Perfume stolen from Goodramgate shop, and 9 other news snippets you may have missed

The thieves were seen leaving the Savers store in Goodramgate on pedal cycles following the break-in at about 1.10am on Tuesday, March 17.

Anyone who has been offered cheap fragrances, or has any information which could help police with their investigation, should phone 101, email YorkCID@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or alternatively phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
 

Palm Sunday road closures

FOUR city centre streets will be closed to all vehicles including bicycles on Palm Sunday for the annual Palm Sunday procession from St Helen’s Square to York Minster.

St Helen’s Square and Coney Street from New Street to St Helen’s Square will be closed from 9-10.30am, Stonegate and High Petergate from 10.10-11am.
 

Delight as work on sensory centre begins

WORK has started on a sensory centre and resource for people of all ages with disabilities – after many years of determined fundraising by a local charity.

After more than 13 years of planning and fundraising by the Pendragon Community Trust, contractors have begun work on the Omega Industrial Village in Northallerton.

The centre will include a main multi-sensory space, a smaller room for one-to-one work, a giant slide, an interactive ball pool and a small café. The centre will have full changing and hoisting facilities.

The centre will offer a wide range of facilities including music therapy, sensory exploration and carers support groups.

The trust is also working closely with Hambleton District Council to create an outdoor sensory area in the future.

It will be open to people of all ages and with all levels of disability but focusing on those with moderate to profound needs including physical disabilities, Down’s syndrome, sensory impairments, autism, Asperger’s, cerebral palsy, brain injuries and emotional difficulties.

The trust is now looking to raise £100,000 for specialist equipment.

Lawyers take on Botton residents’ battle

RESIDENTS of a village for people with learning disabilities have started a court battle to stop changes to their living arrangements.

Bindmans LLP solicitors acting on behalf of three residents of Camphill Village, near Botton, on the North York Moors, have made a claim for judicial review of plans by the village’s trust to alter its long-standing tradition of people with learning disabilities living in homes with non-disabled volunteer co-workers.

Last year, the trust announced that from the end of March, all co-workers would become employees. Previously, they received accommodation free, but were not paid. The solicitors say they have got a temporary court injunction against the changes.

Marine safaris on offer this Easter

MARINE life enthusiasts will run boat trips and show off the expanded Living Seas Centre at Flamborough at Easter.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will be running seashore and boat safaris as well as other shore-based activities. It has announced the centre, which reopens at Easter, has a ringing laboratory to improve study of migrant birds on the East Yorkshire headland and teaching facilities.

The centre will also give details of the proposed Runswick Bay and Holderness Inshore recommended marine conservation zones.

Living Seas Centre manager Anthony Hurd said: “The centre will be open from 10am – 5pm, it’s free to enter and there is lots to see and do. Now more than ever we must unite in our support for better protection for marine habitats and wildlife found off Yorkshire.”

Free solar panels offer

A LOCAL authority-led organisation, set up to promote green energy, has teamed up with a Clifton company to offer free solar panel installation to homeowners in York.

Yorkshire Energy Partnership, owned by the local authorities of North Yorkshire, is working with Solarwall to promote a new “free green electricity” offer to residents in York, which gives homeowners the opportunity to have solar panels installed for free.

The scheme, open to homeowners with a suitable roof, is the first of its kind in the area.

The panels, which can reportedly reduce electricity bills by £294 a year, are funded by a private finance company, which recoups its investment by receiving Feed-in Tariff payments from the Government.

If homeowners would rather receive the payments, they can pay to have the panels installed.

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy said: “Solar PV panels can significantly reduce your electricity bills.

In times of increasingly high energy bills, I am delighted that York residents have the opportunity to have solar panels installed free of charge.”

Rescue boat boost

THE York Rescue Boat has been given a £300 donation from a national scheme.

The Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund assists local community groups and charities across the UK and Ireland by donating cash awards, with the recipients chosen by public demand.

York Rescue Boat, which was set up by Dave Benson over a year ago, was awarded £300 from the fund, which will go towards supporting the charity’s team of more than 30 volunteers, boat patrols, emergency flood assistance and river safety education in the community.

Dave said: “As the organisation grows we hope to provide a stand-by team who respond as an auxiliary service to the 999 services in area. This donation from the GALAXY Hot Chocolate Fund means that we can now purchase some of the vital safety equipment needed to provide this around the clock service.”

Football club to play a role in promoting health

HARROGATE Town Football Foundation has been awarded a grant of nearly £10,000 from Yorkshire-based national charity Heart Research UK.

The healthy heart grant will be used to run three different programmes aimed at adults with high risks of heart disease, families who are at risk of developing heart conditions and expectant mums who were overweight, smokers or substance- takers before they became pregnant.

Adults and families in the Harrogate district will be asked to join the ten weekly prevention programmes that will actively promote heart health.

They will be a combination of fitness classes and discussions based on balanced diets and good lifestyle choices.

York Florists' shows  detailed

THE Ancient Society of York Florists have now printed the 2015 schedule of shows which will all be held in the Sports Hall at Askham Bryan Agricultural College.

The dates of the shows are as follows; spring show, Sunday, April 12, summer show, Sunday, July 12, autumn show, Sunday, September 13 and the late autumn show, Sunday, October 25. The shows are open from 11am to 3pm.

A schedule is available from secretary John Galvin, by phoning 01904 704829 or emailing john.galvin36@btinternet.com.

There are classes for handicraft, photography and baking as well as vegetable classes and flower classes which give an opportunity for everybody to compete. The shows are £1.

It’s party time at youth club

FACE VALUE: Charlie Freeman chose to have her face painted with a smiling frog to help celebrate the fourth birthday of Door 84 in the Groves

FACE painting, games, music and dancing were among the many attractions organised to celebrate the anniversary of a popular youth club.

Door 84 in Lowther Street celebrated the fourth anniversary of its re-opening with a party attended by hundreds of young people and members of the local community.

Heidi Haywood, of Door 84, said: “It went really well and the sun shone, so that was a bonus. We want to thank everyone who came and took part.”

Young DJs and a singer helped to provide entertainment at the event, organised by the registered charity in The Groves.

All money raised will go towards taking young people on day trips and residential visits.

Door 84 is open three nights a week for eight to 17-year-olds, offering open access youth provision.