HUNDREDS of people took advantage of fine weather in a series of events across York this weekend.

 

The Black Swan Inn, in Peasholme Green, celebrated its 600th anniversary with live music and a quiz on Sunday evening, which was also entered by Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Dave Taylor.

 

Cllr Taylor took part in the Yorkshire-themed quiz to raise funds for charity, and also attended and officially opened the Fossgate Festival earlier on Sunday.

 

He said: “It’s great to see the community come together.We must do all we can, I think, to support independent retailers and businesses in York, who have taken a massive hit from Monks Cross and internet shopping, which is destroying retail in the city centre. Use it or lose it, and this is a reminder of what makes York distinctive.”

 

Zoe Plummer, chair of the Fossgate Association and co-owner of Ambiente Tapas, helped organise the Fossgate event, and said

 

She said: “This is the eleventh event in three years, and people are really getting to know about it. We do everything on a budget, and we’re very proud of what we have done in such a short space of time.

 

“Even before we open, it generates a lot of interest. It’s so nice to have an area where people can just chill with a drink, with their family or with their dogs.”

 

Last month, traders in Fossgate were pleased with the announcement that City of York Council had overturned the recommendation of planning officers and approved a permanent metal sign for the top of the street, and traders hope events like this will become even more popular in coming months.

 

Zoe said the feedback from the public on previous events had been very positive, with hundreds of people packed into the street at most points, thousands passing through the festival throughout yesterday.

 

She said the feedback would be presented to the council to further the argument for pedestrianisation, or alternative methods to help retailers and businesses in Fossgate. Zoe said: “Rather than look at pedestrianisation, the council are looking at reversing the traffic flow, which we believe will be a big help. that’s out for consultation now, due back in mid May, so hopefully we’ll find out in the next couple of months whether that will go ahead for a 15 month trial.”