncertain, though we involved in any way contact the chair, will still press for it. Simon Perry simon.perry185@gmail. com It has an accessible ground floor area Willow House with kitchen and toilet and an upstairs meeting room. After a lot of pressure, initiated Events coming up include a York Older by Denise and taken forward by Citizen’s Advocacy Drop In, 2pm – local residents and others, it looks 4pm on May 9th. hopeful that the green space in front Check out @redtoweryork on of Willow House next to Walmgate Facebook and @RedTowerYork1 on Bar won’t be built on. Twitter for updates of drop in cafés and A new highest bidder for the site has other events. been approved and intends to build more Things to do and places to go! York Health Walks Macmillan Cancer Support. St. Thomas Church, Lowther York Health Walks are 14 different Some depart from the city centre, one from Street. outside Yearsley Pool. A great opportunity walks from 30 – 90 minutes long on a Free activities include The Groves to keep fit and meet people. regular basis through the year. Community Gospel Choir (Mon 7.30pm); All walks are free, funded by the Council and Volunteer helpers are also always Natter – tea, cake, putting the world to Age UK with the Ramblers Association and welcome. rights, (Tues 2.30pm); Creative Café, www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/ (Thurs 1.30pm); Babes & Tots for Pre- walkfinder/york-health-walks School children and their parents (Fri Door 84 Youth Centre 9.15am); Friday night football from 5pm. www.stthomasyork.org.uk tel. 07885 On Lowther Street in the Groves this 240901. thriving youth centre is open to young people from across the city. Trinity Hub, St Anthony’s Hall, Open 3 nights/week activities for 8 – 25 Peasholme Green year olds include DJ-ing, dance, theatre, A new place to go – Tuesdays 10.30am Ward funding enabled the Groves arts, football and much more with qualified – 12.15pm (term time) - tea, cake, chat Association to buy several new play and youth workers. - optional talks, quiz, games, crafts, - noticeboards including this one Sessions cost £1. www.door84.co.uk drop in and leave when you wish. at the shops. Tel. 01904 623177 YOUR GREEN PARTY TEAM WORKING HARD FOR GUILDHALL WARD Q & A with June Tranmer Guildhall Ward Team Coordinator and director of two social enterprises in Guildhall ward Q. Can you tell us a bit about yourself We really need more Green councillors on and your connections to Guildhall ward? City of York Council as we make a bigger I feel very strongly connected to Guildhall difference to debates than our small ward. My grandfather was born here in numbers might be expected to do. We 1903. bring up issues that need addressing and Since I came to York in 1972, I have felt try to support cross-party agreement on this was my proper home. My parents issues that we all care about and should emigrated to Canada in 1951 and although not be bickering over. I was born there, I am a Yorkshirewoman at We need a better balance and spread of Piccadilly, because that is where my work heart. My workplace has been in Guildhall opinions on the council - and more women! is based. ward for the past 10 years. Q. What are the key issues for the We have a great opportunity to improve It is a fascinating area, which is changing future? this area and make it more welcoming and rapidly and I would like to be a part of the The lack of green spaces for children in the attractive. It would be great if people could team to help take care of it. area, the lack of affordable homes and the move around this part of town more easily, Q. Why do you believe it is important proliferation of “luxury” flats / apartments, with new accessible paths along the Foss, to have a strong Green voice on the and of course the threat of flooding. a bridge across to the Eye of York, and new Council? One cause close to my heart currently is trees to help improve the air quality.
Local Plan council update Green Group councillors submitted sleeping has led to some extension of engagement through ‘My Castle Gateway’ final comments on the city’s Local Plan severe weather provision. www.mycastlegateway.org will continue which goes to inquiry in public later this It also includes a promise to look at direct with ongoing discussion of the ‘devil in the summer. building more one-bed properties for detail’! They argued the Plan needs to be far more affordable rent and some funding to test Floods update ambitious on sustainable transport if it is new ways of increasing the amount of to avoid landing the city in gridlock, with emergency accommodation in the city. Cllr Craghill has urged the Environment worsening air quality. Agency to share the results of modelling The Castle Gateway work on the River Foss with residents Delivering directly on more affordable The new masterplan for the area that as soon as possible. housing should be prioritised over relying includes St George’s Field, Tower on the developer contributions which have She said “The recent high river levels Gardens, the Castle car park, the Eye of been so unsuccessful so far. have underlined the urgency. Upstream York and Piccadilly is due for approval measures and engineered defences in the Homelessness at the end of April. Huntington Rd area need to be progressed A Green Group Council motion calling It will form the basis for future planning at the same time rather than the current for more action to reduce street applications in the area. The public very slow one step at a time approach”. get in touch cllr denise 07952 120752 @DeniseCraghill craghill @ [email protected]
Promoted by A Chase on behalf of Denise Craghill and York Green Party, all at 15 Priory Street, York YO1 6ET Printed by Leapfrog, 38 Britannia Way, Bolton BL2 2HH