THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Good Morning, York ☀️ . Right then, let's have it. While Westminster's in uproar and our MPs are asking hard questions, back home we've got racecourse dinners at £640 a pop, traffic petition rows, and the council reaching deep into your pockets again. Plus, there's a Michelin star in Harrogate (close enough to brag about), Tommy Banks serving up posh nosh with Becky Hill crooning in the background, and York Knights signing talent for their Super League debut. From politics to ponds, it's all kicking off. Brew's on - let's crack into it.

🏛️ POLITICS

🗣️ Your MPs Question the PM's Position; Both of York's Labour MPs are weighing in on the Westminster crisis engulfing Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his appointment of Lord Mandelson despite knowing about his Jeffrey Epstein connections. York Central's Rachael Maskell told ITV News there are "serious questions" about Starmer's position, questioning "who is actually running this government" and whether he's "really the Prime Minister at all." When asked directly if the PM should resign, Maskell said there's a "serious question over his position."

• York Outer's Luke Charters issued a statement condemning Epstein and Mandelson but notably didn't mention support for Starmer despite being directly asked.
• After the PM's Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney resigned, Maskell called it "a start" but warned Starmer must "turn away from the factionalism"—adding that if he hasn't grasped the seriousness, "he will find it very difficult to continue."

📰 NEWS

🚗 Traffic Blackspot Campaign Gathers Steam; A petition calling for urgent action on York's worst traffic bottleneck has gathered 496 signatures as frustrated drivers face 20-30 minute delays at the Wigginton Road/York Hospital junction. Guildhall Labour councillors are leading the charge, demanding the council prioritize fixing the notorious hotspot that's been plaguing commuters for years. The intersection has become a daily nightmare for residents trying to access the hospital or navigate through the area during peak hours.

🏘️ 380-Home Estate Heads to Public Inquiry; Taylor Wimpey's plans for a massive 380-home development in Heworth are heading to a public inquiry after the council rejected the scheme in May 2025. The proposed estate on land off Stockton Lane faced fierce local opposition over concerns about infrastructure, traffic, and the loss of green space. Developers are now appealing the decision, setting up a showdown that could drag on for months.

💰 Council Tax Hike on the Cards; Get your wallets ready: City of York Council is proposing a 2.99% council tax rise as it battles £10 million budget gaps and forecasts a staggering £20 million funding loss over the next three years. Council leaders say the increase is unavoidable as they grapple with rising costs and shrinking government support. The proposed hike comes as services across the city face cuts and the council scrambles to balance the books.

🏨 Businesses Push Back on Visitor Levy; York's hospitality sector is digging in against proposals for a tourist tax, but the mayor is standing firm, calling it a "game-changing" revenue opportunity. Local business owners warn the levy could damage York's competitiveness, arguing visitors already pay plenty through VAT, parking fees, and premium pricing. The debate pits economic pragmatism against the need for infrastructure funding in one of England's most-visited cities.

“The visitor economy is so important for our local economy and attracts visitors from across the world to our beautiful market and coastal towns and the wealth of cultural experiences that are on offer.”

🌊 Wetland Safety Concerns at Rowntree Park; Parents are raising alarms about water-filled holes near the play area at Rowntree Park's new wetland, with safety barriers mysteriously missing. The recently created wetland feature was meant to boost biodiversity, but concerns are mounting that young children could stumble into the unprotected water. The council is facing calls to urgently secure the area before someone gets hurt.

🏕️ More Caravans Planned for Fox Hill; Fox Hill Holiday Park near Claxton is seeking permission to add 15 more static caravans to the site. The expansion plans come as demand for holiday accommodation in the York area continues to grow, though some locals worry about the cumulative impact on rural character and traffic. Planners will weigh the economic benefits against countryside protection concerns.

🚨 Police Roll Out New Abnormal Loads System; North Yorkshire Police have launched ESDAL (Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads), a new digital system for notifying authorities about oversized vehicle movements. The platform streamlines the bureaucratic process for hauliers moving large loads across the region, replacing the old paper-based system with real-time electronic notifications. It's meant to improve road safety and reduce admin headaches for all involved.

🐝 200 Square Miles of Insect Superhighways; The North York Moors are getting a massive ecological boost with the GrubsUp! project creating 200 square miles of pollinator corridors. The initiative connects fragmented habitats to help bees, butterflies, and other insects thrive across the moorland landscape. It's one of the largest insect conservation projects in northern England, aiming to reverse decades of habitat loss.

🐴 Year of the Horse Celebrations; York's Chinese community is marking Chinese New Year with celebrations for the Year of the Horse. Traditional festivities include dragon dances, lantern displays, and family gatherings as the city's diverse communities welcome the lunar new year. The Horse symbolises energy, passion, and enthusiasm—qualities York could use right about now.

🍽️ FOOD & DRINK

🏇 Tommy Banks' £640 Racecourse Extravaganza; Celebrity chef Tommy Banks is bringing his "Roots to the Races" experience to York Racecourse on June 27, and it'll cost you £640 per person. The Made in Chelsea-meets-Michelin-starred event features a four-course tasting menu using Yorkshire ingredients alongside live music from Becky Hill. Banks' signature style of hyper-local, seasonal cooking will be on full display—just bring a thick wallet and an appetite for both food and glamour. York Race Course.

⭐ Harrogate Bags First Michelin Star; Fifty Two restaurant at Rudding Park has earned Harrogate its first-ever Michelin star, with chef Adam Degg's creative menu winning over the notoriously tough inspectors. The restaurant opened in May 2024 and has quickly become one of the region's most talked-about dining destinations. While technically in Harrogate, it's close enough for York foodies to claim bragging rights—and book a table to see what the fuss is about.

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🖼️ Fusion Art Fair Returns to York; The Fusion Art Fair is taking over the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from March 6-8, bringing 3,000+ artworks and 90+ artists under one roof. The annual showcase spans everything from contemporary paintings to sculpture and photography, offering collectors and casual browsers alike a chance to explore Yorkshire's vibrant art scene. Admission details and featured artists will be announced closer to the date.

🏛️ Nunnington Hall Reopens for Valentine's; National Trust's Nunnington Hall near Helmsley is reopening on February 14 with a new Jungle Book-themed trail for families. The 17th-century manor house has been closed for winter maintenance and is welcoming visitors back just in time for half-term. The trail promises to bring Rudyard Kipling's classic to life in the historic gardens and estate grounds.

🚆 TRANSPORT

🚄 CrossCountry Trains Get £60m Facelift; CrossCountry's Voyager fleet is undergoing a major £60 million refurbishment program, bringing new seats, USB-C charging points, and LED lighting to the ageing trains. The upgrade will roll out across the fleet serving York over the coming months, promising a more comfortable experience for passengers on the busy East Coast route. It won't fix the delays, but at least you can charge your phone while you wait.

⚽ SPORT

🏉 Nikau Williams feeling positive in full-time Knights set-up; NIKAU Williams is feeling the excitement brewing with York Knights as he hopes to make his Betfred Super League debut this Thursday.

🏆 York City Duo Win National League Honours; Stuart Maynard has been named National League Manager of the Month for January, while striker Ollie Pearce took Player of the Month after an unbeaten run kept York City's promotion hopes alive. The double award recognises York's strong form heading into the business end of the season. Maynard's tactical nous and Pearce's goalscoring touch have the Minstermen firmly in the playoff picture.

❤️ COMMUNITY

🛍️ St Leonard's Hospice Seeks Malton Volunteers St Leonard's Hospice is recruiting volunteers for its Malton charity shop, which has raised over £275,000 since opening in July 2024. The hospice is looking for friendly faces to help with retail operations and continue funding vital end-of-life care across the region. If you've got a few hours to spare and want to make a real difference, this is your chance.