Tour de France will cost York £500,000 (From York Press)

Like thousands of others, i'm looking forward to the spectacle, but half a million smackers of taxpayers' money as a "fee" for the privilege of TdF coming here? They should be paying US for the use of our city.

I trust the hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafes, and shops that benefit from the predicted multi-million pound windfall will be clubbing together to refund the £500,000 to the council.

Thought not.

Disappointed, but not surprised, that the much-vaunted economic benefits of the TdF will be concentrated in the hands of the very few that own businesses, while the rest of us foot the bill.

will the businesses be taxed by the council so that the residents can recoup this 500k outlay.the word that always catches my eye in these articles is COULD.

The Agenda item is on line at http://democracy.yor
k.gov.uk/documents/s
79119/Tour%20de%20Fr
ance%20-%20regional%
20support%20SABs%20v
ersion%2022.01.13.pd
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Suggest that contributors engage their brains and read this first, then put finger to keyboard.

If you provide a link that works then I may do.

I hope that the council will be profiting in some way otherwise they (or rather us) will be forking out for it for other people to benefit. I personally have no interest in watching people cycling and am not impressed that so much money will be spent on it. So hopefully they will come up with some way of earning it back.

I've no doubt it could be a big profit maker - for local business not the council.

Far better than spending £300,000 on travellers.

MrsHoney wrote:
If you provide a link that works then I may do. I hope that the council will be profiting in some way otherwise they (or rather us) will be forking out for it for other people to benefit. I personally have no interest in watching people cycling and am not impressed that so much money will be spent on it. So hopefully they will come up with some way of earning it back. I've no doubt it could be a big profit maker - for local business not the council.

The link works.

Oh and by the way, stop being such a downer.

An event like the Tour De France will not struggle to recoup such a small sum of £500,000. To us that might sound like a lot, but in the context of a major worldwide event, it really is not.

The nearest the race comes to York is Leeds and Harrogate - so why are York paying anything?

Only asking.

The second stage departs from York.

We need this about as much as we need the bones of Richard 111. I don't care which pot of money the half million pounds cost comes out of but at the end of the day it comes out of the Council Taxpayers pockets. I for one don't wish MY money to be spent in this fashion and neither; I suspect; do many others. We can't claim it back in expenses.

Interesting to see Brighton and Hove Labour tweeting:

York Greens in anti cycling rant, that's right, ANTI cycling!

If they read the article they'd see Dave Taylor would prefer the money to be spent on cycling provision for York cyclists. How is that an anti-cycling rant?

Good old politics. Take half of what someone says and use it to your advantage to slag off others. Sneaky.

Like the old restaurant critic story. Something like, the critic said "I was amazed how awful the food was" so the restaurant proudly quoted him as saying "I was amazed"
Or it might have been a theatre production? Whatever, you get the idea.

Anyway, politics: sneaky.

Malcolm wrote:
The second stage departs from York.

Happy to stand corrected.

However, still not sure what the council (ie Council tax payers of York) get for the half million.

Zetkin wrote:
Like thousands of others, i'm looking forward to the spectacle, but half a million smackers of taxpayers' money as a "fee" for the privilege of TdF coming here? They should be paying US for the use of our city.

I trust the hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafes, and shops that benefit from the predicted multi-million pound windfall will be clubbing together to refund the £500,000 to the council.

Thought not.

Disappointed, but not surprised, that the much-vaunted economic benefits of the TdF will be concentrated in the hands of the very few that own businesses, while the rest of us foot the bill.

Totally agree its bang out of order.

‘JHardacre says...
1:41pm Fri 8 Feb 13

However, still not sure what the council (ie Council tax payers of York) get for the half million.’


We get to potentially have to pay for green waste collection because of the council giving us a bleeding heart story that they are broke and in debt!

However photo shoots of the so called ‘leader’ of York council seems to cost us the taxpayer £500k for his vanity!

That’s £500k less debt for starters.
This council is undertaking a deliberate policy of poor fiscal planning and poor due diligence with our money.

Time for them to be removed!

Chrido81 wrote:

MrsHoney wrote:
If you provide a link that works then I may do. I hope that the council will be profiting in some way otherwise they (or rather us) will be forking out for it for other people to benefit. I personally have no interest in watching people cycling and am not impressed that so much money will be spent on it. So hopefully they will come up with some way of earning it back. I've no doubt it could be a big profit maker - for local business not the council.

The link works.

Oh and by the way, stop being such a downer.

An event like the Tour De France will not struggle to recoup such a small sum of £500,000. To us that might sound like a lot, but in the context of a major worldwide event, it really is not.

And how, pray, will the council get to recoup this outlay?

Perhaps they are hoping that users of the central library will be so engrossed by the race that they will be late returning their books and have to pay fines.

Usually when an organisation want to close roads, require police and council staffing resources etc they pay for the privilege - they don't get paid!!

Can someone, in the know, list the ways that the council will recoup their fee?

I'm sure it will be a great spectacle, I just question why the council tax payers should pay £500,000 to host it.

So do all of the towns along the route also have to pay something towards the event?

I cannot quite see what the money is for... Surely the costs of crowd control and route markers would have been covered by CoYC but is this in addition to the 500K?

Could someone tell me where the council are going to find 10,000 beds.

Sounds like our council is having delusions of grandeur, once again.

At the cost of possibly losing the toy bus!!

Its a bargain to host something that puts us on the world map

meme wrote:
Its a bargain to host something that puts us on the world map

Well, no, it isn't. York is already firmly on the world map, as witness the number of tourists who come here. Zetkin's post at the start of this thread hits the nail on the head: as usual in York, the council tax payer is obliged to support something that brings precious little benefit to them but that puts money in the pocket of local business. It seems to be a North Yorkshire thing - it was the same when I lived in Harrogate, 20 years ago, but wasn't the case in other areas of the country where I've also paid council tax/rates.

How much will non hospiltality businesses like mine lose due to disruption - we don't benefit at all, in fact no doubt we will be paying extra council tax, increased parking charges et al to cover this circus of dopes on two wheels. I'm surprised E&A haven't invited Lance Armstrong to perform an opening ceremony - or has PP already made a bung for that gig?

Is this the place where i join in being negative about anything / event held in York ?

neutral observer 2 wrote:
Is this the place where i join in being negative about anything / event held in York ?

Yes, what's your gripe?

Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy.

If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome.

Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy.

If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome.

Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Paul Meoff says:
Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Pulling your bike wheel out of your backside at A&E would be even cheaper .
Not all of us that cycle are anti motorist. Because I am one of them as well.
I also attend the diabetes clinic and I am very healthy otherwise.
£0.5 M is not cheap by anyone’s standards considering the amount of cuts to services.
If the cap fits Paul.

yorkborn66 wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy.

If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome.

Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Paul Meoff says:
Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Pulling your bike wheel out of your backside at A&E would be even cheaper .
Not all of us that cycle are anti motorist. Because I am one of them as well.
I also attend the diabetes clinic and I am very healthy otherwise.
£0.5 M is not cheap by anyone’s standards considering the amount of cuts to services.
If the cap fits Paul.

Oooh threats from a keyboard warrior. I'm shaking. What's the matter, your boyfriend upset you?

Paul Meoff wrote:

yorkborn66 wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy.

If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome.

Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Paul Meoff says:
Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Pulling your bike wheel out of your backside at A&E would be even cheaper .
Not all of us that cycle are anti motorist. Because I am one of them as well.
I also attend the diabetes clinic and I am very healthy otherwise.
£0.5 M is not cheap by anyone’s standards considering the amount of cuts to services.
If the cap fits Paul.

Oooh threats from a keyboard warrior. I'm shaking. What's the matter, your boyfriend upset you?

Tosser

It is funny how any benefit from any thing the Tax and Council tax payer pays for is for the benefit of businesses

Housing benefit council tax benefit all go to businesses so they can keep there wages bill down

But the tax payer and council tax payers have bottomless pockets when it comes to bailing out businesses for there profits

yorkborn66 wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy.

If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome.

Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Paul Meoff says:
Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Pulling your bike wheel out of your backside at A&E would be even cheaper .
Not all of us that cycle are anti motorist. Because I am one of them as well.
I also attend the diabetes clinic and I am very healthy otherwise.
£0.5 M is not cheap by anyone’s standards considering the amount of cuts to services.
If the cap fits Paul.

Erm, the fact of being diabetic marks as not being healthy, and prone to various very serious associated conditions.

It appears these comment areas are here purely for nothing other than some very odd political point scoring and by a few people who have ego issues of their own.
Nevermind elected council officials.

meme wrote:
Its a bargain to host something that puts us on the world map

Like people around the world remember every French town where each stage starts from ? They are interested in the cyclists, not the scenery.

If York businesses want the publicity, they should pay for it.

£500,000 for the start of a bike race - what a waste of public money !

This won't be the end of the expense to York ratepayers, and most of us won't benefit at all.

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently.

It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one.

Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home.

Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week.

It's a proven phenomenon.

All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes.

Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently.

It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one.

Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home.

Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week.

It's a proven phenomenon.

All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes.

Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ?
Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ?
You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently.

It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one.

Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home.

Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week.

It's a proven phenomenon.

All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes.

Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

For the less intelligent who can only measure value in monetary benefits, consider the costs of diabetes in the UK.

The NHS say this costs £23.7bn per annum and will double in 20 years.

With a York population of 200K out of a UK population of 60M, York's share of this cost is £79M per annum rising to £160M by 2035.

With roughly 10% suffering, the 20,000 impacted in York each cost £4000 per annum i.e. £80,000 each over 20 years.

If more people are inspired to get their lardy bodies out of cars or, more importantly, a new generation is inspired to adopt a healthier lifestyle, it only needs 6 less people contracting diabetes to save £500K over 20 years.

Add in the cost of heart disease and other ailments linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle and the savings would be even greater.

Even those with narrow minds who struggle with a bigger picture should be able to appreciate there are greater potential benefits to be had than bike sales.

Paul Meoff wrote:

yorkborn66 wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy.

If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome.

Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Paul Meoff says:
Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Pulling your bike wheel out of your backside at A&E would be even cheaper .
Not all of us that cycle are anti motorist. Because I am one of them as well.
I also attend the diabetes clinic and I am very healthy otherwise.
£0.5 M is not cheap by anyone’s standards considering the amount of cuts to services.
If the cap fits Paul.

Oooh threats from a keyboard warrior. I'm shaking. What's the matter, your boyfriend upset you?

Assuming everyone that drives are fat, and on they’re way to the diabetic clinic.
Assuming I am gay as well. How many more groups of people do you wish to offend?
As a keen cyclist and a motorist, you really do answer the question as to why York council taxpayers should be questioning the cost of this event.
I rarely pass comment to offend anyone, but for you I will make an exception.
It would seem your political point scoring has backfired, thankfully you are just part of the minority of cyclists that come on here ranting nonsense.
Genuine cyclists have a more open point of view. You are a legend in your own lunchtime. Idiot.

Paul Meoff wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently.

It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one.

Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home.

Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week.

It's a proven phenomenon.

All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes.

Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

For the less intelligent who can only measure value in monetary benefits, consider the costs of diabetes in the UK.

The NHS say this costs £23.7bn per annum and will double in 20 years.

With a York population of 200K out of a UK population of 60M, York's share of this cost is £79M per annum rising to £160M by 2035.

With roughly 10% suffering, the 20,000 impacted in York each cost £4000 per annum i.e. £80,000 each over 20 years.

If more people are inspired to get their lardy bodies out of cars or, more importantly, a new generation is inspired to adopt a healthier lifestyle, it only needs 6 less people contracting diabetes to save £500K over 20 years.

Add in the cost of heart disease and other ailments linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle and the savings would be even greater.

Even those with narrow minds who struggle with a bigger picture should be able to appreciate there are greater potential benefits to be had than bike sales.

Paul Meoff says :
For the less intelligent who can only measure value in monetary benefits, consider the costs of diabetes in the
UK.

Not everyone that attends a diabetic clinic is obese. Diabetes can happen to anyone regardless of size or BMI. I attend a diabetic clinic and I am not diabetic, but require other services supported by that department.
IF you had not been so offensive in the first place, your argument for education and a healthier lifestyle that cycling promotes would have been received allot better.

I think some people on here would rather we lived in some kind of Dickensian state of gloom,negativity, and despair. Whenever anything is announced at all involving York, the same saddos climb to their keyboards every time, and come to this site to have a good old moan.

Chrido81 wrote:
I think some people on here would rather we lived in some kind of Dickensian state of gloom,negativity, and despair. Whenever anything is announced at all involving York, the same saddos climb to their keyboards every time, and come to this site to have a good old moan.

says Chrido81 who is a new name on press letters page comments.

Could he be yet another University mate of jmalexander1982 ?

Looks that way.

Paul Meoff wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

For the less intelligent who can only measure value in monetary benefits, consider the costs of diabetes in the UK. The NHS say this costs £23.7bn per annum and will double in 20 years. With a York population of 200K out of a UK population of 60M, York's share of this cost is £79M per annum rising to £160M by 2035. With roughly 10% suffering, the 20,000 impacted in York each cost £4000 per annum i.e. £80,000 each over 20 years. If more people are inspired to get their lardy bodies out of cars or, more importantly, a new generation is inspired to adopt a healthier lifestyle, it only needs 6 less people contracting diabetes to save £500K over 20 years. Add in the cost of heart disease and other ailments linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle and the savings would be even greater. Even those with narrow minds who struggle with a bigger picture should be able to appreciate there are greater potential benefits to be had than bike sales.

So the TdF coming to York will cure diabetes and save billions ?

Nice correlation/extrapol
ation - did James put you up to that one ?

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ? Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ? You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Who's 'big idea' was the TdF coming to York then ?

It certainly wasn't Alexander and England's, I can tell you that.

Don't be taken in by their attempt to claim the credit, or that their claim for the flight and hotel expenses was necessary to bring it to York !

James Alexander @jmalexander1982
York Lib Dems come out in favour of £500k cost in bringing Tour de France to York. They are just against the £675 travel cost to bring it

Every start/finish town pays for the privalage of hosting The Tour. They do it for the prestige and for the economic benefits. The payment goes toward the funding of the race as no one pays to watch.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote:
I think some people on here would rather we lived in some kind of Dickensian state of gloom,negativity, and despair. Whenever anything is announced at all involving York, the same saddos climb to their keyboards every time, and come to this site to have a good old moan.

says Chrido81 who is a new name on press letters page comments.

Could he be yet another University mate of jmalexander1982 ?

Looks that way.

Erm. I've been commenting on here for at least two years so hardly 'new'. As for Coun. Alexander, I have never met him.

I think you've tragically missed my point. So you deny people come on here having a good old moan? Actually, I think your post is a kind of admission of sorts.

I bet you are the sort who stares at people when they walk in your pub. You probably also still point and stare at planes.

I am very sceptical regarding the recovery to York’s economy to the tune of £0.5M.
Indeed the event will be fantastic to see for those of interest, but the flip side is those that do not, and the cost we all have to pay for this event in the first place.
Those that regular read and comment on this forum I hope will agree that as a cyclist and motorist I do try to keep a balanced view.
My point is: The Olympics and Para Olympics in London did NOT benefit the north as much as predicted .The competitors in cycling served themselves and their country proud, but did this raise the amount of sales and response from non cyclists to take up the sport?
What is the percentage? No one knows but it has to be a positive.
The Tour De France departing from York is good for locals interested and cyclists locally that compete in the sport, but is it value for money?
With the cuts to services and the council’s admission of possible Bankruptcy, is this the answer to spending our Money? I think not.
Public money spend in our days of austerity should benefit citizens of York that are paying more for less services.
IF York city Council would like to spend some money on cycling and the promotion of, I would like the council to step back in time to the 1970’and 1980’s and learn.
When I went to school you could only cycle once you had passed your cycle proficiency test. The Police would regularly attend schools to check on cycles to make sure they was mechanically fit for the road and in winter the rider provided lights. Not mechanically fit or no lights meant the rider was told to walk home and the parents received a letter from the school.
We did not have the cycle lanes like today, but did suffer the amount of traffic in York as we have now, as the bypass did not exist.
Hundreds of cyclists poured out of the Carriage works, Rowntrees, Terry’s and the Glassworks every day, and all the road users managed better with more tolerance than we all have now.
Times have moved on and the cycle lanes have provided an amount of safety and a more viable way to commute for those that can .
If the council wishes to spend money it would be better to start from school level as before, education on road safety and the promotion and benefits of cycling to the younger generations for the future.
The Tour De France coming to York financially will not benefit its taxpayers, but a minority of businesses.
We are already on the map and the tourist’s radar; we don’t need to spend this amount of money for clarification.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ? Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ? You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Who's 'big idea' was the TdF coming to York then ?

It certainly wasn't Alexander and England's, I can tell you that.

Don't be taken in by their attempt to claim the credit, or that their claim for the flight and hotel expenses was necessary to bring it to York !

James Alexander @jmalexander1982
York Lib Dems come out in favour of £500k cost in bringing Tour de France to York. They are just against the £675 travel cost to bring it

So that'll be a big zero then.
I'm not interested in who you think should get a gold star.
You know nothing about Le Tour and its significance, you apparently are hellbent on bullying people on here and being as negative as possible , to the point of offensive.
Im not happy about Le Tour being outside France, but if it is going to be, i'm glad York has got a part of it. I'm glad you had no influence on it, as we would probably have open sewers in the street if you had your way.

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ? Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ? You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Who's 'big idea' was the TdF coming to York then ? It certainly wasn't Alexander and England's, I can tell you that. Don't be taken in by their attempt to claim the credit, or that their claim for the flight and hotel expenses was necessary to bring it to York !

James Alexander @jmalexander1982 York Lib Dems come out in favour of £500k cost in bringing Tour de France to York. They are just against the £675 travel cost to bring it

So that'll be a big zero then. I'm not interested in who you think should get a gold star. You know nothing about Le Tour and its significance, you apparently are hellbent on bullying people on here and being as negative as possible , to the point of offensive. Im not happy about Le Tour being outside France, but if it is going to be, i'm glad York has got a part of it. I'm glad you had no influence on it, as we would probably have open sewers in the street if you had your way.

You know nothing about me. I've been instrumental in bringing about tens of millions worth of develoment in York in the last 30 years, providing thousands of jobs.

My beef is the misuse of public money for the benefit of a minority, at the expense of the majority.

I bet you aren't even from York. My family are York people and we've lived and worked here for over 150 years.

Chrido81 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote: I think some people on here would rather we lived in some kind of Dickensian state of gloom,negativity, and despair. Whenever anything is announced at all involving York, the same saddos climb to their keyboards every time, and come to this site to have a good old moan.

says Chrido81 who is a new name on press letters page comments. Could he be yet another University mate of jmalexander1982 ? Looks that way.

Erm. I've been commenting on here for at least two years so hardly 'new'. As for Coun. Alexander, I have never met him. I think you've tragically missed my point. So you deny people come on here having a good old moan? Actually, I think your post is a kind of admission of sorts. I bet you are the sort who stares at people when they walk in your pub. You probably also still point and stare at planes.

.....and you are the type who makes wild and hysterical guesses about someone you have never met, and know nothing about. A mind reader you are not.

Labelling people as you do based on zilck information and knowledge, exposes your ignorance and prejudice.

You miss the point, that the Tour de France may not be bad in itself for York, but, the use of £500k of tax-payers money to effectively subsidise and benefit a few businesses is wrong. Business should pay for it, not the rest of us who will get little or no benefit.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ? Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ? You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Who's 'big idea' was the TdF coming to York then ? It certainly wasn't Alexander and England's, I can tell you that. Don't be taken in by their attempt to claim the credit, or that their claim for the flight and hotel expenses was necessary to bring it to York !

James Alexander @jmalexander1982 York Lib Dems come out in favour of £500k cost in bringing Tour de France to York. They are just against the £675 travel cost to bring it

So that'll be a big zero then. I'm not interested in who you think should get a gold star. You know nothing about Le Tour and its significance, you apparently are hellbent on bullying people on here and being as negative as possible , to the point of offensive. Im not happy about Le Tour being outside France, but if it is going to be, i'm glad York has got a part of it. I'm glad you had no influence on it, as we would probably have open sewers in the street if you had your way.

You know nothing about me. I've been instrumental in bringing about tens of millions worth of develoment in York in the last 30 years, providing thousands of jobs.

My beef is the misuse of public money for the benefit of a minority, at the expense of the majority.

I bet you aren't even from York. My family are York people and we've lived and worked here for over 150 years.

So your actually a hero and not the total dick you portray yourself as in your alter ego online.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote: I think some people on here would rather we lived in some kind of Dickensian state of gloom,negativity, and despair. Whenever anything is announced at all involving York, the same saddos climb to their keyboards every time, and come to this site to have a good old moan.

says Chrido81 who is a new name on press letters page comments. Could he be yet another University mate of jmalexander1982 ? Looks that way.

Erm. I've been commenting on here for at least two years so hardly 'new'. As for Coun. Alexander, I have never met him. I think you've tragically missed my point. So you deny people come on here having a good old moan? Actually, I think your post is a kind of admission of sorts. I bet you are the sort who stares at people when they walk in your pub. You probably also still point and stare at planes.

.....and you are the type who makes wild and hysterical guesses about someone you have never met, and know nothing about. A mind reader you are not.

Labelling people as you do based on zilck information and knowledge, exposes your ignorance and prejudice.

You miss the point, that the Tour de France may not be bad in itself for York, but, the use of £500k of tax-payers money to effectively subsidise and benefit a few businesses is wrong. Business should pay for it, not the rest of us who will get little or no benefit.

A wild and hysterical guess such as yours regarding my relationship (or lack of I should add) with Coun. Alexander. I could be wrong, but are you not guilty of the charges you press unto others?

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ? Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ? You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Who's 'big idea' was the TdF coming to York then ? It certainly wasn't Alexander and England's, I can tell you that. Don't be taken in by their attempt to claim the credit, or that their claim for the flight and hotel expenses was necessary to bring it to York !

James Alexander @jmalexander1982 York Lib Dems come out in favour of £500k cost in bringing Tour de France to York. They are just against the £675 travel cost to bring it

So that'll be a big zero then. I'm not interested in who you think should get a gold star. You know nothing about Le Tour and its significance, you apparently are hellbent on bullying people on here and being as negative as possible , to the point of offensive. Im not happy about Le Tour being outside France, but if it is going to be, i'm glad York has got a part of it. I'm glad you had no influence on it, as we would probably have open sewers in the street if you had your way.

You know nothing about me. I've been instrumental in bringing about tens of millions worth of develoment in York in the last 30 years, providing thousands of jobs.

My beef is the misuse of public money for the benefit of a minority, at the expense of the majority.

I bet you aren't even from York. My family are York people and we've lived and worked here for over 150 years.

Nice bit of latent racist behavour there. Cheers.
Reading a large amount of your tripe, i do know who you are actually.
Your a property developer who has a beef with elected officials and people doing their jobs, stopping you running roughshod over building regulations.
Your one of lifes bullys, who has nothing to offer but a negative selfish outlook.
If you really think a council official is defrauding the public purse, go to the police with your evidence and give us all a rest.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ? Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ? You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Who's 'big idea' was the TdF coming to York then ? It certainly wasn't Alexander and England's, I can tell you that. Don't be taken in by their attempt to claim the credit, or that their claim for the flight and hotel expenses was necessary to bring it to York !

James Alexander @jmalexander1982 York Lib Dems come out in favour of £500k cost in bringing Tour de France to York. They are just against the £675 travel cost to bring it

So that'll be a big zero then. I'm not interested in who you think should get a gold star. You know nothing about Le Tour and its significance, you apparently are hellbent on bullying people on here and being as negative as possible , to the point of offensive. Im not happy about Le Tour being outside France, but if it is going to be, i'm glad York has got a part of it. I'm glad you had no influence on it, as we would probably have open sewers in the street if you had your way.

You know nothing about me. I've been instrumental in bringing about tens of millions worth of develoment in York in the last 30 years, providing thousands of jobs.

My beef is the misuse of public money for the benefit of a minority, at the expense of the majority.

I bet you aren't even from York. My family are York people and we've lived and worked here for over 150 years.

I forgot to mention.
The world isnt flat.
The wheel has been invented.
Sorry for invading YOUR City.
Dick !

Chrido81 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote: I think some people on here would rather we lived in some kind of Dickensian state of gloom,negativity, and despair. Whenever anything is announced at all involving York, the same saddos climb to their keyboards every time, and come to this site to have a good old moan.

says Chrido81 who is a new name on press letters page comments. Could he be yet another University mate of jmalexander1982 ? Looks that way.

Erm. I've been commenting on here for at least two years so hardly 'new'. As for Coun. Alexander, I have never met him. I think you've tragically missed my point. So you deny people come on here having a good old moan? Actually, I think your post is a kind of admission of sorts. I bet you are the sort who stares at people when they walk in your pub. You probably also still point and stare at planes.

.....and you are the type who makes wild and hysterical guesses about someone you have never met, and know nothing about. A mind reader you are not. Labelling people as you do based on zilck information and knowledge, exposes your ignorance and prejudice. You miss the point, that the Tour de France may not be bad in itself for York, but, the use of £500k of tax-payers money to effectively subsidise and benefit a few businesses is wrong. Business should pay for it, not the rest of us who will get little or no benefit.

A wild and hysterical guess such as yours regarding my relationship (or lack of I should add) with Coun. Alexander. I could be wrong, but are you not guilty of the charges you press unto others?

Yes he is, guilty as charged and multiple times daily. It's just his thing.
Y'know, hypocrisy.
Is it deliberate?
Does he really not see how stupid (or arrogant) it makes him look when he disses people for doing the very thing he does day in day out?

It's almost self-parody.

Most of us read the The Press, say our bit, have a laugh, have a moan, forget about it. Not Duck in the Hedge/ Thorn in your Side/ Mr Crabtree/ Scarlet Pimpernel.
It's more than that for him.

Who else has been banned from this site at least three times, has held multiple identities here and routinely gets comments shut down.

Has the council blocked his email too?

Every web forum has more than its fair share of oddballs, I've seen a lot worse.

Buzz Light-year wrote:

Chrido81 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Chrido81 wrote: I think some people on here would rather we lived in some kind of Dickensian state of gloom,negativity, and despair. Whenever anything is announced at all involving York, the same saddos climb to their keyboards every time, and come to this site to have a good old moan.

says Chrido81 who is a new name on press letters page comments. Could he be yet another University mate of jmalexander1982 ? Looks that way.

Erm. I've been commenting on here for at least two years so hardly 'new'. As for Coun. Alexander, I have never met him. I think you've tragically missed my point. So you deny people come on here having a good old moan? Actually, I think your post is a kind of admission of sorts. I bet you are the sort who stares at people when they walk in your pub. You probably also still point and stare at planes.

.....and you are the type who makes wild and hysterical guesses about someone you have never met, and know nothing about. A mind reader you are not. Labelling people as you do based on zilck information and knowledge, exposes your ignorance and prejudice. You miss the point, that the Tour de France may not be bad in itself for York, but, the use of £500k of tax-payers money to effectively subsidise and benefit a few businesses is wrong. Business should pay for it, not the rest of us who will get little or no benefit.

A wild and hysterical guess such as yours regarding my relationship (or lack of I should add) with Coun. Alexander. I could be wrong, but are you not guilty of the charges you press unto others?

Yes he is, guilty as charged and multiple times daily. It's just his thing. Y'know, hypocrisy. Is it deliberate? Does he really not see how stupid (or arrogant) it makes him look when he disses people for doing the very thing he does day in day out? It's almost self-parody. Most of us read the The Press, say our bit, have a laugh, have a moan, forget about it. Not Duck in the Hedge/ Thorn in your Side/ Mr Crabtree/ Scarlet Pimpernel. It's more than that for him. Who else has been banned from this site at least three times, has held multiple identities here and routinely gets comments shut down. Has the council blocked his email too? Every web forum has more than its fair share of oddballs, I've seen a lot worse.

Have you heard yourself Buzz ?

Oddball ?

You come on here just to diss me 90% of the time. You're like a stalker.

At least I have a cause, and do my research and use facts. You just accuse me of hypocrisy, but, tell me this - what damage have I done to the jobs of York Council, and York's economy ? Since when have my 'policies' or agenda hurt anyone by causing job losses ?

Like the councillors who refused to go on Radio York with me last Thursday, you have no defence for the council's affordable housing policy stitch-up. A policy based on a pack of lies and manipulated consultations and reports. The truth will come out, and those responsible will be held to account !

Maybe they just don't want to talk to you? You do seem quite unhinged after all.

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote: Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy. If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome. Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Bike sales will soar in York as a result of this. In France wherever the TdF starts, everyone who lives there goes out and buys a bike, apparently. It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - golf memberships soared, as did the sale of golf clubs and equipment, and there was a building boom of golf courses - everyone wanted one. Same with snooker - cues and tables sold out, and now everyone in York plays snooker, and has their own tables at home. Same with top hats and tails, and horse drawn carriages after York has Ascot week. It's a proven phenomenon. All the empty shops will soon be selling bikes. Well done Coun Alexander #jobsngrowth - thanks for bringing the TdF here and all for the £675 it cost us for you and Kersten to go to Paris a day earlier, which swung it for us !

I'd like to know what big ideas you have ? Do you have any designs on being elected yourself , so we can log the same abusive messages as you do on here ? You really are a very negative draining sort of person.

Who's 'big idea' was the TdF coming to York then ? It certainly wasn't Alexander and England's, I can tell you that. Don't be taken in by their attempt to claim the credit, or that their claim for the flight and hotel expenses was necessary to bring it to York !

James Alexander @jmalexander1982 York Lib Dems come out in favour of £500k cost in bringing Tour de France to York. They are just against the £675 travel cost to bring it

So that'll be a big zero then. I'm not interested in who you think should get a gold star. You know nothing about Le Tour and its significance, you apparently are hellbent on bullying people on here and being as negative as possible , to the point of offensive. Im not happy about Le Tour being outside France, but if it is going to be, i'm glad York has got a part of it. I'm glad you had no influence on it, as we would probably have open sewers in the street if you had your way.

You know nothing about me. I've been instrumental in bringing about tens of millions worth of develoment in York in the last 30 years, providing thousands of jobs. My beef is the misuse of public money for the benefit of a minority, at the expense of the majority. I bet you aren't even from York. My family are York people and we've lived and worked here for over 150 years.

Nice bit of latent racist behavour there. Cheers. Reading a large amount of your tripe, i do know who you are actually. Your a property developer who has a beef with elected officials and people doing their jobs, stopping you running roughshod over building regulations. Your one of lifes bullys, who has nothing to offer but a negative selfish outlook. If you really think a council official is defrauding the public purse, go to the police with your evidence and give us all a rest.

Like I said, you know nothing.

You haven't a clue what the elected officials and officers have been up to, do you ?

You call what I write, 'tripe' out of total ignorance.

If using facts to expose cheating and lying, or asking questions, is bulling, then that just shows how clueless you are.

Negativity is standing by and allowing the council to make endless mistakes that lose jobs and damage the economy, without speaking up and challenging them.

Similarly, the Paris'gate issue is one that needs to be investigated, and no matter how much you and others berate and mock me, I will not 'give it a rest'.

You do bully people who post on here don't you? I'm sure that is a fact we can all prove.

Chrido81 wrote:
Maybe they just don't want to talk to you? You do seem quite unhinged after all.

Do you think I care ?

The more people like you throw insults and wild hysterical accusations at me, the more determined I become.

I have seen all this before, from the bluffers who have no legitimate defence or justification for their wrongdoing.

If you can't defend them (individuals or their actions), with justification or explanation, then just give up. Using insults makes them look guilty, and you and your gang look like stooges, or supporters.

Chrido81 wrote:
You do bully people who post on here don't you? I'm sure that is a fact we can all prove.

Go for it !

Chrido81 wrote:
Maybe they just don't want to talk to you? You do seem quite unhinged after all.

They don't want to talk to me ?

Really ?

These are senior councillors, who were asked by Radio York to discuss their big idea - the 'Get York Building' initiative !

They refused to go on Radio York because you think they just didn't want to talk to me ? It was an opportunity for them to let York listeners hear what their big plan is to get more houses built, and they bottled it. It wasn't because they didn't want to talk to me - they were frightened that my questions or facts might expose the flawed policy and it's ideological motivation.

You will have to do better than that to convince people that the councillors weren't cacking their pants.

You're doing a great job of failing to convince anyone of your accusations. Why would I want to stop you?

I mean if your evidence is as robust as you think, you'd have 'ad 'em a long time ago surely?

Chrido81 wrote:
I mean if your evidence is as robust as you think, you'd have 'ad 'em a long time ago surely?

Fair point, it's a tough nut to crack, but, the tide is slowly turning.

They are now on the back foot, because their plan has failed. It's been a war of attrition, and their objective was to drive down land values to maximise the affordable take. It has backfired on them though, because housing completions are at an alltime low, with the waiting list at an alltime high.

Alexander boasts about increasing housing completions this year but, it's impossible because their is insufficient starts, the planning pipeline has hit a critical level, and the large stalled sites will nor start quick enough to bail him out. Basically he is scr*wed, and his jobs and growth plan with housing is heading for a crash.

The Get York Building initiative is an empty slogan with no substance, and it will fail.

The sad thing is that it will be a year or two more of failure before the numbers will expose the flawed policy, and you can bet that they will try and put the blame elsewhere, like at the door of the government, or the banks, or aliens or whatever ? !!!!

I think it can not be forgotten though that the number of new developments stands at an all-time low UK-wide. I think to say this is a York only problem is unfair, whatever CYC's real reasons. But of course you'll know all about the HCA's subsidy program, which I am sure you are in favour of, if you had the opportinity that is.

I do fail to see the relevance of this on a story about the Tour De France however. I happen to think that you have to spend a little to make money, which is obviously CYC's thinking too. We'll just have to see how that pans out. I have reservations as to what pot any profits would go into though, but surely the £500k *ought* to come out of the tourism budget?

Ah ha you know more than I expected. Lets just say that York Council could do more if officers weren't so politicised, like many housing officers who are running the the show not the councillors Of course Labour councillors will be in favour of the the approach which is very left wing..

agree with you on the tourism budget though..

The people who complain about city centre shops closing down are no doubt the same ones complaining now about an event which will attract large numbers of tourists to our city, spending money and helping to keep these businesses afloat.
The only thing that bothers me is that this will encourage more idiots onto two wheels weaving in and out of traffic without a thought for anyone else.

jorvik wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:

yorkborn66 wrote:

Paul Meoff wrote:
Excellent news and a small price to pay for the privilege. It's a mere couple of quid a head. Equivalent to a pint or half a dozen fags to the detractors who probably shun anything healthy.

If it delivers a legacy of more people getting motivated to cycle in the city it will be a fantastic outcome.

Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Paul Meoff says:
Long term benefit of less artery clogged gut buckets tucking into their horse burgers while stuck in traffic on their way to the diabetes clinic will make £0.5M look cheap.

Pulling your bike wheel out of your backside at A&E would be even cheaper .
Not all of us that cycle are anti motorist. Because I am one of them as well.
I also attend the diabetes clinic and I am very healthy otherwise.
£0.5 M is not cheap by anyone’s standards considering the amount of cuts to services.
If the cap fits Paul.

Oooh threats from a keyboard warrior. I'm shaking. What's the matter, your boyfriend upset you?

Tosser

Hmm pullmeoff and tosser.

You lot need therapy

postedinyork wrote:
The people who complain about city centre shops closing down are no doubt the same ones complaining now about an event which will attract large numbers of tourists to our city, spending money and helping to keep these businesses afloat. The only thing that bothers me is that this will encourage more idiots onto two wheels weaving in and out of traffic without a thought for anyone else.

Yeah you're right to be bothered.
It's just like when the Benson & Hedges golf competition came to York - all those idiots whacking golf balls around our streets and fields without a thought for anyone else.

I think we all should be taking more notice of a director of 2 past liquidated building companies.
Im sure his expenses in any part send those companies under.

Pimpernel wrote:
You come on here just to diss me 90% of the time. You're like a stalker.

Not true.
Pointing out your obsessive and disruptive behaviour is a minor distraction. If you didn't do it so much....

At least I have a cause, and do my research and use facts. You just accuse me of hypocrisy, but, tell me this - blah blah blah blah blah blah heard it all before blah blah

Like the councillors who refused to go on Radio York with me last Thursday,

Were you on the radio? Do they have a listen again facility?

http://democracy.yor
k.gov.uk/documents/s
79119/Tour%20de%20Fr
ance%20-%20regional%
20support%20SABs%20v
ersion%2022.01.13.pd
f

What sort of forgery is this that's dated 12 February 2013, ie NEXT TUESDAY?

The event will cost the York economy dear, as the Olympics did London.

Sillybillies wrote:
http://democracy.yor

k.gov.uk/documents/s

79119/Tour%20de%20Fr

ance%20-%20regional%

20support%20SABs%20v

ersion%2022.01.13.pd

f

What sort of forgery is this that's dated 12 February 2013, ie NEXT TUESDAY?

The event will cost the York economy dear, as the Olympics did London.

How will it cost the York economy dear? Isn't generating income from visitors a major contributor to the York economy?

The same as the Olympics damaged London. The sort of tourist who stays in York and spends money here will stay away during the weeks either side of the event.

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/business-19059
880

http://www.tripadvis
or.co.uk/ShowTopic-g
186338-i17-k5575566-
Tourists_avoiding_Lo
ndon_during_Olympics
_rates_well_down-Lon
don_England.html

neutral observer 2 wrote:
I think we all should be taking more notice of a director of 2 past liquidated building companies. Im sure his expenses in any part send those companies under.

Which two companies were they ?

When did they go out of business ?

Check when the Director you are referring to worked for them and tell us if he was working for them when they ceased trading ?

Think you will find that he worked for one from 1983 - 88, and the other from 1989-96, and they both ceased trading around 2008.

They were both highly successful while he was working for them.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote: I think we all should be taking more notice of a director of 2 past liquidated building companies. Im sure his expenses in any part send those companies under.

Which two companies were they ? When did they go out of business ? Check when the Director you are referring to worked for them and tell us if he was working for them when they ceased trading ? Think you will find that he worked for one from 1983 - 88, and the other from 1989-96, and they both ceased trading around 2008. They were both highly successful while he was working for them.

One further point, one of the two companies ceased to trade because of the climate - they did not fail financially and were solvent when they decided to cease trading.

Zetkin wrote:
Like thousands of others, i'm looking forward to the spectacle, but half a million smackers of taxpayers' money as a "fee" for the privilege of TdF coming here? They should be paying US for the use of our city. I trust the hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafes, and shops that benefit from the predicted multi-million pound windfall will be clubbing together to refund the £500,000 to the council. Thought not. Disappointed, but not surprised, that the much-vaunted economic benefits of the TdF will be concentrated in the hands of the very few that own businesses, while the rest of us foot the bill.

Yes tax payers may be footing the bill but that is the way of the world, always has been. To have the TdF in York is great and it should be something to look forward to! York doesn't get much of a look in for world famous events very often so enjoy it while you can I say!

JHardacre wrote:

Malcolm wrote:
The second stage departs from York.

Happy to stand corrected.

However, still not sure what the council (ie Council tax payers of York) get for the half million.

I'm sure many council officers and councillors will be forced, kicking and screaming, to travel to France for vital arrangement meetings. At their own expense of course.

Hey Pimpernel

Why is abcdefghijklmno qrstuvwxyz like today's online Press letter's page?

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote: I think we all should be taking more notice of a director of 2 past liquidated building companies. Im sure his expenses in any part send those companies under.

Which two companies were they ? When did they go out of business ? Check when the Director you are referring to worked for them and tell us if he was working for them when they ceased trading ? Think you will find that he worked for one from 1983 - 88, and the other from 1989-96, and they both ceased trading around 2008. They were both highly successful while he was working for them.

One further point, one of the two companies ceased to trade because of the climate - they did not fail financially and were solvent when they decided to cease trading.

See there you go.
Always able to answer your own questions.
Just wondered why we always have to endure your negativity.
If i could have my way i'd give Strensall back to Rydale or at least out of the City district, so we can get on pushing to be a modern city with 800 years history. Without having to listen to little villagers who have a gripe because they cant get their hands in the cookie jar.

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote: I think we all should be taking more notice of a director of 2 past liquidated building companies. Im sure his expenses in any part send those companies under.

Which two companies were they ? When did they go out of business ? Check when the Director you are referring to worked for them and tell us if he was working for them when they ceased trading ? Think you will find that he worked for one from 1983 - 88, and the other from 1989-96, and they both ceased trading around 2008. They were both highly successful while he was working for them.

One further point, one of the two companies ceased to trade because of the climate - they did not fail financially and were solvent when they decided to cease trading.

See there you go. Always able to answer your own questions. Just wondered why we always have to endure your negativity. If i could have my way i'd give Strensall back to Rydale or at least out of the City district, so we can get on pushing to be a modern city with 800 years history. Without having to listen to little villagers who have a gripe because they cant get their hands in the cookie jar.

Better to be a 'little villager' than to be a small-minded clever clogs, with little of any value to contribute to the debate, to York, or to society.

Who says that not living in York means you can't have a say about what happens there ? It doesn't stop Kersten England or many other senior York Council officers, who don't pay York rates.

If you see yourself as contributing by hurling unfounded and purile abuse at anyone who doesn't see it as you do.
Your debate is between you and your 2 other buddies and or your rubber duck at bath time.
I'd be embarrassed to walk in public if i were you.
Little wonder no one wants to be in the same room as you, nevermind attempt a discussion.

neutral observer 2 wrote:
If you see yourself as contributing by hurling unfounded and purile abuse at anyone who doesn't see it as you do. Your debate is between you and your 2 other buddies and or your rubber duck at bath time. I'd be embarrassed to walk in public if i were you. Little wonder no one wants to be in the same room as you, nevermind attempt a discussion.

No, contributing is when I state facts - the ones certain councillors don't like to hear because they are true, and that's why they get their little helpers like you to post the garbage you spout.

Listen pal, you ain't going to stop us with your silly little put downs, it's playground stuff, and we would eat you for breakfast in a proper debate. Why don't you go and do what your good at, whatever that might be, cos we ain't interested in what you have to say.

Meanwhile, we will walk tall and proud, and watch the frightened rats run scared, afraid of the truth and afraid that their devious agenda has been exposed.

Buzz Light-year wrote:
Hey Pimpernel Why is abcdefghijklmno qrstuvwxyz like today's online Press letter's page?

Too cryptic for you, Pimpernel?

Ok how about this one -

Why are the gospels of Mark, Luke and John like today's online Press letters page?

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:
If you see yourself as contributing by hurling unfounded and purile abuse at anyone who doesn't see it as you do. Your debate is between you and your 2 other buddies and or your rubber duck at bath time. I'd be embarrassed to walk in public if i were you. Little wonder no one wants to be in the same room as you, nevermind attempt a discussion.

No, contributing is when I state facts - the ones certain councillors don't like to hear because they are true, and that's why they get their little helpers like you to post the garbage you spout.

Listen pal, you ain't going to stop us with your silly little put downs, it's playground stuff, and we would eat you for breakfast in a proper debate. Why don't you go and do what your good at, whatever that might be, cos we ain't interested in what you have to say.

Meanwhile, we will walk tall and proud, and watch the frightened rats run scared, afraid of the truth and afraid that their devious agenda has been exposed.

I never thought in my lifetime i'd come across such a self opinionated biggoted deluded individual worse than Nick Griffin.
I cant wait to read your views on the mosque being built.
Make sure you tell people (should they be interested) your from Strensall not York on your travels.
The majority are positive and forward thinking.
Vive Le Tour !

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote: If you see yourself as contributing by hurling unfounded and purile abuse at anyone who doesn't see it as you do. Your debate is between you and your 2 other buddies and or your rubber duck at bath time. I'd be embarrassed to walk in public if i were you. Little wonder no one wants to be in the same room as you, nevermind attempt a discussion.

No, contributing is when I state facts - the ones certain councillors don't like to hear because they are true, and that's why they get their little helpers like you to post the garbage you spout. Listen pal, you ain't going to stop us with your silly little put downs, it's playground stuff, and we would eat you for breakfast in a proper debate. Why don't you go and do what your good at, whatever that might be, cos we ain't interested in what you have to say. Meanwhile, we will walk tall and proud, and watch the frightened rats run scared, afraid of the truth and afraid that their devious agenda has been exposed.

I never thought in my lifetime i'd come across such a self opinionated biggoted deluded individual worse than Nick Griffin. I cant wait to read your views on the mosque being built. Make sure you tell people (should they be interested) your from Strensall not York on your travels. The majority are positive and forward thinking. Vive Le Tour !

LOL !

Mosques ? They're the future. We need more of them, to replace the churches, which can be converted to hostels for the homeless.

Inshallah ! ;-)

Well Mr Pimpernel I gave you two easy clues both of which passed you by.

Conclusions?
Perhaps you're not as clever or observant as I thought.
The Press were successful with their strategy.
I didn't think it would work but it did.
Sneaky blighters!

I did spot what they did, Buzz. Well done for noticing the omission of the first gospel. Wonder if anyone else noticed ?

So, rather than disallow the comments facility on any letter about the not so great one, they just don't put the letter online.

Freedom of speech ? Yeah, right !

Buzz

Maybe a tweet is in order ?


If you do visit the not so great one's page, look out for the #PackofLies conversation - that's if he responds to it.

Pffft you only spotted it after a few nudges.

Buzz Light-year wrote:
Pffft you only spotted it after a few nudges.

I noticed the omission of the letter (from here) soon after seeing it in the paper.

it wasn't until your reference to the four gospels, that I twigged what you were on about.

meme wrote:
Its a bargain to host something that puts us on the world map

"Puts us on the map"? So everyone involved in the Tour, including all of the countries involved will look at York for ONE day and say "wow, isn't York a fantastic looking place! I can't wait to go there!"?
Of course not. The eyes will be on the riders not the surroundings. The 'news' about York being involved will just be tomorrow's fish & chip paper. No-one will notice or care. £500K for that? What a waste... Thanks to 'Arrogant Armstrong', the public's perception of Pro cycling is that the sport is mired in drug abuse and corruption.
For the record, I used to be involved a lot in cycle racing, sport and time trials, etc.
But even I am not interested in this (non)event.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:

neutral observer 2 wrote: If you see yourself as contributing by hurling unfounded and purile abuse at anyone who doesn't see it as you do. Your debate is between you and your 2 other buddies and or your rubber duck at bath time. I'd be embarrassed to walk in public if i were you. Little wonder no one wants to be in the same room as you, nevermind attempt a discussion.

No, contributing is when I state facts - the ones certain councillors don't like to hear because they are true, and that's why they get their little helpers like you to post the garbage you spout. Listen pal, you ain't going to stop us with your silly little put downs, it's playground stuff, and we would eat you for breakfast in a proper debate. Why don't you go and do what your good at, whatever that might be, cos we ain't interested in what you have to say. Meanwhile, we will walk tall and proud, and watch the frightened rats run scared, afraid of the truth and afraid that their devious agenda has been exposed.

I never thought in my lifetime i'd come across such a self opinionated biggoted deluded individual worse than Nick Griffin. I cant wait to read your views on the mosque being built. Make sure you tell people (should they be interested) your from Strensall not York on your travels. The majority are positive and forward thinking. Vive Le Tour !

LOL !

Mosques ? They're the future. We need more of them, to replace the churches, which can be converted to hostels for the homeless.

Inshallah ! ;-)

Inshalla!
durka durka
Allah be praised!
Or would: "Christ on a bike!" be a more suitable exclamation?