THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Thursday, February 19, 2026

It's Thursday in York, and the city's making headlines for all the usual reasons: Toy recalls, cold-weather payment debates, a viral football celebration, and a York swimmer who's just collected Yorkshire's most prestigious swimming trophy. Here's your Thursday.

📰 NEWS

💰 York hotels issue "fatal" warning as Mayor's £2-per-night visitor levy case strengthens - York hoteliers are pushing back hard against Mayor David Skaith's proposed £2-per-night visitor levy, warning it could be "fatal" to business during already difficult trading conditions. Hospitality Association York points out that only 6.1 million of the 32 million annual tourists stay overnight, meaning 80% won't pay. Meanwhile, Skaith argues the levy could generate £52m annually for local services and points to Edinburgh's successful implementation. The government consultation closed yesterday.

🏥 York Hospital Wigginton Road gridlock sparks mayoral action and anti-car policy criticism - Mayor David Skaith is in top-level talks with NHS bosses about a "health on high street" model - moving routine treatments into community settings to free up hospital access for those who genuinely need it. The move comes after daily traffic chaos on Wigginton Road leaves patients literally walking the final half-mile to cancer appointments. Critics slam what they call "lunatic anti-car policies" making the problem worse, but the council admits there's no quick fix for the bottleneck caused by cars queuing for limited parking spaces.

🎓 University of York among 36 UK universities facing Covid tuition fee legal claims - The University is part of a group being pursued by Student Group Claim, representing 170,000+ students nationwide who argue they didn't receive the in-person education they paid for during pandemic-era remote learning. The action follows a successful settlement with UCL and targets the 2020-21 academic year, with claims beginning to expire in September 2026.

🚧 Yorkshire Water closes Scarcroft Road for month-long emergency works - The road will be shut while urgent repairs take place, with diversions in place for local traffic. After completing repairs in Nunnery Lane by March 7, Yorkshire Water will close Scarcroft Road in South Bank between Scarcroft Hill and The Mount for approximately one month as part of their £1.4 million mains replacement scheme.

⚖️ York man charged with suffocating woman by forcing head underwater - A 38-year-old appeared charged with intentional suffocation following an alleged domestic incident where a woman's head was repeatedly forced underwater in the Clifton area between June and September last year. Jake Joe Bamber, of Apollo Street off Heslington Road, pleaded not guilty at Leeds Crown Court and has been remanded in custody until an April hearing.

🛒 ASDA recalls children's Stretcherz toys over asbestos contamination risk - York families are urged to check toy boxes after ASDA recalled Stretcherz toys (barcodes 5050837662419 and 5050835105345) sold between January 2024 and February 2026. Testing found trace levels of asbestos in the sand-like material inside some products. While the overall risk is considered low, ASDA says "asbestos should not be present in any amount" and is recalling them as a precaution. Return to any ASDA store for a full refund - no reports of harm have been received.

🛟 Fire crews rescue person holding railings after 3 am - Emergency services rushed to the River Ouse around 3:15 am Wednesday morning (Feb 18) after someone fell into the water and managed to cling to railings. Three fire crews from York, Acomb, and Selby used ladders to pull them to safety. The person was taken to the hospital by ambulance, with police also attending the scene.

💷 DWP's £25 cold weather payments branded "too slow and too low" by campaigners - Nearly 1.5 million UK households received £25 payments this winter when temperatures stayed below 0°C for seven consecutive days, but charities argue the seven-day trigger is outdated for modern weather patterns with sharp cold snaps. York residents on Pension Credit, Universal Credit, and certain benefits qualify - but campaigners say payments arrive too late, don't reflect real energy costs, and should be triggered sooner with a daily extreme cold model. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden defended the scheme as a "lifeline for vulnerable households when temperatures plummet."

♿ Lib Dems call for £150K to restart York Dial & Ride service - Opposition councillors are demanding emergency funding to revive the door-to-door transport service for elderly and disabled residents, axed in December 2023. Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Cllr Stephen Fenton's call for £150,000 was voted down by Labour councillors, who called it a "sticking plaster" solution, saying they need a viable long-term model as bus services transfer to the Combined Authority.

“Older and disabled people should be supported to live fulfilled and independent lives, but the experience of the past two years suggests that Dial & Ride is not a priority for this Labour administration. Their actions – or inaction – speak far more loudly than their words. So once again it falls to the Liberal Democrats to stand up for residents whose needs are being ignored.”

🎓 EDUCATION

🏫 Two York schools praised by Education Secretary for "life-changing" work - Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary and Archbishop Holgate's School received national recognition from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for their transformative impact on disadvantaged pupils. Both Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust schools demonstrate "what is possible when high expectations are matched with the right support," said CEO Andrew Daly.

🌍 University of York's Mumbai campus artist impressions revealed - The University has unveiled designs for its planned Indian campus opening September 2026 in Powai Business District. The campus features open, flexible learning environments - and one quirky detail: a large mural of Long Boi, York's famous Indian runner duck. Programs include Computer Science with AI/Cyber Security, Business, Economics, and Creative Industries.

🧠 University of York research shows better police coordination cuts mental health emergency delays - New findings demonstrate how improved emergency service coordination can reduce response times for mental health crises. Researchers observed officers in two forces and interviewed 70+ professionals. Professor Martin Webber said: "Police officers are often the first responders to mental health crises, yet they aren't always the right agency to help."

📚 190+ York nursery children join national "four books a day" reading pledge - More than 190 children from Busy Bees nurseries in York are taking part in the 'Get the Reading Buzz' pledge, encouraging four books daily as part of a national goal to read 45 million books in 2026. The campaign involves 350+ Busy Bees nurseries and 37,000+ children UK-wide, responding to data showing only one in three children enjoys books in their free time.

Yesterday marked our first face-to-face team meeting of the year. We came together on a blustery morning in Birmingham for a truly eventful and energising day. From celebrating our people with Star… | Busy Bees Education and Training

Yesterday marked our first face-to-face team meeting of the year. We came together on a blustery morning in Birmingham for a truly eventful and energising day. From celebrating our people with Star of the Month and crowning our Star of the Year 2025, to team-building sessions exploring growth mindset vs fixed mindset, the day was packed with learning, reflection and connection. We even managed to throw in a little Traitors fun along the way! We were also delighted to be joined by Jane Burchall, Assistant Regional Director SW & WM at Ofsted, who shared valuable insights into the upcoming changes to the inspection framework. A great day of collaboration, celebration and forward thinking with an incredible team. ⭐

LinkedInBusy Bees Education and Training

❤️ COMMUNITY

🏘️ York Civic Trust launches 'Our Place: Acomb and Westfield' heritage project - The Trust is inviting Acomb and Westfield residents to share memories and photographs to document the area's rich history. Research shows people in these areas report lower belonging levels than the city average. An interactive display at Acomb Explore Library runs until August, with heritage grants coming later this year. The Trust marks its 80th anniversary in 2026.

🗣️ Yorkshire Youth Commission gathers at Priory Street Centre - The 36 members of the York and North Yorkshire Youth Commission met for their first in-person meeting of 2026 on February 7 to discuss issues affecting their communities. The commission, aged 10 to 25, informs and challenges the Mayor, Deputy Mayor for Policing, police, and fire services on policing and public safety.

📚 ARTS & CULTURE

🔍 Criminally Good Books shortlisted for Independent Bookshop of the Year - York's beloved crime fiction specialist has been recognised in the prestigious British Book Awards. The Colliergate shop, founded by Isla Coole, represents North England among 76 UK and Ireland finalists. Regional winners announced March 10, overall winner May 11 - and the winner receives £5,000.

🌳 WHAT'S ON

🌸 Goddards Gardens reopening March 1 with free Residents' Festival - The historic gardens on Tadcaster Road will welcome back visitors with a special free event for York residents on February 28. Expect snowdrops, hellebores, daffodils, and hyacinths across the Arts and Crafts gardens designed in the 1920s by George Dillistone for the Terry family. Free Entry to Goddards Garden for York Residents

👩 York International Women's Week returns with 60+ events March 1-8 - The city-wide celebration features workshops, performances, talks, and exhibitions under the theme "Weaving Women's Stories." Programming includes exhibitions, films, creative workshops, professional networking, women's history discussions, wellness activities, walking tours, flash mobs, and tennis sessions. Most events are in step-free venues, many free.

🍰 FOOD & DRINK

🎂 Eggfree Cake Box opening on Piccadilly "within weeks" - The allergy-friendly bakery chain is bringing its 100% egg-free treats to York city centre at 13a Piccadilly, reviving the former William Hill unit. The signature purple frontage is complete, with cake counter, display fridges, and a preparation station inside. Founded in 2008, the company now has 250+ locations across the UK.

⚽ SPORT

🦶 York City fan's viral airborne foot injury - "absolutely fine" after hospital check - Jason Higgins, the superfan whose red-shoed foot went viral (750,000 views) after flipping over the barrier celebrating Daniel Batty's first goal, has reassured fans he's uninjured.

"I leaned forward over the barrier, and the momentum and fans behind pushed me forward and I toppled over," Jason told YorkMix Radio's Breakfast Club. "No harm caused, and it was good to see Dan Batty get his first goal."

🏊 York swimmer Emma Wills wins Henry Dixon Trophy after breaking 13 records - Emma Wills, who swims for York City Baths Club and competes in the 45-49 age category, has been awarded Yorkshire Swimming Association's most prestigious award following a stellar year in which she broke 13 records at all levels. Her 2025 titles include two British short course records, four British long course records, one European short course record, and two European long course records. The pinnacle was the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore in August, where she won three golds from three events, breaking her own British records in the process.

Emma commented: "It feels such an honour to receive this award as a Masters swimmer, especially seeing Olympic champions on the list of previous winners."

🧘 HEALTH & WELLBEING

🧘 Parkinson's UK partners with British Wheel of Yoga for nationwide classes - The UK-wide partnership will make specialized yoga classes more accessible to people with Parkinson's, relatives, and carers, including those in York. The collaboration delivers chair-based classes adapted for all ability levels, with training for yoga instructors. Physical activity programme manager Jed Parsons said: "Yoga is shown to have many benefits for physical and mental wellbeing when living with Parkinson's."