BBC Radio York has appointed Sanjiv Buttoo as managing editor after he acted in the role for the past year.

A BBC spokeswoman said the Halifax-born father-of-two had successfully introduced several new voices, including Georgey Spanswick on weekday Breakfast, Kathryn Apanowicz on Saturday Breakfast and Kay Crewdson on Saturday mid-mornings.

“During his career he has produced award-winning documentaries with the BBC investigations unit, and has lived and worked in south Asia and the Middle East for World Service, reporting on political upheaval, terrorism and natural disasters such as the south Asian tsunami,” she said.

 

Gift cards not dividends

MARKS & Spencer is to offer its army of small shareholders a discounted gift card instead of their dividend payment, the group said today.

The retailer has more than 190,000 private investors who together own around 30 per cent of M&S stock – a number of whom have voiced frustration at the pace of the turnaround in its fortunes under former Morrisons boss Marc Bolland.

The new scheme will enable them to exchange their dividend pay-out to purchase a card up to the value of £1,000 at a ten per cent discount – so a £900 dividend payment could be swapped for a £1,000 card.

Amanda Mellor, M&S group secretary, said: “Our private investors are some of our most loyal customers and we’re continually looking at how we can engage this group of stakeholders.”

 

Women get in gear as new club opens

York Press: A The inaugural ride of Yorkshire Lass CC with front, from left, founders Kate Horsfall and Judith Worrall and Tony Booth, of All Terrain Cycles 

TRIO of women with a love of everything to do with two wheels have launched an all-female cycling club.

Kate Horsfall, of Wetherby, Judith Worrall, of Thirsk, and Sarah Cave, of Harrogate, decided to form Yorkshire Lass CC, in Wetherby, in response to the growing popularity of women’s cycling.

Kate said: “Having been members of a few other local cycling clubs which had ladies’ groups, we found that it was not always possible to ride in a ladies-only group and when the groups become mixed, the level of cycling tends to become more advanced.

“Unfortunately, this more serious approach puts off many less experienced female cyclists and inevitably women end up cycling alone, either in their own very small groups or not at all.”

Yorkshire Lass CC is being supported by the region’s oldest cycling business, All Terrain Cycles. The company has funded the new club’s affiliation to the British Cycling association and is manufacturing their very own new club kit.

 

Piazza to get revamp

A RUN-DOWN piazza at the University of York is to be given a revamp, following a donation from Greg Dyke in his final year as Chancellor. Vanbrugh Piazza, an original feature of the campus which was intended as a focal point for staff, students and visitors, is not in good shape, said vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts.

“The plan is to develop the piazza during the summer, so that it can once again feature prominently on open days and graduation days, and offer an attractive space for art installations, open air cinema, pop-up activities and performances,” he said.

“In addition to Greg’s generous donation, the project will also be supported by other benefactors and by the university.”

A drop-in consultation event will be held at the JB Morrell Library between 11pm and 2pm on Friday.

 

Race seeks women cyclists

ENTRIES have opened for the first Women’s Tour de Yorkshire.

Competitors will complete 80km by going four times round a 20km circuit in and around York on Saturday, May 2. Later the same day, the men competing in the first ever Tour de Yorkshire will race round the same circuit as Stage 2 of their race reaches its climax.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “By hosting this race and taking advantage of the spectators, race infrastructure and media spotlight already on York that day, we’ll show women’s racing off to the world.”

Kersten England, chief executive of City of York Council, said: “York is proud to be hosting this women’s race.”

Any woman holding a British Cycling racing licence of Band 3 up to Elite is eligible to compete.

 

Disability challenge

PARISH councillors in an East Riding village have tried walking a mile in someone else’s shoes to understand the difficulties faced daily by people with disabilities.

The councillors from Stamford Bridge were challenged by a resident in the town to take part in an hour long “disability challenge”.

Three councillors – Ian McEnaney, Rick Bragg and Richard Clarke – spent time using a wheelchair and trying to get around without their sight or hearing.

They tackled navigating the village’s roads, visiting the doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries and making basic purchases in the shops.

They now plan to address the problems they came across at future council meetings and by talking with business owners in Stamford Bridge.

 

UK ‘fun spending’ is revealed as rising

HOUSEHOLDS are splashing out more on enjoying themselves – with growing amounts spent on recreation, dining out and hotels.

Spending by households on hotels, bars and restaurants leapt by nine per cent year-on-year in February – which is the strongest annual increase seen in all the categories covered last month by the Visa Europe UK Expenditure Index.

For the first time in six months, consumers’ spending on recreation and culture also saw an annual increase, with 1.1 per cent growth in February.

Solid annual spending growth was seen in household goods – a 3.6 per cent increase – while spending on food, drink and tobacco saw a 2.7 per cent year-on-year increase. Spending on transport and communication was up 0.8 per cent.

Visa said online spending saw annual growth for the first time since September, a 0.8 per cent year-on-year increase in February.

Face-to-face spending on the high street was up one per cent. Easing pressure of inflation may be giving a confidence boost. Kevin Jenkins, UK and Ireland managing director at Visa Europe, said:  “British consumers look to be spending more on the things they enjoy.”

 

Brewery warms fans’ hearts with its brassy bitter 

A COMMEMORATIVE beer brewed by exiled football fans is helping a North Yorkshire brewery reach new drinkers.

The York Hearts Supporters Club teamed up with Tyne Bank Brewery from Newcastle and Brass Castle Brewery in Malton to produce a beer called “TyneCastle Hearty Ale,” named after Tynecastle, Edinburgh football club Heart of Midlothian’s home ground.

Casks of the beer have since gone on sale in York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and Brass Castle says the feedback has been highly positive.

It is now selling bottles online. The beer is a traditional, fulsome, brassy bitter, brewed with UK Admiral and First Gold hops, and it has an ABV of 4.4 per cent.

York Hearts is a club of around 35 fans living in York. A total of 10p from each bottle or pint sold will go to the Foundation of Hearts, which is helping to bring the football club into fan ownership after a turbulent few years.

Visit brasscastle.co.uk – the code “@thefoh” will provide a discount.

Ian Goodall, from Brass Castle, said: “We are always happy to help with this type of effort. If we get a great response to the bottled product we will happily look to brew it again and continue to donate.”