THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Monday, 13th April 2026

Good morning, York - A dealer who gave police false names while driving a Mercedes full of cocaine has been jailed for nearly seven years. Summer is officially back in the city centre, with over 400 new seats installed this morning. The Archbishop of York's garden walls have been saved from collapse. And York City are now two points clear with two games to play. Here is everything you need to know.

🔴 CRIME & COURTS

🚗 York dealer jailed after cocaine road rage on the A1079 - A York drug dealer who handed police false names, denied having a phone while they listened to it ring, and drove luxury cars stocked with cocaine has been jailed for six years and eight months. Michael Coulson, 38, was first arrested in November last year after a crash and road rage incident on the A1079 in York. A roadside drug wipe came back positive for cocaine and officers found £953 in his pockets. A subsequent search of his Audi TT turned up cocaine in powder and rock form. Police then searched his home and found a further 172g, worth up to £19,640, stuffed in a jacket pocket, along with weighing scales, empty dealer bags and a debt list. YorkMix

🏍️ Motorcyclist Aran Sadler dies at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough - Racing champion Aran Sadler, from County Durham and in his 30s, died on Saturday afternoon after coming off his Kawasaki ZX636 during SuperSport A Race 1 at the Bob Smith Spring Cup at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough. The incident happened at around 3:20pm. On-site medical personnel attended immediately but Mr Sadler was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the reigning overall Oliver's Mount champion and described by the 243 Road Racing Association as "tremendously popular in our paddock community and a champion several times over." Following consultation with his family, racing continued on Sunday. A separate rider, Joey Thompson, who was involved in an earlier incident the same afternoon, said he was sore but well. North Yorkshire Police are appealing for any spectators who witnessed the fatal incident and have not yet spoken to officers to come forward. National Today | ITVX

🏛️ CITY & COMMUNITY

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans rights protesters gather in St Helen's Square - Dozens of people staged a peaceful protest in York's St Helen's Square on Saturday, marking one year since the Supreme Court ruled that under equalities law, "woman" is defined by biological sex - a decision that trans rights activists argue contributes to the marginalisation of transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people. The demonstration was one of several held across the country on the anniversary of the ruling. YorkMix | York Press

🪑 Summer seating and grass animals return to city centre - with new additions - York BID has installed over 400 additional seats across the city centre as of this morning, marking the return of the popular summer furniture programme. New this year: a grass alpaca, a grass tortoise and a giant chair join the returning collection of sculpted animals. Tommy Treebark's Wild Adventure Trail is also back, bigger for 2026, with 55 Yorkshire wildlife animals hidden on brightly coloured benches for families to track down, running until 13 September. The trail is free and designed for children aged 3–12. Seating and animals can be found at Exhibition Square, Museum Gardens, Parliament Street, the Eye of York, Duncombe Place, Deans Park, St Sampson's Square and more. YorkMix | York Press

💜 Survive York reopens waiting list to new self-referrals - York's specialist sexual violence charity Survive has reopened its waiting list - a significant milestone after being forced to close it in May 2025 due to unprecedented demand. The charity, which is the only accredited specialist sexual violence service in York and North Yorkshire, provides free counselling, trauma therapy, EMDR psychotherapy and support work to adult survivors of rape, sexual assault and child sexual abuse. At the peak of its closure, 700 survivors were waiting with average waits of 18 months. Survive says that the figure has now dropped significantly and the list is open again. Survivors can self-refer or call the free helpline Monday–Thursday, 10am–12noon on 0808 145 1887. Yahoo News

🪖 Military vehicles roll into York for annual crank-up at Clifford's Tower - More than 60 historic military vehicles - spanning the Second World War through to the Cold War era - paraded into York on Sunday morning and parked on the Eye of York beside Clifford's Tower for the Military Vehicle Trust's annual "crank-up" event. The convoy began in Tadcaster and made its way through the city before parking up from 10:30am to 4pm for the public to explore. All vehicles are privately owned by enthusiasts. Yorkshire area secretary Brian Slingsby said the Eye of York has been the event's home for more than 30 years: "It's a great setting because there's a lot of history here. These vehicles were in the Second World War — that's a long time ago, but it's not that long ago. Everything happening today is a consequence of what went on then." York Press

🏗️ HERITAGE & PLANNING

⛪ Bishopthorpe Palace garden walls saved from collapse - Repairs to the historic garden walls at Bishopthorpe Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of York, have been approved after planners concluded the public benefit of saving the Grade-listed site outweighs the limited harm caused by the works. Parts of the walls are leaning dangerously and have developed large cracks. The approved scheme will see 28 steel posts installed in concrete bases along the affected sections. The application attracted objections from Bishopthorpe in Blossom, the village's Local History Group and the Northern Fruit Group, all of whom raised concerns about the impact on eight veteran pear trees growing alongside the walls. The Church Commissioners for England argued the works are necessary to prevent the walls from falling entirely. YorkMix

🏪 Tullivers uncovers 120-year-old Victorian shopfront on Colliergate - One of York's best-loved independent businesses has stumbled upon a piece of hidden history. Routine repair work at Tullivers Herbs and Wholefood in Colliergate revealed six wooden pilasters and decorative mouldings estimated to date back over 120 years, concealed beneath modern panelling installed at some point in the building's recent past. The discovery was made by Peter Helstrip, a specialist in restoring York shopfronts, when he peeled back a broken panel and found the original late-Victorian woodwork in good condition underneath. Owners Tracey and Alan Malcolm, who describe themselves as "custodians" of the Grade II listed building, immediately commissioned a full restoration. Tracey said: "It's been lovely to unveil that Victorian part of the building — in for a penny, in for a pound." The building has been a health food shop since Tullivers moved there from Goodramgate in 2001. Gazette & Herald

🎭 ARTS & CULTURE

🎪 Hidden York theatre finally getting signs on the main road - Theatre@41, the independent community theatre tucked down a red door alleyway off Monkgate, is getting its first prominent sign on the main road. Chair Alan Park says a significant number of local people simply don't know the venue exists - despite it hosting theatre, live music and comedy that can't be seen anywhere else in York. The 130-capacity studio space supports community performances and emerging artists, and offers some of the most affordable hire rates in the city. A new sign on Monkgate is expected to make a meaningful difference to footfall. YorkMix

🎶 Joseph Rowntree Theatre reveals new season - The Joseph Rowntree Theatre has announced its new programme, featuring a mix of musicals, plays, comedy nights and the return of popular curry nights. Full details are on the JRT website. YorkMix

🎸 Crescendo Music School open day -Wednesday 29 April - York's only specialist adult music school is opening its doors at Storage King, Water Lane, on Wednesday 29 April from 1pm to 4 pm. Crescendo welcomes complete beginners through to more experienced players and runs group ensembles, workshops and regular concerts. The school emphasises the well-being benefits of playing music in later life, including improved cognitive function, better coordination and reduced loneliness. One student who began lessons after retiring said: "I never expected to enjoy learning this much — the atmosphere is so welcoming, and it's as much about the people as it is the music." Free to attend; book a space via Eventbrite. York Press

🚗 TRANSPORT & TRAVEL

🏇 York Racecourse seeking residents' views on race day traffic changes - York Racecourse is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, 5 May at 5:30 pm at the Studio at Stableside, Tadcaster Road, opposite the Fox and Roman pub, to discuss proposed changes to race day traffic management. The meeting follows the racecourse, taking over traffic control from the City of York Council this season. Lib Dem Councillor Stephen Fenton, who will attend, says the plan is to explore small tweaks to a system that largely works well. Residents with views on race day traffic are encouraged to attend. YorkMix

💼 BUSINESS & LOCAL

🗑️ York business owner says council tip booking system is "crippling" - A York business owner has hit out at City of York Council's new commercial booking system at the Hazel Court recycling centre in James Street, saying it is causing costly disruption to her business. Carole Whitby, who runs interior design firm Upside Down Design in Bootham, was turned away with a full long-wheelbase van on 31 March after failing to secure a commercial slot, and had to unload and store the waste elsewhere. Commercial users are now required to book in advance, are limited to two drop-offs per day, and cannot use the site at weekends, under a 12-month trial launched on 2 March. Whitby, who pays £15,000 a year in business rates and £200 for her tip licence, says she has also noticed an increase in fly-tipping on the B1363 north of the ring road since the changes. The council says over 90% of trader slots have been booked since launch and no queuing has been recorded. Ian Hoult, head of environmental services, said: "We are actively seeking feedback throughout the 12-month trial." Businesses can book via the council's website using a rolling 14-day window. Gazette & Herald

🍫 ONLY IN YORK

🚨 KitKat gets a presidential security convoy through Toronto - because York made it - A red KitKat truck flanked by four blacked-out SUVs was filmed making its way through downtown Toronto last week in a marketing stunt by KitKat Canada. responding to the theft of 12 tonnes (413,793 bars) of KitKat from a truck travelling through Italy last month. The convoy, created by Toronto agency Courage, played on the idea of chocolate as high-value cargo and went viral on TikTok before the campaign was confirmed. York's connection: KitKat has been made in this city since 1935, when Rowntree's launched it as the Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp on Haxby Road. York Press

📣 REGIONAL

🎧 Scott Mills removed from Harrogate summer concert following BBC sacking - Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills has been dropped from the line-up of the Ibiza Symphonica concert at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on 15 August. Organisers cited "the serious nature of matters in the public domain" concerning the 53-year-old, who was sacked by the BBC after the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into him over allegations of serious historical sexual offences involving a teenage boy between 1997 and 2000. Mills has said through his lawyers that he co-operated fully with the police investigation. He has also been removed from a BBC podcast role, stepped down as an MS Society ambassador, and dropped by children's cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK. Channel 4 separately announced it would not broadcast the final episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off in which he appeared. YorkMix | York Press

🇬🇧 NATIONAL

💊 DWP: disabled claimants can now try work without losing benefits - New legislation laid by the Department for Work and Pensions and coming into force later this month will give disabled benefit claimants a legal right to try work - or take up volunteering - without it automatically triggering a reassessment of their PIP or Employment and Support Allowance. The government says more than a third of disabled people who want to work are currently held back by fear of losing financial support. The reforms follow extensive consultation with disabled people and campaign groups. Charities including Mind and Mencap have broadly welcomed the changes, noting that the inclusion of volunteering as a protected activity is particularly valuable for building confidence ahead of employment. The changes affect new-style ESA and PIP claimants. York Press | GOV.UK

💻 PIP applications are now available online, and claimants say it is easier. Personal Independence Payment can now be applied for online, following the expansion of a DWP trial that saw registrations rise 22% in year one and successful claims increase by 7% in the first 19 weeks. Claimants said the online form was less stressful than applying by phone, which requires being "in the right headspace" - and less daunting than the paper version. The online form allows applicants to complete it at their own pace, save progress and track their claim. Apply at gov.uk/pip. York Press

🚘 Reminder: middle lane hogging on motorways carries a £100 fine - UK drivers are being reminded that staying in the middle lane of a motorway when not overtaking is illegal under Rule 264 of the Highway Code and carries an on-the-spot £100 fine plus three penalty points, classified as careless driving. In serious cases the matter can go to court, where fines can reach £5,000. The rule is straightforward: drive in the left lane, move to the middle only to overtake, and return to the left when safe to do so. York Press

⚽ SPORT

🏆 York City: two-point lead, two games to play - and a tribute to Raz - York City moved two points clear at the top of the National League with a 1-0 away win at Tamworth on Saturday. Manager Stuart Maynard named an unchanged starting eleven following the 96th-minute Easter Monday winner against Altrincham - a statement of faith in a group that has now taken nine points from nine over the Easter period. York sit on 104 points; Rochdale are second on 102 with games in hand. Next up is Yeovil at home on 18 April, before the title decider away at Rochdale on 25 April. Meanwhile, a group of friends from the Isle of Man made the trip to Easter Monday's Altrincham game to honour the memory of York-born fan Steve McVeighty, known to all as Raz, who died of a heart attack aged 61 at a music festival in Blackpool last July. His friends wore face masks printed with his face and brought a cardboard cut-out so he could watch the Minstermen triumph 2-1. While in York they scattered some of his ashes at the Bootham Crescent development site — the club's former ground. Friend Martin described him as "a very, very kind man who always championed the underdog, which is probably one of the reasons he stuck with York City." York City FC

🏉 York Knights beaten 48-10 by Hull KR - exit the Challenge Cup - York Knights were eliminated from the Betfred Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage on Saturday afternoon after a 48-10 defeat away to holders Hull KR at Craven Park (BBC Two). Tyrone May opened the scoring inside two minutes and completed a hat-trick with two further tries in the 64th and 67th minutes. Hull KR advance to the semi-finals, where they will face Warrington Wolves over the weekend of 9–10 May. BBC Sports