THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Tuesday, 2 December 2025

✨ RIGHT THEN, YORK

Today hits hard. A tragic school crash, rising floodwaters, a surprise £1M McFlurry miracle, and a final farewell to a beloved Christmas lights display — all in the first hours of Tuesday.

York, buckle in. There’s a lot happening.

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Mild and mostly dry today with highs around 8°C. Light winds from the southwest. Rain returns late Wednesday. Met Office

🚨 URGENT: TRAGIC NEWS

💔 Teenage Girl Dies in Tadcaster School Minibus Crash - A teenage girl died after a minibus carrying nine students collided with a car near Tadcaster Grammar School yesterday afternoon at around 12:30pm. The crash happened on Toulston Lane at the junction with Rudgate. Tadcaster Grammar School remains closed today while police investigations continue and roads are made safe. If you have dashcam footage, North Yorkshire Police urgently need to hear from you on 101. YorkMix | York Press

🌊 FLOODING & WEATHER

🚗 St George’s Car Park Closes as Ouse Levels Surge - The River Ouse is doing what the River Ouse does best - threatening to overflow. St George’s Field car park closed at 8pm last night and will remain shut today, while Rowntree Park is also closed. The Viking Recorder forecast the Ouse could hit 3.95 metres in the early hours of Wednesday morning - more than double its normal 1.9m range. YorkMix | Gazette & Herald

📰 NEWS

🛍️ Council Vows “Change” After Designer Outlet Gridlock Hell - Remember Saturday’s traffic apocalypse around the Designer Outlet? Labour transport spokesperson Cllr Kate Ravilious says “changes are needed” to ensure York can cope with Christmas congestion, but admits there are limits to what can be done near the outlet because National Highways won’t allow anything that risks backing traffic onto the A64. The weekend chaos was blamed on Black Friday sales, Christmas Market crowds, UK Snooker Championship visitors, and the Designer Outlet’s Winter Wonderland - all colliding at once. Gazette & Herald

🦫 Endangered Water Voles Caught on Film for First Time in York Beck - This is lovely. An endangered water vole - a ‘red list’ species that’s suffered a 90% population decline over 30 years - has been captured on camera for the first time in Osbaldwick Beck. Since 2018, local conservation charity St Nicks has been restoring the beck as part of the York Urban Becks project, and it’s paying off. Gazette & Herald

🍟 “Very Happy Meal”: Couple Wins £1M While Eating McFlurrys in York - This is the kind of luck dreams are made of. Rob and Lisa Nicholson were taking a break from Christmas shopping, visiting their son Max at uni, and tucking into McFlurrys at a York McDonald’s when they got THE phone call. They’d won £1 million in the Omaze Monthly Millionaire Draw after buying a £15 ticket. The West Yorkshire couple, who’ll celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary this week, say the money will help support their three children - including two autistic sons - and allow them both to retire early. Gazette & Herald

🗑️ Garden Waste Charges Rising to £52 - Your green bin’s about to cost you more. City of York Council is proposing to increase the annual garden waste subscription from £49 to £52 for the 2026 season - aligning with North Yorkshire Council charges and covering rising service costs. Around 40,000 households currently subscribe to the 40-week, fortnightly collection service. Residents on Council Tax Support or registered with severe mental impairment will still get a 50% discount. Subscriptions open January 12 ahead of collections restarting in March. City of York Council | YorkMix

🏛️ COUNCIL & POLITICS

🗳️ Heworth Councillor Resigns, Triggering By-Election - Labour’s Heworth ward councillor Ben Burton is stepping down after personal circumstances mean he’s moving away from York. Cllr Burton, elected in May 2023, chaired council scrutiny and planning committees and helped deliver “thousands” in benefits advice for residents, supported Tang Hall Community Centre, and championed improvements to Glen Gardens. Council leader Cllr Claire Douglas called him a “fantastic Labour councillor” who’ll be “sorely missed.” A by-election will be held in mid-January. Gazette & Herald | YorkMix

🍔 Fresh Plans Lodged for Former Fulford Iceland After McDonald’s Rejection - Remember when McDonald’s wanted to convert the old Iceland in Fulford into a drive-thru last year? Council planning officers blocked it on public health grounds - too close to schools. Now new plans have been submitted by Dalian Properties Ltd to divide the building into three separate units with changes to the exterior including new entrance and service doors, glazing, windows, and air conditioning units at the back. McDonald’s said at the time they’d work with the community to find an alternative location. York Press

🎭 WHAT’S ON

🎤 Michael Ball’s Glow Tour Hits York Barbican in September 2026 - West End legend Michael Ball is bringing his 2026 Glow UK tour to York Barbican on Saturday, September 12. The double Olivier Award-winning, Grammy-nominated artist will be performing songs from his new album Glow (his 23rd solo album, due early 2026) alongside old favourites. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 5 at 9am. York Press

🎸 Self Esteem Announced for Museum Gardens July 2026 - Mercury Prize-nominated artist Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor from Rotherham) will headline York Museum Gardens on Friday, July 10, 2026 - the day after Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark opens the concert series. She’s touring her third album A Complicated Woman, and after her stint as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, expect serious theatrical spectacle. General sale opens Friday, December 5 at 10am. Gazette & Herald

💼 BUSINESS & JOBS

💼 Azets Promotes 26 Staff in York Office - Accountancy giant Azets has announced 42 promotions across Yorkshire - 26 of them in York. The firm, which employs 335 people across Leeds, Bradford and York, recognised excellence across audit, tax, and business advisory services. The milestone forms part of 372 promotions made across Azets’ UK network this year. York Press

🎢 Continuum Attractions on Senior Recruitment Drive - Finance Director & Marketing Roles Open - York-based visitor attraction operator Continuum Attractions (the 40-year-old company behind York’s Chocolate Story, Emmerdale Village Tour, and The Loch Ness Centre) has bolstered its operations with four new senior hires and is still recruiting. Sarah Kilgallon joins as Brand Marketing Director, Emma Searle as Director of Operations North (overseeing York’s Chocolate Story and other northern attractions), Owen Schofield as Group Management Accountant, and Mel Haywood as Group Recruitment Partner. They’re still seeking a Finance Director and Marketing Executive, both based in York. Yahoo News UK | Details

CEO Andrew Pawson says the new talent will help deliver “even more unforgettable, story-led attractions.”

🎄 York EdTech Startup HYEN Launches Sticky Circuits Christmas Tree Edition - Former University of York graduates Thomas Mason and Jack Clarke have unveiled their first product under their York-based EdTech company, HYEN. The Sticky Circuits Christmas Tree Edition is designed to make learning about electronics fun and festive. The duo are building an education technology company right here in York, bringing innovation to the classroom. Another example of York’s growing tech scene. York Press

🎨 York Creative Jasmine Ely Launches Hummingbird Paper Company - York-based designer Jasmine Ely has launched The Hummingbird Paper Company, a new creative venture focused on beautiful stationery and paper goods. It’s another brilliant example of York’s thriving creative community and independent business scene. Supporting local makers matters—especially heading into the Christmas shopping season. York Press

🏠 PROPERTY

🏠 Three-Bed Huntington Home Hits Market for £435k - A “beautifully” renovated detached home in Meadow Way, Huntington has hit the market for £435,000. According to estate agent Ashtons, the property has been finished to a high standard throughout with three double bedrooms, two bathrooms, generous living space, a modern fitted kitchen, and a flexible second reception room that could be a snug, dining room, or home office. York Press

🏢 City Centre Holiday Let Flats on Sale for £750k - Here’s one for investors: a block of three self-contained two-bedroom flats on Spurriergate in the heart of York city centre is on the market for £750,000. Currently operating as holiday lets, the property generates an average gross annual income of £142,000. York Press

🏗️ UNIVERSITY & DEVELOPMENT

🎓 University of York Completes Two Major Campus Projects - Two significant projects at the University of York are now complete and ready for students. The first is the extensive refurbishment of the Piazza Building on Campus East to accommodate the growing York School of Architecture - featuring upgraded meeting rooms with digital conferencing tech, a model-making workshop, and Building Information Modelling suite. The second is a new professional services hub on the second floor of an existing building, offering flexible workspaces for teams currently in places like Heslington Hall. Gazette & Herald

👥 COMMUNITY

🎄 Last-Ever Christmas Lights Switch-On for Beloved Bishopthorpe Family After 15 Years - Get your tissues ready. Toni and Jo Wilson switched on their spectacular Christmas lights display on Main Street in Bishopthorpe for the final time last night (Monday, December 1) after 15 years of bringing joy to thousands and raising money for charity. Toni, who suffered severe brain damage in a car crash as a baby and “died twice,” recently celebrated her 40th birthday. The family started decorating their bungalow 15 years ago because Toni loved the colourful, therapeutic lights. York Press

♿ Parkinson’s UK Hosting Free Information Day This Friday - Parkinson’s UK York Branch is hosting a free drop-in information day this Friday, December 6, at the Spurriergate Centre in St Michael’s Church from 11am to 3pm as part of York Disability Week. The event is designed to support people living with Parkinson’s, their families, and carers. Attendees will hear from York branch volunteers about their experiences and ongoing programmes, plus staff from Parkinson’s UK and local health services will be on hand. York Press

🎄 Acomb Community Carols on Front Street Dec 18 - Gateway Church and St Stephen’s Church are coming together to spread Christmas cheer through Acomb Community Carols on Wednesday, December 18 at 6:30pm on Front Street in Acomb. Expect carols by the Christmas tree, a scratch brass band, and free mulled drinks. York Press

Caleb Ellwood, pastor at Gateway Church, says: “Christmas is all about community, hope, and joy. We want this event to be something that everyone in Acomb feels part of - a chance to gather, sing, and celebrate Christmas together as a community.”

Thanks for reading and staying connected with what’s happening across our city.

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