THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Tuesday, February 3, 2025
Rescue operation on Clifton Bridge, serious car crash at doctors surgery, and major weekend event announcements. From pub survival plans to childcare expansions, here's everything that matters in York today.
Morning, York! While you were sleeping, emergency crews responded to a bridge rescue at Clifton, a car crashed through a doctor's surgery wall injuring a woman in her 90s, and arsonists hit the same Acomb skip twice in one night. But it's not all drama – we've also got brilliant news on childcare expansion, a major community safety investment for Walmgate, and this weekend's Ice Trail is shaping up to be magical. From courtroom justice to pub survival plans, here's your Tuesday morning briefing – no fluff, just what matters in our city.
Morning: 7°C
Evening: Dropping to 3°C
Feels like: 0°C (proper brass monkeys!)
Conditions: Mostly cloudy with occasional showers
Wind: 6.9 m/s from the southwest – fresh and blustery
Humidity: 83%
Classic February weather – layer up, grab your brolly, and don't let that 7°C fool you. With the wind chill, it'll feel freezing. A waterproof jacket is recommended if you're heading into town.
🚑 EMERGENCY SERVICES
🚙 Woman in 90s seriously injured as car crashes into doctor's, surgery; A grey Honda Jazz crashed into Unity Health Kimberlow Hill Surgery on Kimberlow Rise at 10:50 am Monday. Surgery evacuated, wall breached and cordoned with fire tape. A woman passenger, 90s, was taken to the hospital with suspected serious leg injuries. Male driver, 80s, uninjured. Airbags deployed. Part of the building not in use until repairs, rest of surgery fully operational. Medical staff rushed out to help immediately.
💼 BUSINESS & ECONOMY
📊 Independent report highlights huge potential of York's growth plan; Independent analysis by Sewells Advisory of the November 2025-approved growth plan shows £12.1 billion economic impact with potential for 40,000+ construction jobs and 2,700 operational jobs. Council Leader Claire Douglas: "This is the first time that work has been done that shows the wider benefits." Deputy Leader Pete Kilbane: "York is the top-performing UK city for good growth." Report goes to public decision session today.
“In November last year we approved an ambitious long-term plan for York’s future, providing a practical framework for delivery shaped by local priorities.
💧 Yorkshire Water under fire as bills hike 5.6%; Bills rising £2.80/month from April for £8.3 billion investment program. Lib Dem MP Tom Gordon calling for CEO Nicola Shaw's resignation: "Higher bills, polluted rivers, failing customer service." Online fury from residents - Stacy Meadows: "already had 33% increase last year," Lesley Wedel: "£18 to £30 per month." Shaw received £1.3 million extra from offshore parent Kelda Holdings since 2023. £375 million support package for 345,000 struggling customers.
🪑 M&S restores seats after elderly shoppers' complaints; Michael Quick, 92, and wife Hilary, 87, from Scarcroft Road complained after the Pavement store removed chairs pre-Christmas. They and other mobility-impaired shoppers relied on them. M&S apologized mid-January and restored them January 26. Spokesperson: "We want all customers to shop comfortably."
🚧 Daily charges planned for doing peak-time roadworks in North Yorkshire; Department for Transport approved North Yorkshire Council's lane rental scheme to reduce traffic disruption. Utility companies and contractors face daily fees up to £2,500 for maintenance during busy times. Already successful in London and Kent. Charges apply to ~7% of county's 5,800-mile road network. Aims to encourage faster work and off-peak scheduling. Could start in spring 2026.
🚨 CRIME & SAFETY
🔴 Egyptian national jailed 8 years for rape at Shambles Market; Eid Najjar, 21, raped a woman after leading her away from Vudu Lounge nightclub in December 2023. Door staff at Vudu and Bobos are being praised for intervening when they saw Najjar with the "zombie-like" victim and warning him to stay away. Two tourists later found the woman wandering Shambles without trousers. Judge Simon Hickey noted Najjar showed no remorse and is likely to be deported after serving his sentence.
💊 Tang Hall drug dealer jailed nearly 4 years with machete and sword stash; Gareth Harley, from Fourth Avenue, was caught with Londoner Jamal Banghura, who had a machete, £1,000 cash, heroin worth £2,000, crack cocaine worth £1,000, a ninja sword, and a zombie machete. Judge Andrew Morris KC remembered sentencing Harley before. Harley got 3 years 10 months.
🚮 Two fly-tippers fined a total of £2,190; Jake Calam from Foxwood Lane got £1,170 for dumping on a footpath between July 2024 and July 2025. Lianne Hodkinson from Nether Poppleton got £1,020 for using an unlicensed social media waste carrier who then fly-tipped on Clifton Park Avenue. Part of the council's 'Crime - Not to Care' campaign. City of York Council
Keeping York clean should be a key priority for us all, the council, residents, businesses and visitors. Fly‑tipping undermines that goal by blighting our neighbourhoods and wasting people’s Council Tax by diverting spend away from improvements to our public spaces.
🔥 Skip set on fire TWICE in one night in Acomb; Arsonists targeted a commercial skip containing cardboard on Front Street twice - once at 8:20 pm and again at 11:05 pm on Sunday, February 1. North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue extinguished both fires. Cause believed deliberate.
🏘️ HOUSING & COMMUNITIES
🏠 'Improving security and tackling drug dealing' – Pledge to enhance area of York; £250,000 investment in Walmgate regeneration approved. Cllr Dave Merrett: "Improving security and tackling drug dealing and anti-social behaviour was a big ask that has been fed through." Part of Neighbourhood Improvement Programme includes 36 new Passivhaus homes planned on former Willow House site, pavement resurfacing, pocket parks, tree planting, communal food growing. Additional £10k for The Groves Residents Association plans, £70k for Neighbourhood Caretakers equipment and electric van. £1 million total investment across York's council housing estates. Cllr Michael Pavlovic: "You will see a difference this year and in future years."
🎨 ARTS & CULTURE
👗 New exhibition at the University of York explores how fashion shaped 'the new woman'; "New Fashions for the New Woman, 1900-1950" at Heslington Hall Art Gallery features 80+ garments and accessories curated by History of Art students under Prof. Cordula van Wyhe. Focus on early synthetics (nylon), plastics, and how materials shaped film and advertising visual language. Free entry, runs until March 31.
❄️ York Ice Trail returns this weekend; Saturday-Sunday, February 7-8, 10:30am-4pm. Free event featuring 36 ice sculptures across city centre with "Enchanted City" theme inspired by magic and mystery. NEW for 2026: Ice Village market with family activities and themed traders, Snow Block photo opportunity, Igloo 360 Camera experience. Live ice carving demonstrations daily at 12pm. Pick up trail maps at Visit York Visitor Information Centre on Parliament Street, collect completion sticker. Food available at Parliament Street zone plus Shambles Food Court.
🏥 HEALTH & WELLBEING
💙 Men's mental health programme backed by Yorkshire mayors; Mayor David Skaith (York & North Yorkshire) launched £715,000 programme with Yorkshire mayors Tracy Brabin and Oliver Coppard. "Shift Your Focus" behaviour-change campaign with Movember partnership tackles stigma, provides tools, training and community support. Skaith: "Men dying too young and too often... treating as emergency."
“Men are dying too young and too often. In York and North Yorkshire, we are leading the way and treating this as the emergency it is. By investing in our Men’s Mental Health Programme, we are helping to plug the gaps in provision and backing existing groups to go even further."
👶 FAMILY & CHILDREN
🎒 Hundreds of new wraparound childcare places added in York; 380 new wraparound childcare places created across York since start of 2025, with another 60 expected soon. Provides before and after-school support for primary-aged children, helping parents work the hours they need. Councillor Bob Webb: "Really positive investment from Government... much more convenient to have these places in or very close to primary schools." Part of the National Wraparound Childcare Programme.
🍽️ FOOD & DRINK
🐀 York café closed by 'active vermin infestation'; Mr Tea café at 2 Coney Street was slapped with a court order on January 29 following a January 27 inspection that found an "immediate risk of injury to health." Prohibited from operating until the council issues a certificate. Council declined to comment citing "ongoing situation."
🍺 Historic Acomb pub plans beer garden upgrades to survive; The Inn On The Green (dating to 1780, owned by Thwaites) has submitted planning application for covered outdoor space with bar. Documents cite 30 pubs closing per week nationally and need to adapt. Plans include 88 sq m timber pergola with polycarbonate roof, fire pit, and new external bar. Formerly known as Generous Briton, pub provides vital community hub especially for older residents.
That's your York Brief.
Ice Trail this weekend, childcare places expanding, and Walmgate getting £250k for security upgrades. Not bad for a Tuesday.
Layer up out there – it's Baltic with that wind.
See you tomorrow.
