THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Friday, 19 December 2025

👋 Hello, York.

It’s the final Friday before Christmas, and while the city buzzes with festive preparations, there’s serious news alongside the seasonal cheer. From flood defence warnings and university sustainability triumphs to sporting victories and tonight’s packed entertainment schedule, today’s briefing has everything you need to know as we head into the festive weekend. Let’s get you up to speed.

.🌤️ Weather Today

Mild for December with highs around 10°C. Cloudy spells are expected throughout the day, accompanied by light winds. A settled end to the working week before potential showers arrive over the weekend

Source MET Office

🌊 INFRASTRUCTURE & ENVIRONMENT

🚧 18 York Flood Defences Below Standard Ahead of Winter - Eighteen of York’s flood defences failed Environment Agency inspections in October, with 15 deemed “high consequence” as they protect homes and businesses. Six of the 10 wettest recorded half-winters have happened since 2000, and storms Bert and Connall caused severe flooding last November. The government’s redirected £108m into repairs nationally - but with winters getting wetter, York’s ageing defences are under increasing pressure. 👉 BBC News

🏛️ COUNCIL & POLITICS

🚴 York Scores £1.25m Cycling Funding Despite Lowest Capability Rating - York Council’s secured almost £1.25 million for walking and cycling schemes despite being given the worst possible score of 1 out of 4 by Active Travel England - and we’re locked into that rating until 2029. Green activist Andy D’Agorne didn’t mince words: “Three years ago when York’s capability score was set at one this made headline news, however failure to make any progress is now evidently just par for the course.” Funding for the Jubilee Terrace riverside footpath still sits unused after a bank collapse. 👉 York Press | Gazette & Herald

⚖️ 39 Labour MPs Urge PM to Drop Controversial Jury Trial Plans - York MP Luke Charters may be among 39 Labour MPs who’ve signed an open letter calling the government’s jury trial plans “madness.” The proposals would scrap jury trials for crimes with sentences under three years - but the MPs reckon it’ll barely touch the 80,000-case Crown Court backlog while stripping defendants of a fundamental right. Karl Turner MP, a former barrister, says he’ll break the Labour whip for the first time in 15 years over this. 👉 YorkMix

“We Labour Members of Parliament are asking you to pause this proposal until proven evidence can be provided that this proposal will substantially reduce the backlog in the Crown Courts.”

🗑️ Christmas Bin Collections Will Move - But None Will Be Missed - Your bins are on the move over Christmas, but don’t panic - no collections will be skipped. Thursday and Friday collections will shift temporarily around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, usually by just one day though some could be a few days later. The council will also collect extra recycling alongside your usual boxes - handy with all that festive packaging. 👉City of York Council | York Press

🙏 Council Leader Thanks York’s Army of Volunteers - More than one in five York residents are involved in formal volunteering - one of the highest rates in the country. Council leader Claire Douglas used her monthly column to thank everyone from young carers to sports coaches, library helpers to volunteer gardeners. She reckons every hour spent doing a litter pick or visiting an elderly neighbour “creates a positive and immediate impact” - and builds the kind of city we all want to live in. 👉 York Press

🎓 EDUCATION

🌍 York St John Rockets 91 Places Up National Sustainability League - York St John’s shot up 91 places to 31st out of 147 universities in People & Planet’s sustainability league - making it the highest-rated university in the entire Yorkshire region. The uni’s scored points across the board: 80% carbon reduction target by 2030, world-class energy efficiency, biodiversity schemes with wildlife ponds, all energy from sustainable sources, and they’ve cut recruitment ties with fossil fuel firms. Director of Estates Nick Coakley reckons it’s down to “passionate, dedicated and creative ways that sustainability and social justice is supported” - and they’re a Living Wage employer to boot. 👉 York St John University

🏢 BUSINESS & INNOVATION

🧬 York Biotech Campus Well Positioned for Growth in 2026 - York Biotech Campus reckons it’s “well positioned” for 2026 as businesses eye up Northern lab space to escape eye-watering Golden Triangle prices. Labskin’s doubled its headcount to 10 this year, while Abingdon Health continues rapid growth. Estates Manager Liz Cashon says retrofitting and repurposing space will dominate 2026: “Building new lab space is extremely costly, so converting offices or warehouse areas offers a practical and sustainable solution.” 👉 Yorkshire Post

🥃 York Gin Wins National Glass Sustainability Award - York Gin’s bagged a Glass Champion Award for its sustainable packaging at the Glass Focus Awards 2025. The distillery runs on 100% renewable electricity, uses bottles made in Leeds with 20% less glass than before, and sources everything from Yorkshire suppliers where possible. Their grain even comes from Yorkshire farms - proper local operation aiming to be “net positive” for the environment and community. 👉 YO1 Radio

🎄 COMMUNITY

🧸 Freemasons Donate Giant Teddies to York Christmas Toy Appeal St Saviour Lodge of Freemasons has donated a dozen giant teddy bears to York’s Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal. The bears provide comfort to children attending A&E units and will also go to homeless families so they have gifts for their children. Last year the appeal supported 650 York families and distributed around 3,500 presents across the city. 👉 York Press | Gazette & Herald

📚 ARTS & CULTURE

📖 New Walking Guide Celebrates “York’s Most Rewarding Street” - Clements Hall Local History Group has published “Micklegate: The Great Street of York” - a detailed guide to one of the city’s most historic thoroughfares. The book traces Micklegate’s journey from the 12th century when it was known as Myglagata (the Great Street), exploring the use of buildings through the modern period. Architectural historian Pevsner called it “without doubt the most rewarding street in York” - and now you’ve got a proper guide to explore it. 👉 York Press

🎨 Foss Park Hospital Exhibits Patient Artwork - Foss Park Hospital in York is showcasing artwork created by patients as part of mental health awareness initiatives. The exhibition demonstrates the therapeutic benefits of creative expression and highlights the talent within the York mental health community. 👉 York Press

🏉 SPORT

🏉 England International Liv Wood Signs New Two-Year Valkyrie Deal - England prop Liv Wood’s signed on for another two years with York Valkyrie, taking her into her sixth and seventh seasons. She was one of the first players to sign a professional contract with York back in 2023 when the club made Women’s Super League history. Despite time on the sidelines last season, she still made 10 appearances as York finished third and reached both cup semi-finals. 👉 Yahoo Sports UK | York Press

🏉 York RUFC Suffer Frustrating Home Defeat to Alnwick - York RUFC went down 7-15 at home to Alnwick on December 14, leaving them stuck at the bottom of Regional 1 North East. Despite a hard-fought performance, Alnwick’s defence held firm. Their head coach praised York’s effort though: “They fought until the final whistle and played some great rugby. Defensively it was our best performance of the season.” York are still searching for that elusive first league win. 👉 York Press | Northumberland Gazette

🏀 Jorvik Warriors Beat York Vikings in Five-Year Derby Return - Jorvik Warriors claimed an 84-63 victory over York Vikings in the first second-team derby between the city’s two basketball clubs in five years. Jonathan Wetherley scored all of Vikings’ first-quarter points (12), but Jorvik’s Gurpreet Bansal sparked the turnaround with silky half-court movement. Patch Brannigan’s defensive pressure and strong performances from Ally Whyte and Finn Rose sealed it. The first teams meet again tonight (Friday, December 20) in what should be a cracker. 👉 York Press

⚽ York-Born Jess Park Scores Champions League Winner in Turin - Former York City starlet Jess Park scored the winner as Manchester United Women beat Juventus 1-0 in Turin on Wednesday evening. The goal secured United a seeded spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout stages - crucial after losing 3-0 to Lyon the week before. The 24-year-old, who moved to United from rivals City in September, was part of England’s Euro 2025-winning squad and won WSL Player of the Month for October. 👉 Yahoo Sports UK | York Press

🎭 WHAT’S ON TONIGHT (FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER)

🚂 Festive Flying Scotsman - Get up close to the world-famous steam locomotive on display at the National Railway Museum in Great Hall, part of their 50th anniversary celebrations running through to January 8. 👉 National Railway Museum, 10am-5pm

🎻 A Baroque Christmas - Eboracum Baroque returns to the newly refurbished York Mansion House with York Gin for seasonal vocal and instrumental works including Vivaldi’s Winter, Handel arias, and festive European carols on period instruments. 👉 York Mansion House, 7pm

🎺 Gala Christmas Concert - All five bands from the renowned Shepherd Brass Band family take the stage for seasonal favourites ending with a spectacular massed band finale. 👉 Joseph Rowntree Theatre, 7:30pm

✨ There Will Be Tinsel - Radio 4 regular John Osborne performs festive poems and stories on a stage covered in Christmas lights and tinsel with a record player spinning seasonal classics. 👉 Bluebird Bakery, 8:30pm

⛸️ Neon Night Snow-Ball - Two hours of bouncing, climbing and sliding with festive tunes, hot dog and unlimited squash, plus a giant snow ball fight with glow lights. 👉 Oxygen York, 6-8pm

That’s your York wrapped for today. The city’s moving into the Christmas weekend with plenty happening. Enjoy tonight’s events, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

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The York Brief is compiled from trusted local sources including York Press, Gazette & Herald, YorkMix, and other verified outlets.