THE YORK BRIEF ⏰Friday, November 7, 2025

Morning, York!
Hope you’re ready for the weekend. Today’s brief is absolutely PACKED – from a balaclava-clad e-bike chase to devastating firework injuries, a council cock-up that wrongly fined 100+ drivers, and our 100-year-old D-Day hero heading back to inspire students. Let’s crack on.

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Mild and grey today – typical November in Yorkshire, innit? Highs of 13°C, lows of 7°C, with a chance of a morning shower so grab a brolly if you’re heading out early. Light winds around 9mph, so nothing dramatic. One thing though: air quality’s rated as poor today, so if you’ve got asthma or breathing issues, maybe skip the morning jog. Weekend’s looking similar – Saturday stays dry at 12°C, but Sunday’s got a 60% chance of rain. Basically, it’s jumper weather with a side of drizzle. Classic York.

🚨 CRIME & JUSTICE

🏍️ Balaclava teen nicked after e-bike chase through Foxwood – hammer found - A 19-year-old lad wearing a balaclava sparked a police chase in Foxwood Thursday morning after a PCSO spotted him on an illegal e-bike around 11am. The teenager failed to stop and led roads policing officers on a short pursuit before being detained. Plot twist: when officers searched him, they found a hammer. Read more at Gazette & Herald | Read more at YorkMix

“It is illegal to use these types of electric bikes on a public road and puts the safety of not only the rider, but pedestrians and other motorists at risk.”

🎆 Fireworks set off near homes in Tang Hall - Residents in Tang Hall reported fireworks being set off dangerously close to homes, raising safety concerns in the neighbourhood. Read more at York Press

💥 SCARBOROUGH HORROR

🎇 Two 18-year-olds suffer life-changing injuries in fireworks disaster - This is absolutely gutting. Two teenagers from Scarborough have suffered life-changing injuries after fireworks exploded while they were holding them on Scarborough foreshore near the lifeboat station Wednesday night. One lad suffered facial injuries, the other severe hand injuries, with the grandfather of one of the boys revealing his grandson is facing multiple surgeries and skin grafts. Read more at YorkMix | Read more at Gazette & Herald | Read more at North Yorkshire Police

🎖️ HEROES & REMEMBRANCE

💂 D-Day legend Ken Cooke, 100, returns to Millthorpe for Remembrance Day - York’s D-Day veteran Ken Cooke is heading back to Millthorpe School next Tuesday (November 11) for his second visit to inspire students on Remembrance Day. The centenarian, who turned 100 earlier this year and landed at Gold Beach in 1944 aged just 18, first visited the school in March and left such an impression that he’s been invited back. Read more at Gazette & Herald

🚗 COUNCIL COCK-UP

🚦 100+ drivers wrongly fined for using Low Poppleton Lane bus gate – council cancels all penalties - Absolute shambles this. More than 100 drivers were wrongly handed fines for driving through the Low Poppleton Lane bus gate on October 25-26 – despite being officially diverted along that exact route by the council because Millfield Lane level crossing was closed for works. After being contacted by The Press, City of York Council cancelled all the penalty charge notices. The council is now investigating how the fines were issued. Read more at Gazette & Herald

🏛️ HERITAGE & MEMORY

✡️ Calls for peace garden and pogrom memorial at Castle Car Park scheme - Members of York’s Jewish community are pushing for an expanded memorial space as part of the £9.9m Castle and Eye of York redevelopment, which will see the 298-space Castle Car Park transformed into parkland. York Liberal Jewish Community representatives told councillors there’s a once-in-a-generation chance to properly commemorate the 1190 massacre where up to 150 Jews were killed at Clifford’s Tower. The community wants the memorial garden expanded to include York’s first peace garden – “what better place than at York Castle,” they said. - Read more at Gazette & Herald | Read more at YorkMix

“We’re an international city and one of sanctuary that stands together against religious intolerance and racism.”

🏥 HEALTH & INNOVATION

💊 York residents trialling “pill-on-a-thread” cancer test that could save lives - Proper clever this. York residents are taking part in the BEST4 Screening trial, a major UK study exploring a less invasive way to screen for oesophageal cancer using a “pill-on-a-thread” test. The capsule sponge test screens for Barrett’s oesophagus – a condition linked to oesophageal cancer – and takes just 10 minutes. You swallow a pill with a thread attached, it dissolves in your stomach releasing a small sponge about the size of a cherry tomato, then a nurse gently pulls it back up collecting cells from your oesophagus for testing. Read more at Gazette & Herald

💷 York Hospital Trust paid £11m in maternity claims - Figures reveal the extent of compensation payments made by the hospital trust for maternity-related claims, highlighting ongoing concerns about maternity services. - Read more at York Press

💔 TEN YEARS OF TORMENT

👤 “It’s absolutely torturous” – Rory’s mum on 10 years since York disappearance - It’s been 10 years since Rory Johnson-Hatfield vanished after a night out in York city centre on November 19, 2015. The then-29-year-old was last seen on CCTV at 12:47am near City Mills, crossing Skeldergate Bridge. His mum continues to live with the “absolutely torturous” reality of not knowing what happened to her son. CCTV shows Rory at 12:32am heading into York with a friend along Tower Street past Clifford’s Tower, then six minutes later at 12:38am leaving the city centre alone. Despite extensive searches including police dogs, kayaks on the river, and door-to-door inquiries, no trace has been found. Read more at YorkMix

🚗 TRANSPORT & ROADWORKS

🚧 York Station Gateway roadworks – latest phase starts December - More disruption ahead as the Station Gateway project moves into its latest phase next month. The major infrastructure project continues its transformation of the area around the railway station. - Read more at York Press

🚦 Double yellow lines coming to 120 York roads - New parking restrictions are set to appear on dozens of streets across the city as the council extends its traffic - management measures. York Council plans double yellow lines on 120 roads to improve traffic flow and parking compliance. - Read more at YorkMix | Read more at Telegraph & Argus

🛣️ Haxby Road to close for roadworks - Part of Haxby Road in York is set to close for roadworks, adding to the list of traffic disruptions around the city. - Read more at York Press

🌉 Part of Foss Way in Heworth closed for roadworks - Part of Foss Way is being shut to allow essential maintenance work to be carried out. - Read more at York Press

🎨 ARTS, CULTURE & FILM

🎬 “There’s nothing like this in the UK” – York film festival launches national music competition - York’s film festival has launched an innovative national music competition that festival organizers say is unique in the country. The competition is generating buzz in the creative industries. - Read more at YorkMix

🎭 Anna Cook of York Choral collaborates with Ralph Fiennes - York Choral’s Anna Cook is working with Hollywood actor Ralph Fiennes on an exciting new project bringing theatre royalty to our city. Read more at York Press

🏆 The Real Cyber Crime Awards coming to York next year - The Real Cyber Crime Awards are set to come to York next year, bringing national attention to the city’s growing tech and security sectors. Read more at YorkMix

🏢 BUSINESS & GROWTH

🎨 Creative Chrysalis art space backed in York growth ambitions - The Creative Chrysalis art space is part of York’s growth ambitions, receiving backing as the city invests in its creative sector. Read more at York Press

🏨 Lamington Group secures £41.75m loan for net-zero hotel in York - Major funding has been secured for an environmentally-friendly hotel development, showing York’s commitment to sustainable tourism infrastructure. Read more at Hotel Owner

🤝 MC Networking Group launched in York - A new networking group has been launched to help York businesses make connections and grow. Read more at York Press

💊 Abingdon Health signs deal with Symbio Technologies - York-based Abingdon Health has signed a partnership deal with Symbio Technologies, expanding its biotech capabilities. Read more at York Press

🏫 EDUCATION & YOUNG PEOPLE

📉 Muddy Boots at Stanford Bridge rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted - The nursery has received the lowest possible rating from education inspectors, raising concerns about childcare standards. Read more at York Press

🎓 York academics awarded prestigious ERC Synergy Grants - Researchers at the University of York have been awarded prestigious European Research Council Synergy Grants, bringing major research funding to the city. Read more at University of York

💙 COMMUNITY & CARE

💪 York’s care leavers celebrated for their contribution

York is celebrating young care leavers during National Care Leavers’ Month with this year’s theme “Rising as Me: Overcoming challenges, transforming, and finding your identity.” Around 30 young people leave the care of the council each year in York. Read more at Gazette & Herald | Read more at City of York Council

“We believe that everyone has a responsibility to help those who have been in care to overcome the difficulties that they’ve experienced in their childhoods, so that they can lead successful lives.” Councillor Bob Webb

🎉 WHAT’S ON

🎵 Ultra 90s vs 2000s takes over Circuit nightclub - Fancy a proper throwback? Circuit’s hosting this epic nostalgia night with bangers from both decades battling it out. Read more at York Press

👗 New inclusive clothes swaps taking place at Spark York - Sustainable fashion gets a boost with regular swap events at Spark, promoting eco-friendly wardrobe updates. Read more at York Press

🏳️‍🌈 Late-night bid by York LGBTQ+ venue opposed by council - A bid to extend opening hours at a York LGBTQ+ venue has been opposed by the council, sparking debate about nightlife provision. Read more at YorkMix

🐾 GOOD NEWS & LIGHT

🦸 Good Samaritan helps rescue person from River Ouse - A member of the public jumped into action to help someone in distress in the river. Proper hero stuff. Read more at York Press

🐕 Doggy star of Deadpool and Wolverine coming to York - The famous pup from the Marvel blockbuster is heading our way! Time to get your selfies ready. Read more at YorkMix

📰 Community Dashboard

📋 Latest public notices announced around York - The week’s public notices are out covering planning applications and official announcements. Read more at York Press

That’s your absolutely PACKED Friday sorted, York. Properly heavy news today –

Have a safe weekend.

GOT A STORY? Hit reply with your York news tips and we’ll share them in tomorrow’s Brief.

That’s your Thursday sorted, York! Stay dry out there!

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