THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Monday, 15 December 2025

👋 Morning York!
As winter settles in, today’s stories reflect both progress and pressure across the city - from bold geothermal plans and transport shake-ups to community charities facing tough realities, festive goodwill spreading through local schools, and sporting drama on the pitch. Here’s everything shaping York today.

🌤️ TODAY’S WEATHER

Mostly cloudy with occasional showers throughout the day. Expect highs of 8°C with light winds at 10–15mph. A chilly, damp start to the week - wrap up warm for the commute.
Source: Met Office (York)

🔬 NEWS

🌡️ University Plans to Drill Deep Geothermal Wells at Sport Village - The University of York has submitted plans to drill three geothermal wells 1.86 miles deep into underground limestone rock at the disused velodrome near York Sport Village. Water would be pumped down, heated by hot rock, and returned to provide renewable heat for campus buildings on a 24/7 basis for up to 14 months of drilling – a major step toward net zero. A new cycle facility would also replace the degraded velodrome track. YorkMix

🚨 CRIME

⚔️ Knifeman Who Terrified Wedding Guests in City Centre Jailed - Benjamin Michael Sheard pulled a 20cm blade on four wedding guests in Lawrence Street in broad daylight, leaving one believing he was about to be stabbed and another hyperventilating. The 26-year-old, who also threatened to “shoot” a passing motorist who intervened, has been jailed for two years after being convicted of carrying a knife, affray and assault. York Press

🚁 Low-Flying Drone Dips Into Gardens in York Suburb - Police are hunting the operator of a drone reported flying dangerously low over gardens across several streets in a York suburb. Officers are investigating the incident and asking witnesses to come forward. YorkMix | York Press

👥 COMMUNITY

💔 Much-Loved York Charity Hit by “Deeply Worrying” £100k Bill - Brunswick Organic Nursery in Bishopthorpe faces a “staggering” £100,000 bill to connect sewers, threatening the future of the social care charity where adults with learning difficulties work. Workers are enduring cold portable outdoor toilets for the second winter running as the septic tank system fails. The charity has launched an SOS - Sort our Sewers campaign pleading for community support. Gazette & Herald | YorkMix

“The York community has always rallied round to help us and we have great support from the people we work alongside and their families, as well as local businesses and charity donors. We’re hoping they will come to the rescue if they can!”

🎒 Huntington School Digs Deep with Massive Foodbank Collection - Over 1,000 students and staff at Huntington School rallied together for their biggest-ever foodbank collection for Living Word Church. Organiser Julie Kettlewell called it a “whole-school effort” after the school went “above and beyond” in its fifth year supporting the vital initiative. Gazette & Herald | York Press

🎅 ‘Rocking Rudolph’ Visits Dunnington on Christmas Tour - Santa’s festive sleigh brought Christmas cheer to Dunnington on Friday night as Derwent Lions’ Rocking Rudolph campaign kicked off its two-night village tour. The annual tradition visits 14 villages across York, North Yorkshire and East Riding, raising around £8,000 annually with local volunteers collecting donations door-to-door. Gazette & Herald | York Press

🚆 TRANSPORT

🚄 Thousands More Seats Available as Huge Rail Timetable Launches - York passengers are benefiting from the biggest East Coast Main Line timetable change in over a decade after Sunday’s launch. Weekday daytime trains between Newcastle and King’s Cross nearly double (up 46%), journey times from London to Edinburgh drop by 15 minutes, and thousands of extra seats are available daily following £4bn investment over ten years. Network Rail Media Center | YorkMix

⚠️ Signal Fault Causes Morning Delays Through York Station - Monday morning commuters faced delays of up to 15 minutes after a signalling fault in Darlington caused trains to run at reduced speeds through York. LNER, CrossCountry, Northern and TransPennine Express services were all affected before services returned to normal. Gazette & Herald

🚧 Castlegate to Close for Gas Works in January - The road near Castle car park will shut from 10:30am Monday 12 January to 5pm Wednesday 14 January for essential gas mains works. City of York Council says no diversion signs will be in place. Gazette & Herald

🏢 BUSINESS

👗 CATCH Market Makes Debut at York Railway Institute - The indoor vintage market that’s conquered UK major cities has landed in York! CATCH Market brought 90s and Y2K fashion, accessories and jewellery to York Railway Institute over the weekend, with owner Lucy Goodstadt (who studied at York uni) promising a May 2026 return for sustainability-minded shoppers hunting unique finds. York Press

♿ CareCo Opens New Mobility Showroom at Marrtree Business Park - UK mobility retailer CareCo will open its 37th showroom on Thursday 19 December at Unit 5, Marrtree Business Park in Stirling Road. The 589 sq metre space offers mobility scooters, riser recliners, rollators, free demonstrations and parking in a “state of the art” facility. Care Co | Gazette & Herald

🎓 EDUCATION

🏨 Millthorpe School Partners with Middlethorpe Hall for Career Opportunities - Millthorpe School has launched an exciting partnership with luxury York hotel Middlethorpe Hall to give students real-world hospitality experience. Pupils will work with the hotel’s gardeners learning horticulture, shadow the head chef in the restaurant kitchen, and collaborate on a sculpture project for the hotel gardens. Excel Learning Trust

🏠 PROPERTY

💰 “Truly Special” £1.25m Townhouse Hits Market in Clifton - A Grade II listed six-bedroom Victorian townhouse combining “historical charm with spacious accommodation” is on the market for £1.25 million. The Clifton property boasts four reception rooms, three bathrooms, original staircase, ornate fireplaces, and a “particularly impressive” private rear garden – with estate agents saying “properties of this calibre rarely come to market.” York Press

⚽ SPORT

💔 York City Stunned by Penalty Shootout Defeat to Clitheroe - The Minstermen crashed out of the FA Trophy in shocking fashion, losing 4-3 on penalties to Northern Premier League Division One West side Clitheroe after a 1-1 draw. Leon Creech’s stunning 89th-minute screamer from 30 yards looked to have sealed the giant-killing before Ollie Pearce’s stoppage-time equalizer (his 50th City goal) forced penalties in front of a sell-out 2,071 fans. Manager Stuart Maynard admitted he was “disappointed” after making eight changes failed to prevent the cup upset. York City FC | Yahoo Sports

🏉 York Valkyrie Tie Down Half-Backs to New Two-Year Contracts - York Valkyrie have secured their future by signing half-backs Ellie Williamson and Liv Gale to new two-year deals ahead of the 2026 Betfred Women’s Super League season. Williamson scored five tries and kicked 50 goals in 18 appearances last season, while Gale returns after missing the entire 2025 campaign with an ACL injury. York Press

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