York people talk about their hopes for a better 2017...

York’s Green Lord Mayor, Cllr Dave Taylor (pictured above)

Is it too much to wish for world peace, the end of terrorism, hunger and inequality, to halt the slide towards insularity, racism, and anti-intellectualism that we’ve seen in 2016? Possibly that’s over-ambitious, but it’s necessary to keep a focus on these big issues. Locally, York needs a Local Plan. One that provides sufficient decent housing – a satellite town with infrastructure that doesn’t further clog our roads and fill our lungs with deadly fumes killing a hundred citizens each year.

We need electric buses and hybrid taxis and to keep heavy vehicles out of the city with transshipment of goods from a depot on the outskirts. Innovative ideas like cable cars into York Central rather than expensive new road or rail lines.

A robust plan to replace lost mental health services and provision for older people. A tourist tax, like many great tourist cities have internationally, to support our arts and culture. We need a stronger vision to make this lovely city an even better place, and not just let it go on the slide due to overwhelming cuts from Central Government.

David Fraser, Chief Executive, York Civic Trust

York is an old city in an uncertain world and we try to learn from the past to plan our future. There are serious changes planned in the city. More than ever we need a masterplan backed up by a vision for the future to allow local people (and not out-of-town developers) to decide the shape of York Central, the Southern Gateway, the area around Clifford’s Tower, and our Green Belt. In 2017 we hope the Local Development Plan is approved.

In the past century we have given over the streets of York to the car: now let us design a city where people come first. In 2017 let us take some small steps by making it easier to walk around; by making more and better cycle lanes; and making buses faster, more convenient, cleaner and cheaper so they are everybody’s first choice of transport.

In the last decade we have seen environmental change looming on the horizon – floods, droughts, and storms are more common and cause more damage. In 2017 let us take steps to prepare ourselves, by understanding changes in the physical world and predicting their effects. We can make ourselves less worried and more resilient by learning how York has survived similar catastrophes in the past.

Reyahn King, chief executive of York Museums Trust

WE hope York Museums Trust can help make 2017 an incredible year for arts and culture in the city with some fantastic exhibitions and events coming up at York Art Gallery, the Yorkshire Museum and York Castle Museum. These include Chocolate: York’s Sweet Past at York Castle Museum opening on April 1, when we will delve into York’s delicious history of chocolates and sweets. At York Art Gallery we will be hosting the first solo show of York artist Albert Moore from April 7 and then an exhibition of Picasso ceramics from July. This will be followed in October with an exhibition of Paul Nash works alongside his contemporaries.

At the Yorkshire Museum, Viking: Rediscover the Legend opens on May 19 and will include some of the greatest Viking finds ever discovered including major loans from the British Museum.

In June we also have the second Eboracum Roman Festival in the York Museum Gardens.

We hope many of you will come and enjoy some of these highlights as well as other exhibitions and events in what promises to be a very exciting year for York Museums Trust.

Jono Leadley, director of development, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

In 2016, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust marked 70 years of working to reverse the decline of our county’s beautiful wildlife.

The celebrations reached a climax in June, when Sir David Attenborough inspired 1,200 of our supporters at the University of York and urged the public to step up to help save wildlife.

Despite our celebratory mood, the impact of the UK’s decision to exit Europe filled us with deep anxiety. Irrespective of your views on the European Union, Yorkshire’s wildlife has benefited from some of the best environmental legislation in the world, leading to strong protection for many of our best wildlife sites and most iconic species.

In 2017, our biggest challenge will be to lobby decision makers to ensure that any legislation replacing EU directives will give equal or better protection to our wildlife. If we fail, the outlook is bleak. A major success of 2016 was the designation of the second tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) around our shores, including the first three off the Yorkshire coast.

We commend the Government, but are pushing hard to make sure the network is completed when the final designations are made next year.

Also, we must ensure this is not a paper exercise and that the MCZs are managed properly, to allow marine wildlife to recover.

We have also been heartened by our supporters. Our membership and volunteering base continues to grow.

Recent reports in the media demonstrated that more 18-30 year olds tuned into Planet Earth 2 than to X Factor. These things give us hope for the future and strengthen our resolve to keep fighting for Yorkshire’s wildlife.

Cllr David Carr, leader of City of York Council

Looking back over 2016, I believe the year just closing will be seen by future historians as one of those tumultuous years of change which occur every so often. Change is in the air both here and abroad; a new political landscape is emerging, the old order is being cast off, and there is a feeling that things will never be quite the same again.

It is now up to those who claim to lead society – the politicians, the opinion-formers, and the commentators – to recognise these forces for change, to embrace them, and to mould them into a workable and constructive model which will benefit all in society.

City of York Council is not immune from these changes; funding will become ever tighter and the expectations and requirements of our residents will continue to grow. We shall have to do more with less. As Leader, I am only too well aware of these conflicting pressures. Our Conservative-led administration came into power last year with the aim of refocusing effort onto front-line services and to deliver those well. I believe that objective is now bearing fruit, and that residents are beginning to see the difference we are making. I am optimistic for the future. With good leadership, it holds great promise.

This administration will continue to do its very best for York, and I wish everyone a happy and successful 2017.

Charles Hutchinson, arts editor, The Press

FIRST, the good news. 2017 cannot possibly be 2016.

Wherever you stand on Brexit or Trump, the outcomes signified divisive, intolerant times and knee-jerk politics in keeping with our craving for instant social-media sound bites. The Grim Reaper’s scythe was far too sharp, too cruel. Time to move on from the annus beyond horribilis, but where do you look for hope and inspiration?

To the beating heart and conscience of the arts, that’s where, ironically now under threat of being marginalised by funding cuts and school-curriculum streamlining undervaluing creativity.

Listen to the sage David Bowie and Leonard Cohen; dance to Prince; read York poet Don Walls; take part in York Theatre Royal and Pilot Theatre’s large-scale community production, Everything Is Possible: The York Suffragettes; catch such musicals as Sunny Afternoon, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Commitments at the Grand Opera House and head to Hull, City of Culture 2017.

THE Rev Jane Nattrass, Priest-in-Charge of All Saints Pavement, St Denys, St Helen, St Martin, St Olave, Holy Trinity Micklegate and St Lawrence

Hopes can be dreams, wishes, prayers or visions. As a priest, my hopes are in the setting of prayers. Prayers for continued hope for peace in our world….for an end to violence in humanity and a generosity to care for the lonely, oppressed, bereaved, sick and those who feel unloved. It’s a hope that shares the burdens of life and transforms the lives of those around us as well as those who live far away. It’s a hope for peace and life in abundance for those who have been displaced through war and fear – for migrants and refugees. And, it’s a hope for peace and life in abundance for those in our own communities, for family and neighbours and in our own lives.

In York, I hope for continued working together for the City – for the wellbeing of the residents and the pilgrims. I hope too that the analysis of the referendum in 2016 will not be forgotten and that bridges will be built between young and old, rich and poor and the north and south. With a vision to grow our churches, I hope that we will continue to welcome many people to catch a glimpse of God’s glory and to discover the peace of God which passes all understanding so that all may have life and have it in abundance.