York Live
York’s Bloom! Festival will not go ahead this year – but will be back next summer
Make It York has today announced that Bloom! – York’s festival of horticulture – will not go ahead this summer.
The event was planned to take place across the city from 20-28 June, but has been cancelled due to the escalating uncertainties surrounding the impact of Covid-19.
MD of Make It York Sean Bullick said:
-
It is with deep sadness that we have made this decision, but ultimately it is the right thing to do given the uncertainties that we all face as a result of the ongoing coronavirus situation.
We have had discussions with our festival main sponsor, York BID and our other valued partners and sponsors across the city and we are all in agreement that this is, unfortunately, a necessary step we must take at this time.
The BID and Make It York are now looking at how to bring Bloom! back in 2021.
We will be working with @YorkBID and other partners & sponsors to look at how we can bring Bloom! back in 2021 and cultivate another exciting programme of activity for residents and visitors. Further details to come later in the year… pic.twitter.com/bJDFV40m6i
— Make It York (@MakeItYork) March 31, 2020
Further details will be announced later in the year.
More cases of coronavirus confirmed in York
The latest official figures show that the number of cases of coronavirus in York has risen again.
As of today (Saturday, 21 March) there are now eight confirmed cases in the city.
That is a rise of two on the figures from yesterday. It means the number has doubled since Wednesday.
Meanwhile the total in North Yorkshire stands at 16 – two more than reported yesterday (Friday).
Nationally the coronavirus death toll in the UK has reached 233 after NHS England said a further 53 people had died in England after testing positive.
It comes as Fiona Phillips, City of York Council Assistant Director for Public Health, shared some advice for people on maintaining your wellbeing.
In what is an anxious and difficult time for many of us, Fiona Phillips, our Assistant Director for Public Health, shares some advice for you and your community on maintaining your wellbeing.
For the latest information please visit https://t.co/VHoyymdjYD pic.twitter.com/rTWmNXpP5E
— City of York Council (@CityofYork) March 21, 2020
York health group closes two doctors’ surgeries
York Medical Group has updated its working arrangements to adapt to the new circumstances.
It has closed its Water Lane and Woodthorpe surgeries. All doctor’s appointments will be changed to telephone consultations.
All nurse appointments have been cancelled for now. Nurses will contact patients to discuss rebooking appointments.
But it says:
-
If you need same day care our service is still running. Please call as normal and a GP will advise the best course of action.
It is locking the doors at all surgeries – they “will only be opened for those patients that have appointments, this is to keep staff safe so we can keep surgeries working”.
The group asks people not to visit the surgery to drop off a prescription. The advice”
“Please sign up for the NHS App or ring the surgery and verbally sign up for online services via the query lines.
“If you cannot access these services please can you post your prescription to the surgery.”
Full details on the York Medical Group website.
York council issues statement on school closures
City of York Council have just issued this statement following the school closures announcement today:
City of York Council would like to reassure schools, early years and childcare providers, parents, carers and families that it’s continuing to support all education settings following today’s government announcement that schools and early years’ settings in England will be closing as of Friday afternoon until further notice.
The council is currently working through the details of today’s government announcement, particularly how we support schools to provide education settings to vulnerable young people and children of key workers. We continue to look further at how we can continue to support schools to provide children and young people with learning and development opportunities throughout this difficult time.
Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:
-
We understand this is an incredibly difficult time for all schools, early years and childcare providers, parents, carers and families.
Throughout the outbreak, we have been communicating and working with all education settings to keep them updated and help them prepare as best as they can.
The council will work through the detail of the government’s announcement immediately. Making sure support is in place for children and families in the coming days in our priority and this includes exploring how we support the provision of free meals too.
For more information on school closures visit york.gov.uk/schoolclosures.
For more details about coronavirus visit york.gov.uk/coronavirus
Bridge cleared after rush hour accident
The three-vehicle collision on Clifton Bridge is now clear.
Police and ambulance crews went to the accident, which was reported at 7.50am. It was described by police as “very minor”.
The scene was clear by 8.35pm.
York crews tackle three fires and one water leak overnight
Fire crews from York were called out to four incidents overnight.
At 5.33pm a York crew went to a report of water leaking from a first floor flat in Bootham and into a commercial property below.
They entered the flat through an unlocked window and isolated the leak on a shower unit.
At 9.05pm a Huntington crew put out a fire in a large metal wheelie bin on Huntington Road. It is believed to have been started deliberately by youths.
A few minutes later at 9.14pm, crews from York and Acomb were alerted to a fire in a home on Farrar Street.
It was in the fuse cupboard, and caused fire, heat and smoke damage. Firefighters carried out an inspection and left the incident in the hands of the landlord and Northern Powergrid.
And at 11.07pm a crew from Acomb responded to a smoke alarm going off in a commercial property at Tockwith west of York.
On arrival they discovered a fire in a commercial kiln, which resulted in damage to wooden staging. They put out the fire. The cause is believed to be accidental.
