This became an increasingly depressing month for news. Cycling legend Lance Armstrong was shown to be a drugs cheat and there was a floodgate of chilling allegations against Jimmy Savile.

The ramifications are likely to be felt for years to come as Operation Yewtree continues.

The story was brought home when June Thornton, a former York Hospital nurse, revealed to The Press how she saw Savile indecently assault a patient at Leeds General Infirmary.

The Allerton incinerator debate finally reached North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee, where Harrogate councillor Andrew Goss said the officers were about to make “the most important planning decision we will ever have to make,”

Committee members took almost eight hours before voting to go ahead with the £1.4bn scheme. But more than 10,000 people have signed a petition opposed to the proposals and protests are likely to continue.

There were some good news stories.

York Art Gallery announced it will be closing for a major refurbishment which will take two years to complete.

It may sound like a long time for York to be without a major gallery, but with almost £8 million being spent on the scheme thanks to an Arts Council lottery grant, and with a ‘secret’ gallery being opened up in the original Victorian roof space; it should definitely be worth the wait. Once finished, there will be 60 per cent more exhibition space and the gallery will, at last, be connected to the Museum Gardens, from which it has for so long been isolated.

The weather was finally kinder in Britain but the American eastern seaboard was ravaged by Storm Sandy. Almost 100 people lost their lives.


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