The newspaper of York Green Party AUTUMN 2020 FISHERGATE WARD COUNCILLOR ANDY D’AGORNE & YORK GREENS STANDING UP GREEN LIGHT FOR YOU Serving Fishergate, south of Lawrence St, Kexby Av, Regent St/ Heslington Rd area, streets either side of Fulford Rd and the Broadway area down to Heslington Lane/ St Oswalds Rd. THANK YOU NHS, CARE WORKERS AND ALL STUDENT FLATS KEY WORKERS. PLANNED FOR PLUMBASE A new student accommodation block - with 105 bedrooms - could be built on the site of what used to be Plumbase in Fawcett Street near York Barbican. Whilst redevelopment of this site is welcome, York Green Party and local resident’s have some concerns. The new building would be up to five storeys high and include a gym, student workroom, communal area and laundry room within the development. York’s Green councillors financial hardship, job losses and compensate local councils such reduced incomes - all just as as York for the extra spending Objections have been raised regarding are working hard to protect the overlooking of residents’ windows at winter comes along. and lost revenue. everyone’s health during Barbican Court, Escrick Street and Escrick See more details inside about Covid. We have also lobbied for better Terrace. how to get help and support. testing and contact tracing and We are supporting struggling In addition to this, the access from the main We cannot repeat often enough won Government support for businesses, helping individuals in highway is not ideal. It is off the Fishergate our gratitude to NHS workers and improvements to our local contact need of financial, social or other Gyratory and will be shared with Barbican other key workers who have kept tracing system. support and also planning for Court. Additional traffic will add to an already going through this crisis and are dangerous junction. recovery and the future. Are you on your own and in need still doing such great jobs now, as If you wish to look at the plans and make York has done pretty well at of help to cope? they always do. comments, go to: planning.york.gov.uk keeping the number of cases Are you struggling to make ends and search the planning reference number down over the last six months This includes council staff who meet or pay bills? which is 20/01521/FULM. or so compared to other places have also gone far beyond that extra mile to respond to the crisis. For help or more information, but now, like everywhere else, contact: we find ourselves in the second As part of the council KEEP SAFE www.york.gov.uk/covid wave. administration we have written to WASH YOUR HANDS This is a very difficult time for the Government to urge them to 01904 551550 everyone including families kept provide more consistent financial [email protected] COVER YOUR FACE apart, the prospect of further support to individuals and isolation and others facing struggling businesses and to fully MAKE SPACE SAVE MONEY, SAVE ENERGY GRANTS AVAILABLE Councillor Denise Craghill is (or up to £10,000 for low income working with the council and York homeowners). Community Energy to offer advice The focus is on stopping heat loss and support to householders from your house and so reducing who would like to take up the your energy bills. Things like roof, Government’s new Green Homes You can go straight there or visit ‘Whole House’ approach so you do wall and floor insulation are covered, Grants. greenhomesgrant.campaign.gov.uk the right things first and avoid having along with air source heat pumps – The energy efficiency ‘retrofit’ to get an idea of what you can do and to redo work later on. and a range of other measures (but scheme offers homeowners and get quotes from approved contractors. Get some expert advice either via private sector landlords a boost to not solar panels). The next stage to apply for the the Simple Energy Advice line 0800 start making their homes warmer and Applications must be made vouchers is now also live. These are 444202 (Mon – Fri 8am – 8pm; Sat more energy efficient. online, with the first stage via the the official websites – any others are & Sun 9am – 5pm) or contact York Grants in the form of vouchers Government’s Simple Energy Advice a scam. Community Energy via their website are up to £5,000 per household website: simpleenergyadvice.org.uk You are strongly advised to take a www.yorkcommunityenergy.org.uk BIG INVESTMENT IN NEW LOW CARBON COUNCIL HOUSING RETROFIT HOMES SELLING WELL York Council is launching a bold The project will improve comfort The first of the council’s energy as well as bungalows and wheelchair new £1m investment project to and lower bills for up to 60 council efficient high quality new homes accessible flats. improve the energy efficiency homes. at Lowfield Green in Acomb are 20% are for social rent and 20% of some of our worst insulated It will also create a ‘roadmap’ that selling well. to buy at reduced cost via shared will help us to improve energy ownership. council homes. efficiency in existing homes across The new development of 165 new This will progress with support from York and make energy bills very low. homes around a large central green For more details you can visit regional retrofit experts. space includes 1,2,3,4 bed houses www.shapehomesyork.com YORK LEADS THE WAY WITH ZERO CARBON HOMES New super-energy efficient, A similar development at Hospital zero carbon developments at Fields Road / Ordnance Lane in Duncombe Barracks in Clifton Fishergate will follow. and at the Burnholme Centre are The project, was dubbed by the currently at the planning stage. Guardian as “Britain’s biggest zero- carbon housing project.” The ambitious scheme, which will set the standard for new homes in “It’s crucial that we set the standard York includes 40% affordable homes for tackling the Climate Emergency (social rented & shared ownership) but also that we build quality, and is being championed by adaptable homes that people will love Councillor Denise Craghill. to live in” said Councillor Craghill. Follow us on ARE YOU STRUGGLING? Facebook Do you want to keep up to date with what your Green Party councillors are doing for our CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT area? Follow York Green Party at: facebook.com/YorkGreens or IS AVAILABLE you can follow Fishergate Ward Green Party at: facebook.com/ FishergateGreens Universal Credit is managed by the Government. It is complex, and claims can take a long time. The council is investing extra funds to help those struggling most with additional Council Tax Support (as the Government funding is now running out). Get benefits and debt advice from the council’s benefits advisors via the contact details above or from Citizens Your Green Party councillors These include ‘Holiday Hunger’ pack- very greatly missed but the Directors Advice York. www. citizensadviceyork. are working hard to make sure ups for families missing out on free of the Red Tower are determined his org.uk or call 0300 330 2113. City of York Council is helping school meals during the holidays. legacy will live on! individuals and local businesses The council has also made sure Door 84 in the Groves. Door COUNCIL TENANTS York schools can give discretionary as much as possible. 84 Food Hub has been running The council reimbursed tenants in Free School Meals (over and above throughout the Covid emergency. This page includes some examples of April for the first three months of the Government entitlements) to help Free supermarket surplus food for where you can get help – if in doubt annual rent rise. those who are ‘just about managing’ collection weekly from the Door try the council website www.york. and have done so for over 400 84 Centre on Lowther Street to A new Hardship Fund has now and look under ‘Coronavirus gov.uk families this year so far. local families and individuals who been set up to help those who are Service Updates’. can make use of it. If you want struggling the most to keep up with Alternatively you could use PAY AS YOU FEEL FOOD more information, search ‘Door 84 payments. the contact details below: INITIATIVES Youth and Community Centre’ on Green Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods, 01904 551550 Facebook. Waste Food Supermarket at Denise Craghill, says “The council is [email protected] SPARK, Piccadilly. Now 3 days Planet Food: The Real Junk Food urging all tenants to pay their rent a week due to growing demand The council is still able to help people Project at Southlands Community if they possibly can as we rely on organised by York Food Justice who need assistance with shopping, Centre run by Green Party this income, but If you are really Alliance volunteers: £1 bag of collecting prescriptions etc due to the Councillor Rosie Baker and a great struggling talk to the council as soon groceries, open to all who need it on current situation. team of volunteers. Thursdays from as possible.” Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays. 11am-2pm. We will also provide support and advice to people who are struggling Red Tower (off Navigation Road). Surplus good food of all varieties, BUSINESS SUPPORT Every Monday for take out warm open to everyone for shopping, sit- to buy food and/or to pay bills. The council has supported York’s drinks and distribution of surplus down snacks and a (physically- businesses as much as possible, COMMUNITY HUBS supermarket food. distanced) chat, plus second-hand school uniforms available too! getting Government grants out quickly The council is also working to Advice givers such as Citizen’s and creating a local £1m emergency establish new community hubs for Advice and local support workers fund for micro businesses.