Latest news with #PeteKilbane
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
See the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy up close this Sunday and Monday
The newly-revealed Women's Rugby World Cup trophy will be available to view in York this Sunday (June 1) and coming Monday (June 2) as part of a special 'Trophy Tour.' A specially-branded Land Rover Defender will transport the trophy into the city for public viewing over the two days, when it will be displayed in Parliament Square. On the evening of the Monday, the trophy will be transported to York Rugby Club, where it will be available, from 6pm, for local sports teams and organisations to see. Councillor Pete Kilbane, executive member for economy and culture, said: "We're thrilled to be hosting several exciting games as part of the Women's Rugby World Cup later this summer. "Supporting this leg of the Trophy Tour is a great way to continue our amazing year of sport." Residents and visitors can view the trophy in Parliament Square between 10.30am and 3.30pm on the Sunday, or between 10am and 3pm on the Monday, with no need to book. York Community Stadium will host six matches of the Women's Rugby World Cup during August and September, including USA vs Australia, South Africa vs Italy, and New Zealand vs Spain. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Scheme to dual York outer ring road faces £110m funding shortfall
A project to dual more of York's outer ring road will be reviewed after the council admitted there was a £110m funding shortfall for the scheme aims to reduce journey times on the A1237 by making a stretch of the road into a dual carriageway and upgrading five to expand the Clifton Moor roundabout was the authority's priority, a spokesperson said, to enable new housing developments to be built in the Kilbane, deputy leader of York Council, said the project was "subject to the same cost inflation as other major schemes," including rising construction and energy prices. Councillors are expected to discuss options for the project at a meeting in July but previously warned the work may have to be scaled remaining budget for the project is £51m, against a £164m cost to complete the work, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said: "Delivering Clifton Moor roundabout is a priority to enable the building of new homes on the north side of the city."The council will deliver a phasing plan that's consistent with planning permission for the entire dualling scheme." The project to revamp the front of York railway station also faced a funding gap of £18m, the authority has is under way at the site and money could be redirected from the outer ring road scheme to make up the shortfall, according to station scheme, which includes upgrades to bus and cycle infrastructure and public space improvements, had seen large increases in construction costs according to Katie Lomas, executive member for finance, performance and major projects."This scheme is hugely important, some very difficult decisions are required and politicians need to learn from this and not write open cheques in the future," she said. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
VE Day 80th celebrations in North Yorkshire
Victory in Europe Day, known as VE Day, is celebrated on 8 May to mark the moment the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. People across North Yorkshire are being encouraged to join in the celebrations and commemorations, with York's City Walls lit in red, white and blue from Monday 5 until Thursday 8 May. Pete Kilbane, executive member for economy and culture at City of York Council, said: "The end of the war in Europe is a moment to celebrate. It also reminds us of the sacrifices people made so that we can be free today. "So let's come together in our streets, communities and workplaces and mark this 80th anniversary." On 8 May, the Royal British Legion Scarborough branch will hold a service of prayers and wreath-laying in Alma Square from 11:00 BST. On 10 May, there will be a cocktail reception and formal lunch at Middlethorpe Hall & Spa near York from 12:30 BST. The four-course meal will have a "Dig for Victory" theme, using produce from the venue's own gardens and local farmers. It will be accompanied by live music from York's Celebration Singers. St Wilfrid's Garrison Church in Strensall will be hosting a concert by York Railway Institute Band and the York Military Wives Choir. The event, at 19:30 BST on 8 May, will feature old and new songs that evoke memories of 1945, concluding with a Last Night of the Proms-style finale. Tickets are priced at £10 per adult and £5 per child. Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington will hold celebrations on the weekend of 10 and 11 May. The museum said its "We'll Meet Again" weekend would be its "big event of the year", featuring reenactors in 1940s dress, who will be giving demonstrations and talks, with vintage vehicles on show and tables and chairs set out for a street party. On 8 May, Ripon Cathedral will be hosting a VE Day anniversary proms, with children from a local school giving readings. Tickets are £15. Ripon City Council will host a free event in the market square from 18:00 to 21:30 BST, with live music, a climbing wall, vintage games and family friendly activities. And on Sunday 11 May, there will be a traditional parade through Ripon for the Installation of the new Mayor of Ripon at Ripon Cathedral. There will also be a performance of stories of Yorkshire Normandy veterans, as told by Ripon Theatre Festival and the Ripon Community Poppy Project, at Lister House. On 1 May, York Army Museum will launch its Remembering Victory in Europe exhibition showcasing regiments and the home front in York. There will be live performances at 17:00 and 19:00 BST on 8 May telling the stories of two of York's Normandy veterans. On 10 May the museum will host a dramatisation offering an insight into the lives of prisoners of war, and highlighting the ethnic diversity of the veteran community. On 8 May, York Minster will host a special Evensong commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day, starting at 17:30 BST. On 8 May at 18:00 BST, Knaresborough Castle will host themed entertainment including performances from local musicians, bands and dance groups. Members of the Knaresborough Branch of The Royal British Legion, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps will parade in the castle grounds and lead attendees to gather at the War Memorial for prayers of remembrance. Do you have memories of VE Day? Share your stories, email Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. VE Day 80 celebrations in Hull and East Yorkshire VE Day 80th celebrations in Lincolnshire
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Councillors back calls to explore city tourist tax
Councillors in York have backed calls to explore how charges on visitor stays could be introduced in the city. A motion was approved on Thursday instructing the Labour-controlled authority's executive to investigate different ways a visitor levy, dubbed a tourist tax, could work. Backers say it would help to pay for York's upkeep and could be invested in its tourism offering, but those against it claim it could put visitors off. Some hotels and others in the hospitality industry have also voiced concerns about how a charge would be collected and spent. Councillor Conrad Whitcroft, who tabled the Labour motion, said the charge would stop residents having to pick up the tab for the cost of managing tourism. "This isn't a simple tax and spend solution, it's about who we are as a city," he said. English councils do not currently have powers to introduce overnight stay charges like those levied in European cities, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said, but places such as Manchester have brought them in using legal workarounds. Councillor Pete Kilbane, economy executive member, described the potential move as a "no-brainer" in December. Speaking at the meeting on Thursday, he said: "We've been dealing with York BID and Hospitality Association York on this topic but it's fair to say it's been quite a sensitive issue that we've had to progress carefully with." He believed regional mayors would be the ones given the powers to introduce them, with York and North Yorkshire's elected mayor backing the calls. The idea for a tourist tax is based on charges which have been introduced in popular holiday destinations such as Barcelona, Porto and Prague. Visitors are charged an additional fee on top of their hotel bills. Councillor Chris Steward, Conservative group leader, said the levies would ultimately become more common in the UK, but York should be wary of being seen to "lead the charge". "There's still questions about how it would work, whether it would be charged as a percentage, per room or outside the city centre or not," he said. The council's Liberal Democrats called for some form of levy to be introduced by 2027. "It's the right time to introduce a charge that would allow the sector to invest in making improvements," said councillor Ashley Mason. "But it must be accompanied by proper consultation." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. City's tourism tax a 'no-brainer' says councillor 'Tourist tax risks turning visitors away from York' City of York Council
BBC News
25-03-2025
- BBC News
York Council approves donation points along city walls
Donation points will be installed on York's walls to encourage tourists to contribute to the city's maintenance costs. York Council approved the six-month trial at a meeting earlier and hoped it would raise enough to help pay for improvements to the structure. The plans include installing two "tap-to-donate" points at Bootham Bar which would ask visitors for single-figure Pete Kilbane, the authority's culture spokesman, said if 5% of the city's estimated 2.5 million visitors donated £5, it would raise about £625,000 and more than cover upkeep costs. "The city walls are not only the glory of York, they're one of the glories of England. They were built by the Romans so they're older than England," he said."This is about us handing these walls down to the next generation so they can be enjoyed by people in another 2,000 years' time."Kilbane said the council had to employ specialist stone masons to help maintain the walls - a cost faced by only a few well as the donation points, QR codes inviting people to donate online will be displayed, in addition to information about maintenance and conservation of the on the outcome of the trial, donation points could be installed elsewhere along the walls, with the running costs estimated at £5,000. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
