York City Council’s top officer Ian Floyd spoke to LGC a year to the day after the UK’s first confirmed case of coronavirus was found in the city.
CV Ian Floyd
City of York Council Interim chief executive 2019-2020
City of York Council roles including deputy chief executive and director of resources 2008-2019
Scarborough BC strategic director 2005-2008
Just over 12 months ago, a young Chinese student was taken ill in his York city centre hotel room, just a week after his mother flew in from Wuhan.
Meanwhile, back in his council office near York’s bustling train station, then interim chief executive Ian Floyd was busy managing priorities for 2020: the day before, he had been to London for a meeting with civil servants over a devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire, and the rest of that week had been spent wrapping up budget proposals.
By Reader s letter
Letter
York should become part of a single, unified North Yorkshire council, says former Lord Mayor and council leader Ian Gillies It was with dismay that I read that four of York’s political parties have joined forces to petition the Government for the status quo to be maintained regarding the governing of our city (York must remain York: party leaders fight council merger, February 11). As a former Lord Mayor and council leader, I am immensely proud of York, but times are changing. I was a supporter of ‘One Yorkshire’, but that option has now gone, therefore having one council representing North Yorkshire is the best alternative option.
THE front of York railway station is set for a nearly £29 million revamp – and work could start on the scheme in months. Under the plans Queen Street Bridge will be demolished, the buildings in Parcel Square and the Railway Institute band room will be knocked down and a new “simplified” road built in front of the station. The scheme will also see a 636-space multi-storey car park build on the long stay car park behind the Europcar site and Railway Institute. The archways in the city walls opposite the station will be opened up and Tea Room Square in front of the York Tap pub will be pedestrianised.
PLANS to transform the front of York railway station have been approved. The scheme will see Queen Street Bridge demolished, a new road built outside the station, a multi storey car park built and part of the station building in Parcel Square knocked down to make way for a new façade. It will also see York Railway Institute band room and extensions behind the gymnasium demolished, the Unipart Rail Service Centre building – which lies between the station and the commuter car park - knocked down, and a new 3 metre-wide cycle lane created. Campaigners had concerns about two elements of the project – the planned 636-space multi storey car park and whether there is enough space given over to bus services at the front of the station.
THREE buildings which are part of York’s past are now set to be demolished to clear the way for the future. As the York Central redevelopment finally gets underway, the diggers will move in shortly to flatten a former wagon works, parts of which date back to the 1850s, a concrete factory built in the late 1950s and a Unipart railway parts centre built more than 30 years ago. The Press reported last week that after decades of endless negotiations, work would finally start this week on demolishing the buildings and clearing land to pave the way for one of the UK’s biggest brownfield redevelopment schemes.