THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Monday, 6th April 2026

Good morning, York. What an Easter. Storm Dave tore through the city, the Archbishop took aim at global conflict, and politics - local and national - is shifting. Here’s what matters this Bank Holiday Monday.

📰 NEWS

✝️ Archbishop of York Condemns "Literally Pointless" Iran War in Easter Sermon - Archbishop Stephen Cottrell used his Easter Day sermon at York Minster to make a direct appeal for an end to the conflict in the Middle East, describing it as a "literally pointless conflict consuming the Middle East at the moment." Preaching to a packed Minster before presiding at the Festal Eucharist, he wove the message around the Latin word sitio - "I thirst" - inscribed on his episcopal ring, drawing on Christ's words from the cross as a lens for global suffering, environmental injustice and the fractures of social media culture. He called on York and the north of England to build "communities of diverse, good and peaceful loving," saying too many young people here grow up "with little hope of a better future." He closed with characteristic Yorkshire warmth: "Open the beer. Crack open the champagne. Make that Margarita. Pop another olive in your Martini — or if it is your thing, just do that very English thing, and put the kettle on." The full sermon is available on the Archbishop of York's website and can be watched on York Minster's YouTube channel.

🌲 Storm Dave Wreaks Havoc Across York and North Yorkshire - Storm Dave left a trail of fallen trees, blocked roads and disrupted trains across York and North Yorkshire overnight Saturday. The A64 was closed westbound between York and Malton at around 2am Sunday after a tree fell on the carriageway - it was cleared and reopened by 3.38am. A fallen tree also blocked all rail lines between York and Malton for much of Easter Sunday morning, halting TransPennine services from Scarborough, with disruption lasting until mid-afternoon. York firefighters were called to the A166 at Gate Helmsley after a telegraph pole blew onto the road with exposed wiring. Elsewhere, a tree fell on a house roof in Oakdale Avenue, Harrogate, a vehicle was hit by branches in Ripley, and a dangerously hanging tree had to be cordoned off in Knaresborough. Northern Powergrid teams were on standby throughout. YorkMix / York Press

🏥 Resident Doctor Strike Starts Tomorrow - York Hospital Issues Guidance - A six-day BMA resident doctor strike begins at 7am tomorrow (Tuesday 7 April) and runs until 7am on Monday 13 April — the 15th round of industrial action since 2023. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has warned that fewer doctors will be working and that less urgent cases may experience longer waits. The trust is urging residents to use NHS 111 online as a first port of call, attend planned appointments unless contacted to cancel, and call 999 only in life-threatening emergencies. The BMA said the government has "the power to avert this strike action" by returning to negotiations with a credible offer on jobs and pay. York Press| NHS England

🗳️ York MP Backs Tourist Tax in Commons Debate - York Central MP Rachael Maskell used a Commons debate on the proposed visitor levy last week to argue that York residents are subsidising 6.2 million annual visitors without tourists making a fair contribution in return. She said the cost of managing tourism - from street cleaning to infrastructure - "is being paid for by local residents." Maskell called for a £2-per-night levy on hotel and Airbnb stays, which Mayor David Skaith estimates could raise £52.2 million across York and North Yorkshire. Children would be exempt, as would budget options like camping. Conservative MP Sir Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) vowed to fight the tax, saying it would "clobber" rural North Yorkshire businesses. YorkMix

🏗️ Dakota Hotel Demolition Well Underway on Rougier Street - AllClear Demolition are several months into pulling down Northern House, the 1960s office block on Rougier Street, formerly home to Northern Rail, to clear the site for a 140-bedroom Dakota Hotel. The firm was appointed in November 2025 and is using a careful "top-down" demolition method to protect neighbouring buildings and the public, with noise and vibration monitoring in place throughout. Historic England had previously raised concerns about the impact on Roman archaeological remains beneath the site, though agents for the development confirmed that construction piling will affect only 3.2% of deposits. The hotel, developed by Evans Property Group and Dakota Hotels, will include a bar, dining areas and rooftop terraces, and is expected to create around 120 jobs. Gazette & Herald.

🗳️ York councillors back push for proportional representation - York councillors have backed a call for the UK to adopt proportional representation, arguing the current voting system does not fairly reflect how people vote. Supporters say reform would lead to a more representative democracy and improve public trust in politics, while critics warn it could lead to more fragmented decision-making. The move adds York’s voice to growing national debate around electoral reform. York Press

🚨 CRIME

🚴 Two Teenagers Seriously Injured in E-Bike Crash in Acomb - Two 15-year-old boys from the York area were taken to hospital with serious injuries on Saturday evening following a collision between an adapted electric bike and a white Fiat 500 in Danebury Drive, Acomb. The crash occurred at the junction with Ostman Road shortly before 9.40pm. Both teenagers remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition. The 18-year-old female driver of the Fiat was uninjured. North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses, dashcam or CCTV footage - contact North Yorkshire Police with any information. YorkMix / Yahoo News UK

🛣️ TRANSPORT

📷 York and North Yorkshire Gets £2 Million for First-Ever Fixed Speed Cameras - The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has confirmed a £456 million four-year transport settlement that includes £2 million for North Yorkshire's first-ever fixed and average speed cameras. Camera locations will be determined by road safety partnerships. Deputy Mayor Jo Coles said 2,000 people had been killed or seriously injured on the region's roads in the last five years. City of York Council's own highways allocation also rises from £4.4 million to £7.1 million under the deal - a significant jump that Cllr Pete Kilbane welcomed directly. The settlement was not without controversy: North Yorkshire Council's leader Cllr Carl Les called it "utterly disgraceful," arguing his authority will receive around £20 million less over the four years than if funding had come directly from central government. York Press

🚆 LNER Cancels Key York - London Services on Easter Sunday - York passengers faced disruption on Easter Sunday after LNER cancelled two services due to a shortage of train crew. The 9.43am train from London Kings Cross to York was cancelled, as was the 12.27pm departure from York to London Kings Cross. As a partial mitigation, the 10.33am Kings Cross to Newcastle service was amended to terminate at York. LNER advised affected passengers that their tickets remain valid on services up to two hours before or after the cancelled departure. Gazette & Herald.

🍫 FOOD & DRINK

🍫 York Chocolate Festival Hailed a Success Despite Storm Dave - York's five-day Easter Chocolate Festival, which filled Parliament Street with artisan chocolatiers, hands-on workshops and the popular Taste Trail from Wednesday to Sunday, has been declared a success by organisers despite Storm Dave disrupting the penultimate day on Saturday. The festival returned to the streets of the Chocolate City for another year, drawing visitors from across the region to sample handcrafted truffles, Easter treats and live demonstrations. Gazette & Herald.

🧀 New York Cheesecake on York's Quirkiest Street - Along the Shambles, you'll find a genuine slice of New York. The Cheesecake Guy - founded by Matt Kaplan, who was born in New York and moved to York in 2014 after his wife grew up in Yorkshire - serves baked New York cheesecakes from his shop on one of the city's most famous streets. Baking runs in the family: Matt's grandfather ran Sherry's Bakery on 110th and Broadway in New York in the 1960s and 70s. Current flavours include vanilla, Biscoff, chocolate orange, Galaxy caramel, Kinder Bueno, pistachio and many more, with gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan options available on request. Tripadvisor reviewers rate it 4.7/5, with one calling it "the best cheesecake ever in the quirkiest street in York." York Press

👥 COMMUNITY

🐾 RSPCA Urges York Pet Lovers to Adopt as Centres Reach Crisis Point - The RSPCA is appealing to Yorkshire residents to consider adopting a pet, after reporting a near 70% rise in incidents involving ten or more animals at a single location over the past four years. There were 471 such incidents across Yorkshire last year alone. Superintendent Jo Hirst said centres are "overwhelmed" - with almost half of all animals currently in emergency boarding because RSPCA centres are full. Many require prolonged care before they can be rehomed, and some are caught up in ongoing legal cases. York's RSPCA branch has an animal home (by appointment only) and charity shops on Goodramgate and York Road, Acomb. Find animals available for adoption at rspca-yorkhome.org.uk. York Press

🏃 York Footballer Takes On Ultramarathon for Men's Mental Health - Jon James, 40, a former Huntington Rovers player who suffered a fractured skull in a match in 2022, has turned to long-distance running as his route back to competitive sport, and he's using it for a bigger purpose. On April 25, Jon will run a 56.6km ultramarathon in Newcastle in aid of Mental Health UK, after taking up running during his long rehabilitation. Three colleagues at Cyclops Electronics in York shaved their heads in support of his fundraising this week. Find out more and donate via the Huntington Rovers Facebook page. Yahoo UK News

🔥 Firefighters Tackle Water Leak at High Petergate - York firefighters were called to a building on High Petergate in the city centre on Saturday after a water leak. The incident did not cause disruption to the wider area. YorkMix

⚽ SPORT

🏉 York Knights Beaten 34-14 at Huddersfield - A difficult Easter Saturday for York Knights, who fell to a 34-14 defeat at Huddersfield Giants in the Super League Rivals Round. Three tries in the opening 14 minutes put the Knights 18-0 behind before they could find their feet, and despite fighting back with tries from debutant Will Roberts and David Nofoaluma before half-time, a Jacob Gagai double in the second period put the result beyond doubt. Head coach Mark Applegarth was unusually candid post-match, saying he was "embarrassed" by how the side started and acknowledged significant defensive work was needed. York remain second-bottom of Super League after a fourth straight defeat. Hull KR in the Challenge Cup comes next. BBC Sports