THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Thursday, January 29, 2025
📍 Today's Brief: Council tax rising for police AND water bills surge 29%, York loses £20m in budget blow, sex club faces ban after violent attack, York City slip to second, Residents Festival this weekend, new museum exhibit opens
🌤️ Good morning, York! Right then – Thursday's absolutely rammed, and your brew's going to need topping up for this one. We've got bills jumping, brawls on Micklegate, football heartbreak, but also brilliant community wins and a cracking free weekend ahead. Proper mix today. Let's crack on!
💷 MONEY & BILLS (Your Wallet's Taking a Hit)
💸 Double Blow: Council Tax AND Water Bills Both Rising - Brace yourselves for a whopping £11 per month extra (£135 annually) on your Yorkshire Water bill, taking it from £467 to £602 from April. The rise funds an £8.3bn investment programme covering leak repairs, replacing 353km of mains, and installing 350,000 smart meters. Yorkshire Water is offering £375m in financial support over five years to 345,000 struggling customers through Water Support and Water Sure schemes. If you need help, call 0345 1299299.
“The money we collect from customer bills, alongside shareholder investment and borrowing, will be spent on a wide variety of improvements across the region - from improvements to storm overflows to mains replacements and bringing in new water resources - alongside delivering a better service for our customers.”
Meanwhile, Mayor David Skaith has proposed an extra £15 per year for Band D properties to fund frontline policing through the police and crime precept. The good news? Total crime is down 3.4% with 1,000 fewer victims, and anti-social behaviour has dropped 15%. Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, says "the national funding settlement for policing is challenging." The panel meets soon to decide.
🏛️ York Loses £20m in Government Budget Bombshell – City of York Council is reeling after losing nearly £20 million in the government's fair funding review – a "hammer blow" according to council leader Claire Douglas. The authority had been counting on £19.8m from the review after years of being underfunded compared to similar cities.
Councillor Douglas slammed the decision: "We have been patient, we have made the case, and we have been badly let down."
This comes on top of existing budget pressures.
💳 Get Your Share: York Residents Claiming Average £3,369 Extra Per Year – Don't leave money on the table! City of York Council is running York Talk Money fortnight to help residents claim benefits they're entitled to. In the last six months, benefits advisors helped almost 200 residents get an average of £3,369 extra annually. Drop-in sessions: Monks Cross Shopping Park (Wed 4 Feb, 1.30-4.30pm) and Morrisons Foss Islands Road (Wed 11 Feb, 1.30-4.30pm). Use the calculator at york.gov.uk/BenefitsCalculator or call 01904 551556. (City of York Council)
"We know that hundreds if not thousands of people in York are not getting the money they’re entitled to."
🏛️ POLITICS
🗳️ York Graduate Keeps Labour in Majority After Heworth By-Election – Former University of York student Anna Perret has won the Heworth by-election, keeping Labour's majority on City of York Council. Perret, who graduated in the late 2000s with degrees in English Literature and Politics, secured 1,096 votes – nearly 500 ahead of Reform UK's John Crispin-Bailey (601 votes). Greens came third with 591, while Lib Dems finished fourth with 528. The election was called after Councillor Ben Burton left York for work.
🚨 CRIME & SAFETY
🚔 Resident Calls for Sex Club Ban After 'Extremely Violent Attack' – Bar 55, York's only strip club on Micklegate, faces strong opposition as it applies to renew its sex establishment licence. They argue that having a sex establishment in a Grade II* listed building on one of York's most important streets damages the city's tourist reputation. The City of York Council's licensing committee decides next week.
🌊 River Ouse Walkway: £130,000 Investigation into Reopening – The Environment Agency is launching a £130,000 investigation to explore reopening the River Ouse walkway between Skeldergate Bridge and Millennium Bridge. The popular riverside path has been closed since 2019 due to structural concerns with the river wall. The study will assess the wall's condition, explore repair options, and estimate costs for making the route safe again. This follows years of campaigning by residents and councillors to restore this crucial city centre link.
🔧 Environment Agency Resolves Norton Road Pump Issues – The Environment Agency has fixed problems with the flood defence pump on Norton Road after residents raised concerns about its reliability. The pump, crucial for protecting properties from flooding, had experienced operational issues that needed urgent attention. The agency confirmed all issues have been resolved and the pump is now fully operational ahead of the winter flood season.
"The pumps are working on site and we don’t anticipate needing to put in additional resource at present – this means no need for road closures at this time."
⚽ SPORT
🥅 York City Slip to Second After Rochdale's Stoppage-Time Heartbreaker – Gutting news for the Minstermen – York City lost their place at the top of the Enterprise National League after Rochdale secured a dramatic 2-1 stoppage-time victory over Southend United on Tuesday night. City could reclaim top spot with a win at Solihull Moors this Saturday (3pm), as Rochdale aren't in action. The Dale next play Tuesday, February 3, hosting promotion rivals Boreham Wood (7.45pm).
🚣 York City Rowing Club Claims Three Wins at Tyne New Year's Head – Brilliant showing from York City Rowing Club at Saturday's Tyne New Year's Head, claiming three victories from 13 crews competing. . The club's building momentum ahead of the prestigious Head of the River Race on the Thames in London on March 28.
🏋️ FITNESS & WELLBEING
💪 Dominus CrossFit Named One of York's Best Gyms – Dominus CrossFit at Clifton Moor has been shortlisted by York Press readers as one of the city's top ten gyms – for the second year running! The 6,000 sq ft facility hosted teams from Japan, Spain, and South Africa during last summer's Women's Rugby World Cup for strength and conditioning training. The gym's also heavily into charity work. They've even launched fitness classes for the 65+ age group. (York Press)
Co-founder Rich Taylor says: "There are a lot of new gyms in York, so it's nice we're getting the same support as twelve months ago."
🧠 Chocolate Works Care Home Hosting Dementia Awareness Event – Chocolate Works Care Home in York is hosting a dementia awareness event to help families understand and support loved ones with dementia. The session will cover recognizing early signs, communication strategies, and accessing local support services. It's part of the home's ongoing commitment to supporting the wider York community affected by dementia. Details on dates and booking are available by contacting the home directly.
🎃 WHAT'S ON
🎟️ York Residents Festival This Weekend – Free Entry to Everything! – Your weekend is absolutely sorted! York Residents Festival returns Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February with free entry to the city's top attractions. York Museums Trust: York Castle Museum, York Art Gallery, The Yorkshire Museum (all free). National Trust: Treasurer's House (free). Plus Clifford's Tower, Fairfax House, and York Minster's new St William exhibition. York's Chocolate Story offers 200 free walk-in tickets (100/day) plus 25% off guided tours. Show your York Card, student card, or York postcode ID. Full details: visityork.org/resfest. (York Press / Make It York / YorkMix)
🎨 ARTS & CULTURE
🏛️ York Castle Museum Unveils New Immersive "Last Stop Before Kirkgate" Exhibit – Perfect timing for Residents Festival! York Castle Museum has just launched "The Last Stop Before Kirkgate," a brand new immersive installation developed with Novo Theatre. You'll enter Kirkgate (the famous Victorian street) through a reimagined 19th-century coaching inn, complete with character stories, atmospheric sounds, and detailed settings. (York Press)
Joe Hufton, CEO of Novo Theatre: "This is an exciting way to help frame the visitor journey when inside the museum."
🎨 Women's Art Exhibition Opens at Stephenson's Gallery – Stephenson's Gallery in York is showcasing a new exhibition celebrating women artists. The exhibition features contemporary and historical works exploring themes of identity, empowerment, and creativity through diverse artistic styles and mediums. It's a chance to discover emerging and established female artists with connections to York and Yorkshire. Check the gallery's website for opening times and any special events. (York Press)
👗 University of York: Historic "New Woman" Fashion Exhibition – The University of York is presenting "New Woman," an exhibition exploring how late Victorian and Edwardian women used fashion to challenge social norms and express independence. From rational dress to cycling costumes, the exhibit examines how clothing became a tool of rebellion and liberation. Features historic garments, photographs, and documents from the period when women were fighting for suffrage and education. Open to the public – check University of York events for details. (University of York)
🌱 ENVIRONMENT
🌸 City Walls to Bloom: Wildflower Project Gets Expansion Approval – York's Walls in Bloom project received council approval on January 27 to expand beyond Station Rise and the Red Tower. The stunning wildflower displays could be replicated on Lord Mayor's Walk, Nunnery Lane, and Station Avenue. Inspired by the Tower of London's Moat in Bloom, the initiative improves biodiversity while cutting grass-cutting costs. Volunteers from St Nicks, Friends of York Walls, and York Cares will sow seeds, funded by Green Corridors, National Lottery Community Fund, and local businesses including The Grand York. 2026 will see each area at its absolute best as flowers become fully established. (York Press)
🍺 COMMUNITY
🍻 Green Councillors Say Pubs Support Package "Too Narrow" – York's Green councillors are criticising the government's pub support package as "far too narrow," arguing it doesn't go far enough to protect struggling community pubs. They're calling for broader measures, including business rates reform, better planning protections for pubs, and more support for community buyouts. With several York pubs closing in recent years, councillors say the hospitality sector needs comprehensive support, not just limited relief schemes. (York Press)
🍽️ FOOD & DRINK
☕ GO Outdoors York Unveils New Café with Little Yorkshire Coffee Company – The ground floor café at GO Outdoors York Vangarde has reopened under new management by The Little Yorkshire Coffee Company. Despite opening just two days before Christmas, they successfully mobilised the café for the festive rush. Uses coffee roasted in York, locally baked cakes, and employs regional workforce. Hours: 9am-5pm initially, with extended hours for seasonal trade. Vangarde Shopping Park, Huntington, York, YO32 9AE.
That's your Thursday wrapped, York.
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See you tomorrow with Friday's roundup!
