Dylan Connell

The York Station Gateway project has risen from an original £26 million budget to £60.1 million, prompting criticism from residents and more than 900 petitioners. Readers described the years of disruption, continuing traffic problems and unfinished appearance as evidence of poor value and called for an independent inquiry. A Veritau audit identified critical weaknesses, including contracts entered into before agreements had progressed sufficiently and delays in reporting overspends. The council attributed some costs and delays to unforeseen utilities, inflation and design changes, and said it has adopted all audit recommendations while promising the completed scheme will provide cycle lanes, improved bus stops, public spaces and better views of York’s city walls.

Roy Horsley, a 76-year-old man from Huntington, died at home on January 11, one day after attending York Hospital’s urgent care unit. Coroner Jonathan Leach said at the opening of the inquest that Horsley died from an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and adjourned the hearing pending a full inquest. His family described him as a gentle and generous man who contributed to local allotment and walking groups, performed as Elvis, and cared devotedly for his wife Christine.

OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity has launched When Oscar Lost His Feathers, a children’s book designed to help young children, siblings and carers understand a brain tumour diagnosis. Co-written by children’s author Elizabeth Green and charity manager Phil Martinez, the book was inspired by families’ need for age-appropriate explanations. Proceeds will support OSCAR’s work with nearly 150 families, and the National Lottery funded the project. The book is available through Amazon, alongside an audio edition narrated by Nicholas Ralph, with bookshops and libraries invited to request copies.

Ten vehicles were set on fire in woodland on Old Great Brotherton Road in Brotherton, North Yorkshire. Three fire crews from Selby and Castleford extinguished the blaze after being called shortly after 2pm, and the incident was then left with police for investigation.

A red Honda Foreman 400 quad bike was stolen overnight from a farm in Lebberston, near Scarborough. North Yorkshire Police released a photograph and asked anyone with information to contact the investigating officer or Crimestoppers, quoting reference 12260144570.

Two vehicles crashed on the A168 at Sowerby near Thirsk at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8. Police and firefighters attended, and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said everyone had left the vehicles before crews arrived. Three fire crews made the vehicles safe before leaving the scene in police hands.

A Land Rover Defender overturned after clipping several parked vehicles on Horsefair in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, at around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 8. The driver was unharmed, while the passenger was checked by firefighters. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service secured the vehicle and the crash scene.

Firefighters extinguished a tree fire on Bishopthorpe Road, York, at about 4:20 a.m. on Sunday after the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service determined it was likely started deliberately and informed police. Officers were also notified after a separate deliberate fire in a rear garden on Tennyson Avenue, Clifton, spread to a fence.

Five fire crews tackled a large field fire in Duggleby near Malton at about 7:50 p.m. on Saturday, August 8. The blaze covered approximately 150 by 100 metres of stubble and standing crop. Farm machinery was used to create fire breaks, while firefighters deployed hose-reel jets, knapsack sprayers and beaters to extinguish the flames and prevent re-ignition.

A refurbished four-bedroom townhouse on Micklegate in York city centre is on the market for £750,000. Dating from the 17th century, the property spans four floors and retains original period features alongside modern fittings. It includes a tiled entrance hall, sweeping staircase, potential cinema or snug room, living room, kitchen-dining room, master bedroom with en-suite, three additional bedrooms and further bathrooms.

The cost of York’s Station Gateway scheme has risen from an original £26 million budget to £60.1 million, prompting a petition demanding a detailed explanation and regular public reporting. An independent Veritau audit identified critical weaknesses, including contracts being entered into before legal arrangements were sufficiently advanced and delays in reporting overspends. Additional costs arose from strengthening York’s walls, discovering a Victorian water tank, relocating an electricity substation, design changes, inflation and other project complications. City of York Council says it has adopted all audit recommendations and strengthened governance, making further increases less likely. Labour finance and major projects executive member Katie Lomas blamed problems inherited from the previous Liberal Democrat-Green administration, while Liberal Democrat spokesperson Paul Healey blamed Labour’s design changes and lack of professional oversight and called for Lomas to resign.

North Yorkshire Police are using SelectaDNA forensic marking spray to mark e-bikes and help link bicycles used in crimes to offenders. The technology is being deployed alongside high-visibility patrols targeting dangerous riding, nuisance behaviour and criminal activity involving e-bikes in York. Police say the approach, developed through collaboration with other forces, is intended to improve evidence gathering, investigations and community safety.

A man in his 40s was arrested after a 13-year-old boy was allegedly strangled, pushed and kicked near Moss Street and Caesar Court in York. The boy was taken to hospital with throat and neck injuries. North Yorkshire Police said the suspect was released on police bail after the reported Sunday attack.

A shopping trolley was used to damage the front window of the Age UK charity shop on Front Street in Acomb. North Yorkshire Police is seeking a man who witnessed the incident, approached staff and gave his name as “Max.” Police are asking him and anyone with information to contact them or Crimestoppers, quoting reference 12260145289.

A two-bedroom apartment in Aldersyde House, a Grade II-listed late-19th-century merchant’s house off Tadcaster Road in York, is on the market for £325,000. Originally designed by architect A. J. Penty for wealthy miller Ernest Leetham, the building was converted into apartments in 2006. The recently redecorated flat includes a living and dining room, fitted kitchen, two bedrooms, a modern bathroom, communal landscaped grounds, a garage and a parking space. The lease has 107 years remaining, with an annual service charge of £2,340.

Queen Camilla is expected to visit York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival on August 19, where she will meet representatives of the racecourse's charity partners. The visit will be her third consecutive Ebor Festival appearance since becoming the racecourse's royal patron in 2024. During her previous visit, she unveiled a plaque for the Juddmonte International's award and opened the refurbished Bustardthorpe Stand.

Emergency services are conducting a major search off South Promenade in Hornsea for a 13-year-old boy reportedly swept into difficulty while swimming on August 4. Humberside Police, HM Coastguard, ambulance and fire services, specialist search advisers, a marine unit, drones and a helicopter have been deployed. Police have asked the public to avoid the area and refrain from speculation while inquiries continue. The incident occurred near Withernsea, where three people died in a January open-water tragedy, amid broader concerns about rising water-related fatalities in the UK.

York Central MP Rachael Maskell has urged local stakeholders and the government to form a coalition to keep the Grade I-listed former Bootham Park Hospital site in public hands. The psychiatric hospital has been empty since 2015, with planning permission for a luxury care home still under consideration after the developer failed to proceed. NHS Property Services says an 18-month programme is underway to preserve heritage assets, improve walking and cycling access, and provide sports pitches, while maintaining that the site remains for sale under offer. Maskell and Green Party campaigners have criticized extensions to planning-condition deadlines and the removal of three trees, citing environmental concerns. Maskell says millions have been spent maintaining the vacant site and argues that a public-use alternative would benefit York for generations.

Jack Burton, a 29-year-old man from Worcester, died in Scarborough from clozapine toxicity after stopping smoking during a holiday. He had been taking 525mg of clozapine nightly, a dose considered appropriate while he was a heavy smoker, but smoking cessation likely caused the medication to reach fatal levels in his blood. Coroner Deborah Lakin said Burton should have informed his psychiatrist so the dose could be reduced and warned that inconsistent medical advice and a lack of standardized guidance could put other patients at risk. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said it had reviewed its smoking-cessation and clozapine-monitoring policies and created an action plan to improve consistency.

Black Phillip, a masked character known for hosting alternative markets in York, will hold a gothic-themed “night(mare) market” at York Castle Museum from 7pm to 11pm on October 24. Traders will sell items including witchcraft products, taxidermy, décor and drawings. Tickets cost £5 and must be booked in advance through Eventbrite.

A three-bedroom Victorian townhouse on Scott Street in York is being marketed by Hudson Moody for £495,000. The property includes an open-plan lounge and dining room with a log-burning stove, a courtyard garden with a converted office, a modern kitchen, utility room, three double bedrooms and a rear dormer. It is described as being close to Bishopthorpe Road, York city centre and the railway station.

YorSpace plans to build six sustainable flats at Lowfield Green in Acomb, York, selling them at 70% of market value through a mutual home ownership scheme. The homes will remain in community ownership and be protected from speculative resale, with priority given to people needing housing and those connected to York. YorSpace says the model could help counter the city’s high and unsustainable housing costs, though securing affordable funding remains a major challenge. The second phase is backed by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Nationwide Foundation, while the University of York is researching how the approach could be expanded.

A four-bedroom home near Everingham in East Yorkshire has been listed for £1.5 million. The 8.3-acre property previously housed the Ginger Cow Company and includes a former tearoom used as an event venue, shepherd huts, gardens, woodland and facilities suited to equestrian use. Savills is marketing the estate, which is located about a mile from Everingham and a short drive from Pocklington.

A 44-year-old York man has been charged with possessing a loaded .22 air rifle in a public place after an alleged shot was fired outside York Mosque on Bull Lane. North Yorkshire Police said it found no evidence that the incident was ideological, hate-related or specifically targeted at York’s Muslim community. No one was injured, the mosque has resumed daily prayers, and the defendant was bailed with conditions including staying away from the mosque. Police will maintain high-visibility patrols while the investigation continues, and mosque president Mohamad Douba thanked residents and police for their support.

York and North Yorkshire mayor David Skaith welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s proposal to let regional mayors retain a share of locally collected income tax and business rates. The reforms are intended to transfer powers and resources from Westminster to local leaders, enabling investment in transport, housing, jobs, digital connectivity and education without directly increasing income-tax rates. An equalisation system would continue supporting areas that collect less tax, with further details expected in a government white paper accompanying the autumn budget.

York Mosque will host a tea-and-biscuits gathering to thank residents and public officials for their support after an air rifle was reportedly fired outside the mosque in Bull Lane. North Yorkshire Police arrested a 44-year-old York man, who remained in custody, and said no one was injured while the incident’s motivation was unclear. Mosque leaders said prayers and regular activities would continue, with an increased police presence as a precaution, while describing the event and community kitchen as demonstrations of York’s solidarity and unity.

York Mosque held its regular free community kitchen hours after a shot was reportedly fired from an air rifle outside the mosque on Bull Lane at about 2.20am. No one was injured, and North Yorkshire Police arrested a 44-year-old York man while continuing to investigate the motivation and circumstances. Police later allowed the event to proceed and helped serve food. Community representatives and local political leaders praised the mosque, condemned the unsettling incident and called for solidarity and support.

A man was arrested after a shot was reportedly fired from an air rifle outside York Mosque at about 2:20 a.m. No one was injured, and the mosque reopened after police lifted the cordon. City of York Council’s safer-communities lead Anna Perrett described the incident as unsettling but hoped it was a one-off, while praising the mosque’s role in bringing the community together. York Central MP Rachael Maskell urged residents to unite and expressed support for the mosque and the police investigation.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says solar panels at its sites meet rigorous fire and electrical safety standards. As an additional precaution after a major fire at Malton Hospital was identified as most likely starting at rooftop solar panels, the trust is surveying existing and planned installations while continuing its decarbonisation programme. Fire investigators’ findings remain pending, and York Minster has separately emphasized that its own solar installation was designed to protect the historic building from fire risk.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for information to locate George Casson, a 30-year-old convicted sex offender from Harrogate who was recalled to prison after failing to attend Probation Service appointments. He may be in the Harrogate area and has links to Lancashire and Weston-super-Mare. Casson was sentenced to 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to sexually communicating with a child. Police advise anyone who sees him to call 999 and anyone with information to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously.

Four masked men allegedly rammed a Nissan Juke through the doors of Wetherby Services near the A1(M), repeatedly struck an ATM and removed it using a chain. Police later recovered the burned vehicle in Leeds with the stolen cash machine inside and are seeking witnesses, including three men believed to have seen the incident.

The A170 near Pickering reopened on Wednesday afternoon after a serious crash had closed Cliff Road in both directions between Pickering and Wrelton, including the Cropton Lane junction. North Yorkshire Police’s specialist crash investigators were examining the scene.

A development of four self-contained apartments on Leake Street in York is being marketed for £1.1 million. Completed in 2023, the block comprises two one-bedroom ground-floor flats and two duplex apartments, previously operated as holiday lets and student accommodation. Estate agent Ashtons estimates monthly rents of £1,100–£1,200 for the one-bedroom flats and about £1,500 for each duplex, presenting the property as an income-generating investment near York city centre and the University of York.

Tracy Ostle, chair of the Groves Association, voluntarily works to improve York’s Groves by picking up litter and coordinating with the council, local businesses and Door 84. New murals, bunting, lighting and planters are planned to make the area more attractive and discourage street drinking, crime and antisocial behaviour. Residents Harriet Walker and Tim Mitchinson welcome the efforts, saying a cleaner, greener and better-maintained neighbourhood could encourage greater community pride, safety and participation.

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, visited the Yorkshire Museum in York to view the Melsonby Hoard, a collection of more than 800 Iron Age artefacts discovered near Richmond. The museum acquired the hoard with £192,096 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and £74,000 in public donations. Archaeologist Tom Moore said the unusually large number of high-status objects could reshape understanding of wealth and power among elite communities in northern Britain around 2,000 years ago. The duke also visited the National Railway Museum and York Minster.

York estate agency director Matthew Hendry has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government to remove stamp duty and reform council tax, arguing that both currently hinder people from moving and that council tax based on 1991 property values is unfair. He also supports expanded council-house construction, while stressing that any replacement tax must give homeowners confidence. Rising demand and limited supply have pushed York prices beyond the reach of some local residents; Lloyds data indicates that a typical South Bank homeowner could save £135,294 by moving to Selby.

A six-bedroom terraced period home on York Road in Acomb is being marketed by Carter Jonas for £1.1 million. The property, designed by York architect Walter Green Penty, has been restored with original features alongside modern amenities, including four reception rooms, six bedrooms, en-suite facilities, a modern kitchen, self-contained second-floor accommodation, a south-facing garden, garage, secure driveway and outhouse.

Yearsley Villa, a small York residential care home supporting people with mental health needs, was rated “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission after an inspection in May. Inspectors identified incomplete care records, inadequate risk assessments, weaknesses in medicines management, outdated staff training, inconsistent recruitment checks and shortcomings in Mental Capacity Act decision-making. Although the home had begun making changes and residents expressed satisfaction with their care, inspectors said improvements were not yet sustained and that existing failures could put residents at risk. The report also praised the provider’s compassionate interactions, clean and safe environment, and cooperation with external mental health professionals.

York indie band Skylights are set to release their second independently issued single, “Need Me,” following their return from an almost two-year hiatus. Guitarist Turnbull Smith describes the song as deeply meaningful and emotionally charged. The release follows the band’s previous single, “Fever,” reaching number four on the official UK vinyl singles chart, behind Ariana Grande, Niall Horan and Jayler, while ranking ahead of the Rolling Stones.

A person was taken to hospital after falling from York’s medieval city walls at about 2pm on Thursday, July 23. The person, whose age and gender were not disclosed, suffered a broken ankle. Firefighters from Acomb used an aerial ladder platform to help paramedics move the casualty into an ambulance.

A coroner’s inquest into the drowning of 19-year-old student Evan d’Andilly concluded that despite rapid emergency response, available resources were insufficient to save him after he entered the River Ouse in York. His family expressed concerns about delays and the lack of a locally stationed fire rescue boat, urging improvements to prevent future tragedies. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service stated it has upgraded equipment and expanded water rescue capabilities, while police and fire officials pledged to review the inquest findings and strengthen safety measures along York’s waterways.

A three‑bedroom Tudor home in York dating to around 1525 has returned to the market for £475,000, reduced from £525,000. Marketed by Ashtons, the property features period elements such as exposed beams and timber latch doors, along with updated kitchen and bathroom areas renovated in 2020. The house includes a lounge with a feature fireplace, a dining area, three first‑floor bedrooms, a rear garden and parking. It originally formed part of a Chapel of Ease linked to Holy Trinity Church. The listing is available through Zoopla.

A new 46‑suite Supercity Aparthotel has opened in York’s Micklegate following nearly five years of development, including archaeological delays after Roman artefacts and parts of the original city walls were discovered. The wood‑fronted building was designed to complement the area’s medieval architecture and is aimed at longer‑stay visitors such as business travelers. Company chairman Roger Walters and lead architect Neil Brown highlighted the hotel’s integration with the city’s historic character and its potential to boost local business activity. Local artists contributed to the interior design as part of the project's community focus.

A three‑vehicle collision on the A1(M) between junctions 45 and 44 near the A64 caused lane closures and significant delays on Wednesday. West Yorkshire Police confirmed it was a damage‑only crash with no injuries. The AA reported long delays after two southbound lanes were closed, but National Highways reopened the road by early afternoon as traffic began to clear. The incident followed another recent A1(M) collision that caused a major spillage and required resurfacing work.

A 21-year-old woman from Jarrow received a 12‑week suspended jail sentence, a £439 fine, and a year-long driving ban after admitting to causing serious injury by careless driving in a head‑on A19 crash near Thirsk. The collision left the other driver with significant injuries and lasting pain. Police described the crash as entirely avoidable and stressed the importance of maintaining proper vehicle control to prevent life‑changing consequences.

A trailer carrying cattle overturned on the A1 between Catterick and Leeming Bar, prompting a multi-agency emergency response. Fire crews assisted a farmer and veterinarian in relocating the cattle, and the road was closed in both directions for over two hours. Two ambulances attended but no injuries were reported, and the incident was later left with police and highways officers.

An inquest heard that Sam Diatta died after being restrained for about seven minutes at a Mappin and Webb store in York following a confrontation with the door supervisor. CCTV showed several men holding him face down until police arrived and began CPR. Medical evidence indicated that his enlarged heart and medical conditions made the prone restraint dangerous and contributed to his death. Police previously arrested four men but brought no charges. Diatta’s family described him as kind and struggling with long-term mental health issues. The inquest continues.