An artist’s impression of an aerial view of York Central PLANNING applications for the huge York Central project may need to be resubmitted and millions of pounds of funding for the scheme could be put at risk if plans to stop Leeman Road from being closed are successful. York Central Partnership applied for permission to permanently close Leeman Road at the National Railway Museum as part of the development. But more than 1,400 residents objected to the road closure and last week a government inspector concluded a public inquiry into the plans. He heard arguments from both sides - representatives of York Central Partnership and the National Railway Museum and from residents and Holgate councillors. The inspector will now make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, who will decide if plans to close the road can go ahead, or if they should be halted.
Preparations for the reopening of the city centre have been taking place for some time COUNCIL chiefs are seeking to reassure residents ahead of Monday s reopening of the city centre - saying the Covid situation is very different to the position at the end of 2020. York currently has one of the lowest infection rates in the country, more than half the adult population here has had at least one dose of the vaccine and a large number of socially distanced outdoor seating areas are being created to allow people to return to the city safely. There are also plans for a Covid test site to open in the city centre soon, where visitors and staff can get rapid tests.
Cllr Ashley Mason and West Offices, City of York Council headquarters COUNCIL staff may continue working from home after the pandemic - and the local authority will look at whether some meetings can still be held remotely. City of York Council has already earmarked an extra £350,000 income from renting out space in its headquarters at West Offices. It means other organisations might rent out offices previously used by council staff. Council meetings, including public meetings such as planning decisions, currently take place by webcast. But this is only allowed under temporary Government guidance, which expires at the start of May.