THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Monday, 12th January 2026

✨ Monday morning, York!

Heworth ward votes THIS Thursday in an election that could flip the council. A massive 1,100-home development could double Tockwith's size. The city pauses to remember PC Rosie Prior one year on. And York's publicans are fighting back against eye-watering business rates hikes that threaten to close doors for good.

York weather for Monday, January 12, 2026:

Sunny intervals with a high of 10°C (feels like 7°C) and a low of 6°C. 40% chance of rain at 1pm, with light rain and showers developing through the afternoon. Winds 8-11mph from the south-southwest, gusting to 24mph. Humidity 86-93%. (Met Office)

🗳️ ELECTION NEWS

🗳️ Everything You Need To Know About Thursday’s Heworth By-Election - Six candidates, one council seat, and Labour’s one-seat majority hanging in the balance. Polls open 7am-10pm Thursday, and you’ll need photo ID. YorkMix,

👮 POLICING & SAFETY

💐 “Rosie Was The Very Best”: City Marks PC Prior Anniversary - Deputy Chief Constable Scott Bisset laid flowers today marking exactly one year since PC Rosie Prior was killed helping at a roadside crash. The 45-year-old mother of two died on the A19 at Bagby while off-duty, putting others’ safety before her own. York Press)

🚔 Unpredictable Police Patrols Pop Up Across City Centre; Project Servator teams are out in force across York’s busiest spots to disrupt everything from pickpocketing to terrorism. See something that doesn’t feel right? Tell them.

🚨 CRIME

🔪 Woman Stable After Rawcliffe Stabbing, Man In Custody - A 35-year-old man remains in custody after a woman was found with serious knife wounds on Lindley Road Saturday evening. She’s stable in hospital, and police say there’s no wider risk to the public. ITV Calendar

🚗 TRANSPORT & INCIDENTS

🧊 “I Thought I’d Died”: Teen’s Miracle Escape From Ice Crash; Seventeen-year-old Parthena-Rose Sudlow walked away from her flipped Fiat 500 after hitting black ice at 35mph Wednesday morning. Her riding helmet saved her life when the car landed upside down in a ditch.

💧 Burst Water Main Floods Village Road; Fire crews called to Stockton On The Forest Saturday evening after a water main burst flooded a village road. (YorkMix)

🏘️ HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT

🏗️ Tockwith Could Double In Size With 1,100-Home Airfield PlanLand promoter Hallam Land wants to build 1,100 homes on Tockwith Airfield over 13 years, including a school, health centre, and shops. Five landowners have already signed up, but it’s “only a suggestion” at this early stage, says parish council chairman.

The scoping report says it would take around 13 years to build the development. Construction would be anticipated to begin 2029, with completion in 2042.

💼 COUNCIL & PUBLIC SERVICES

📋 Row Erupts Over Council’s “Inadequate” Adult Social Care Rating; The CQC slammed City of York Council’s adult social care services with its lowest rating in four areas. Long waits, people not feeling heard, and potential safeguarding risks have sparked political finger-pointing at the Guildhall. (York Press)

“As executive member, I will leave no stone unturned in providing the political leadership required to support this improvement process, to ensure services are meeting the needs of our residents and keeping them safe.”

💼 BUSINESS

🤝 Free Business Networking Launches January 29; York Press and York St John team up for free networking sessions featuring TEDx speaker Iwona Michalska and the latest on marketing trends and AI compliance. First session 5-7pm January 29.

🍺 York Pubs Face Crippling Rates Crisis Despite Government U-Turn; The Swan faces a 97% bill increase. The Blue Bell’s rates triple. The Last Drop nearly doubles to £17,190 a year. York’s publicans welcome the government’s U-turn on business rates but say the devil’s in the details - and what even counts as a “pub”?

👥 COMMUNITY

☕ Brew Monday At York Station: Have A Cuppa, Save A Life; York Samaritans volunteers will be handing out tea bags and chatting to commuters at the station next Monday (January 19) from 9am-6pm. Because one in five people never talk about their feelings - and a simple conversation can be lifesaving.

🤝 Citizens Advice York Helped Nearly 5,500 People In 2025; The charity’s expanding services and winning awards while helping York residents navigate debt, benefits, and life’s curveballs. Chief Executive named Most Influential CEO 2025 in Social Advice & Support.

💷 MONEY MATTERS

💰 Pensioners: Check Your Winter Fuel Payment By January 28Born before September 22, 1959? You’re owed between £100-£300 for winter heating. Most payments landed in November/December, but if yours hasn’t arrived by January 28, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

⚽ SPORT

⚽ City Go Top But Maynard Fumes Over “Blatant Penalty” Denial; York City beat Sutton United 2-1 Saturday to reach the National League summit, but manager Stuart Maynard’s raging about referee Aaron Jackson waving away a stonewall penalty on Ollie Pearce. “When the goalie wipes him out, it’s a penalty,” Maynard fumed. Hiram Boateng and Pearce scored for the Minstermen in front of 480 traveling fans. York City FC,

⚽ Academy Defender Baker Joins Northallerton On Loan; Eighteen-year-old centre-back Greg Baker heads to Northallerton Town on dual registration to get first-team minutes under his belt. (York City FC)

That’s your lot for Monday!

Don’t forget - Heworth polls open 7am Thursday. If you’re heading out today, watch for ice on those back roads. And if you see those Project Servator officers about town, give them a nod - they’re the good guys.

We’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with Tuesday’s news. Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and if you fancy a pint to fight off the Monday blues, your local landlord could probably use the business right about now.