LAST week I joined the University of York’s Union NightSafe Team to see how they support vulnerable students and residents during the small hours in the city centre.

It was an amazing evening and I was very impressed by the volunteers’ professional, caring and empathetic approach to ensuring people are safe and able to get home.

It was equally pleasing to talk to students and hear how supportive and appreciative they are of having such a team if they do succumb to the perils of too much alcohol or require some basic first aid.

Later on in the week, I joined the city centre police sergeant on patrol who explained the issues affecting this busy beat, not all linked to alcohol.

We discussed how the police are taking a multi-agency approach to keep the city free from antisocial behaviour and crime and the positive results this was having.

I think it is also worth a note of praise for the York Rescue Boat crew who rescued an intoxicated male who had entered the water on Saturday.

All in all a great week seeing some of our unsung volunteers and public servants who are working tirelessly to support the city.

Cllr Ashley Mason, Vice Chair, North Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, Lib Dem Councillor for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe

 

I NOTE with some concern the letter from Allan Charlesworth (October 2) regarding Freedom of Information (FoI), which was nothing more than a smokescreen to attack our local parish councillors who do an outstanding but often thankless job.

Those of us fortunate to live in Earswick are even more fortunate to have such a pro-active and committed parish council.

I was not aware Allan Charlesworth had somehow made himself the champion of all things transparent in the village, but I certainly do not expect my elected representatives to be “brought to heel” by this non-elected serial letter writer to The Press.

His attempt to blacken the name of the parish council is lamentable. He very well knows the facts – and the figures.

The village green in Earswick was accessed by travellers on Saturday, August 15. The parish council arranged emergency security of the village, which was safeguarded by the appointment of a security firm to prevent further access onto potential vulnerable areas, and to patrol the village during the night.

As a result no further problems were reported.

Further prompt action also saw the travellers evicted within 48 hours.

This was quickly followed by an emergency open and well attended parish council meeting on August 24 when the cost of the security was detailed at £418 plus vat in total.

Ian Yeowart, Earswick, York

 

I REFER to the report ‘Bid to extend hours’ (The Press, October 1) that states Lidl supermarket in Thanet Road in York have applied to extend their opening hours to 7am to 10pm every day of the week from the existing hours of 8am to 9pm. If granted this would mean a further 14 hours of disruption could be on the horizon for local neighbours.

This leads to several issues and among them are noise nuisance to Lidl’s neighbours.

I live directly next door to the store (within approximately 200 yards) and have been woken on quite regular occasions by articulated lorries delivering to the store in the early hours of the morning (4am) and late at night (turned midnight).

The second issue is how Lidl think they can bypass what I understand are the Sunday trading laws that stipulate stores of their size can only open on a Sunday between 10am and 4pm. That, as far as I am aware, is the law of the land.

I urge all neighbours, in St James Place or Thanet Road or any other local streets that hear articulated lorries rumbling past their doors at unreasonable hours, to contact City of York Council before October 15, 2015.

Howard Perry, St James Place, Dringhouses, York

 

THE most recent law to find its way onto the statute books - smoking in cars - coincides with seat belts and mobile phones etc.

The dangers are obvious, lighted embers, ash, etc, landing either in the driver’s eyes and/or onto their person thereby causing a distraction and possible road accident, and needless to say smoke inhalation to all concerned. Having attended and dealt with many traffic accidents throughout my career, having to break the news to kith and kin remains with one, although sympathy extended gives little comfort in times of grief.

Without wishing to add yet more legislation to road safety laws, the practice of some fashion conscious ladies wearing high heels or other inappropriate footwear when driving, especially on school runs, can not only put strain on the torso but become wedged in the control pedals.

Surely common sense and a change of footwear - the choice is yours - should be within the driving code.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York

 

IT is not often that I visit McDonald’s at Clifton Moor, but today I did, and was pleased to see two cleaning operatives, picking up litter, and even scrubbing the chewing gum off the pavements around the restaurant.

They were, I guess, McDonald’s employees.

They had pride in their job and it looked like it may have been a regular activity.

However, what a pity McDonald’s don’t send these operatives a little further afield, for example to Askham Lane, which is on the route between Acomb and the McDonald’s on the A64 at Bilbrough Top, This lane is used a dumping ground for car drivers and passengers who have visited the “drive through” and have probably just had enough time to consume their meal and drinks, thus discarding the drink cans and paper waste all along the lane.

The levy on carrier bags should maybe now be extended to “drive through” and “take away” establishments, the proceeds being used to clean up our streets.

Stuart Wilson, Vesper Drive, Acomb, York

 

WITH reference to the letter “Student cars are taking up parking” (Letters, September 30), I endorse all that Rita Crombleholme has written.

The university has more than enough land to make parking facilities for all their needs and to make their relationship with the residents in Badger Hill, Heslington and Broadway a much healthier one.

The Heslington Lane problem has now been solved but all the cars appear to have moved into Broadway and are once again causing havoc.

Please can we have the yellow lines extended still further?

John Ashton, Broadway West, York

 

I NOTE with interest the response from Tracey Simpson-Laing regarding the letter from Allan Charlesworth (Letters, October 1).

Contaminated land does not necessarily require its removal from the site, there are other ways of dealing with it on site.

Indeed if Ms Simpson-Laing’s statement of “millions of tonnes” of contaminated earth having to be removed is correct and not scaremongering then other methods must be reviewed as the knock-on effect of such remediation on local roads and tips is too horrendous to contemplate.

Malcolm Dove, The Paddock, York