Let’s Talk Rubbish

Residents are invited to comment on proposals to change recycling collections in North Yorkshire to reduce waste and protect the environment.

Let’s Talk Rubbish is seeking people’s views on plans for householders to have two wheelie bins for recycling - one for glass, cans and plastic, and one for paper and card, with alternate fortnightly collections.

Separating materials will reduce contamination and increase the quality of recyclables.

Mixing paper or card with plastic or glass, or exposing them to the elements, can lower their resale value. However, by keeping these items separate, it means they are worth more to recycling manufacturers.

Responses to the Let’s Talk Rubbish survey will help us understand residents’ behaviours and improve the collection service.

The proposals to provide residents with two wheelie bins also aim to maximise recycling capacity and reduce litter on collection days.

The collection of non-recyclable rubbish will remain the same as it is now, and residents can also opt-in for garden waste collections.

As with current collections, alternative methods would also still be used for properties where storage or access is limited.

To take part in our Let's Talk Rubbish survey.

Annual Festival of Care a toe-tapping triumph

Care home residents donned sequins and hit the dancefloor for a county-wide festival celebrating staff and volunteers who are improving lives across North Yorkshire.

The Festival of Care month featured themed tea parties, dancing, live music, films, a silent disco and special activity days.

Bringing together care workers and residents, the event coincided with Good Care month and featured dance routines for a county-wide Strictly Come Dancing-style competition with trophies and certificates awarded to the best performers.

Good Care Month recognises and celebrates the dedication and hard work of social care workers who provide essential services to those in need.

Among those taking part in the competition were residents and staff at Carentan House Residential Home in Selby who put their best foot forward and practised dancing through the decades.

As part of our Festival of Care and Good Care Month, members of our library services have been visiting care sites across the county demonstrating the wide range of programmes that are available to enhance the lives of people living in care.

We rally behind East Coast Tigers cheerleading team

A cheerleading team has been honoured at a special reception held at Scarborough Town Hall.

The East Coast Tigers, based in Eastfield, were celebrated at a lunch event in Civic Parlour hosted by our chair, Cllr Roberta Swiers.

The cheerleaders have earned numerous medals and awards including national and international titles, and their recent victory in the Senior Level 1 category at the All Star World Championships in Florida.

Councillors Eric Broadbent and Tony Randerson, who supported the Tigers with funding from their locality budgets, also attended the reception.

We presented the team with an award in recognition of their dedication and success.

The Tigers consist of 174 athletes, mostly girls aged four to 25, with some training recreationally and others competing at various levels.

Each of our members has a yearly locality budget of £10,000 to fund local activities, enabling support for initiatives like the East Coast Tigers cheerleading team.

Family-friendly rave extravaganza to be held in Skipton

North Yorkshire residents are being invited to have a memorable experience and to get ready to rave.

Big Fish Little Fish is bringing its award-winning family rave to Skipton Town Hall for an unforgettable end-of-summer event before school starts.

This is the ultimate family-friendly rave experience, designed for both adults and children to enjoy together.

Since 2013, Big Fish Little Fish has transformed the family entertainment scene, creating raves that cater to all ages. Their events are a fun fusion of top-notch tunes, creative activities, and special effects designed to entertain both adults and children alike.

The event takes place on Saturday, 31 August, at 2pm and families can expect top DJ Paul Bleasdale playing club classics and old-school anthems, bubbles, balloons, craft and non-stop music and fun for all ages. For adults, there will be a licensed bar.

Tickets are priced £12 for adults and £10 for children (pre-walking infants go free). See more information about the Big Fish Little Fish event and book tickets.

Repairs to protect against coastal erosion in Filey to begin

A highly anticipated £2.95 million repair scheme to protect Filey’s sea wall from erosion is set to begin next month.

We have secured a grant from the Environment Agency for the project, which aims to ensure the sea defence remains viable for the next 50 years.

The scheme will cover a 1.1-kilometre stretch between Coble Landing and Royal Parade in the south.

The defences, built between the 19th and 20th centuries, protect residential and non-residential properties as well as Yorkshire Water assets including sewage pumping stations.

Construction will start in mid-September, after the peak tourist season, and is expected to be completed by spring next year.

For further information and to meet the team, a public engagement event will be held in the Concert Hall of the Evron Centre in Filey between 2pm and 8pm on Thursday 22 August.

Have your say on planned Cinder Track gateway improvements

Residents are being asked to share their views on proposals to improve the gateways to the Cinder Track between Scalby and Scarborough.

We are proposing to improve the safety of junctions, enhance biodiversity, and create new public spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The project has been split into different themes, all inspired by the heritage of the former railway route.

Some areas are inspired by railway platforms and destinations and will see the installation of places to rest such as benches. Others are gateway areas, or spaces that are journeyed through, to get to a destination.

In 2021, Scarborough secured £20 million through the Town Deal funding to regenerate the area and deliver long-term economic growth.

Among the eight projects being funded, the Cinder Track improvements have received over £2.9 million to enhance the route and surrounding areas.

The Cinder Track project aligns with Scarborough’s Town Investment Plan. It aims include promoting health, access to jobs, education and leisure activities, and supporting the town’s tourism sector as well as reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality by encouraging more environmentally friendly modes of transport.

As part of the planning process, you can provide feedback on the proposals until Monday 9 September.

This project is separate from the Cinder Track improvement scheme that is currently being carried out in phases.

Trial overnight parking restrictions for motorhomes on the coast

Plans to restrict overnight motorhome parking at three coastal locations due to increased concerns about anti-social behaviour have been approved by our councillors.

The 18-month trial would affect specific sites including the A174 Sandsend to Raithwaite,near Whitby, Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough and Osgodby Hill and Filey Road in Cayton Bay.

Our plans will see motorhomes banned from parking at these locations between 11pm and 7am.

The A174 and Royal Albert Drive have on-street pay and display parking in operation during the daytime from March to October.

In Osgodby Hill and Filey Road there is free and unrestricted parking with the road providing access to a beach and private car park.

It comes after a rise in numbers of motorhomes in some areas and a growing number of complaints to authorities.

We will gather public feedback during the first six months of the trial to determine if the restrictions should become permanent.

Revised £11m Harrogate Station Gateway plans revealed

It is part of a £44.6 million investment in North Yorkshire, which also includes upgrades in Selby and Skipton.

As part of the statutory process, we are consulting on the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) required for the project on Station Parade.

The updated plans, influenced by public feedback, keep Station Parade open to two lanes of traffic and avoid pedestrianising James Street.

The scheme includes significant benefits for all transport users, with enhancements to One Arch and Station Square, a cycle lane on Station Parade, a new bus lane and better pedestrian access.

Traffic flow will be improved in this congested corridor with innovative technology meaning traffic lights and crossings will be better synchronised.

There will be additional cycle parking and greater use of high-quality materials like Yorkshire stone and feature lighting will enhance the town centre’s evening appeal. It will also prioritise disabled parking and maintain taxi ranks.

The Traffic Regulation Order process is one of the last steps before work begins, pending approval from the Department for Transport and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Construction is expected to start in the autumn and finish by spring 2026. This project is part of a broader Transforming Cities Fund initiative to improve transport options and connect communities across the region.

Details of the Traffic Regulation Order can be found online or paper copies are available at Harrogate Civic Centre and Harrogate Library.