Latest news with #DavidSkaith
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
High street healthcare could start soon
Some healthcare services could soon be available on North Yorkshire's high streets as part of plans to revitalise town centres, the county's elected mayor has David Skaith said he was in talks with the NHS about making services such as screening and scans available from high street healthcare questions on BBC Radio York's Message the Mayor, Skaith said he was confident the scheme could get under way "quite quickly"."Instead of going to York Hospital - for breast screening, for example - we can have that same offer so it means people don't have to go to a hospital, but more footfall is also driven onto high streets," he explained. "It's about making high streets more about community, about being a place to see and do things, rather than relying on retail, which is changing." Skaith, the elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said as well as getting more people back onto the county's high streets, pressure could also be reduced on if his plan went ahead it could also prove easier for patients from rural communities to get to appointments, he said."We're talking to the NHS and are looking at the space and where the units would best fit," he said."We've identified a couple, but just need to make sure they're fit for purpose and the investment they would need to get going."Skaith said rural healthcare - and the problems people had accessing it - was an important focus of his proposals."It's one thing doing it in York, where people are in striking distance of the hospital," he said."But it's another thing doing it out in the moors or the Dales. Right now, their health offering is not good enough."So, we're looking at taking the strain off front-line hospital services, looking at what health is available in rural communities, and getting more footfall onto high streets." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funding boost for community buildings across York and North Yorkshire
A funding boost has been announced to support community buildings across York and North Yorkshire. The 2025/26 Community Building Programme will see £1.35 million spent on such spaces as village halls and cricket grounds, according to a spokesperson for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. The scheme is being delivered in partnership with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council and is funded through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: "I want to make it easier for people to look after each other in their own communities, wherever they are in the region. "This is particularly key in our rural areas. "They are vast and beautiful, but often the people who live there feel more isolated than those who live in towns and cities. "I have visited community buildings from Hawes to Whitby, and so many places in between. "It might be a village hall, or a cricket ground, but it's the passion of the people who make these into more than places - into anchors for local life. "That is why community buildings are essential to be able to create healthy, thriving, and connected communities right across the region." Following on from previous UKSPF funding rounds that supported 43 village halls and community buildings, Mayor Skaith has committed £600,000 from his Mayoral Investment Fund to help more than 20 hubs. Councillor Heather Phillips, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for stronger communities, said: "We are looking forward to working with our partners on the delivery of this programme. "These buildings are incredibly important to local communities, particularly in rural areas where it may be the only meeting place for that village. "They bring the community together, often by providing services and activities for all age groups." Councillor Pete Kilbane, deputy leader of City of York Council, said: "Community venues like village halls are so much more than just buildings. "They are places where people get to know each other, make new friends, host family celebrations, play sports, and access key services that enable people of all ages to lead happier, healthier lives. "In short, they are the places where community is built." David Burton, chair of Great Ouseburn Village Hall Management Committee, said: "I know how difficult it can be to help run a village hall, but I would encourage anyone in my position to keep an eye out for grants from the Combined Authority and apply where possible. "This grant process has been extremely straightforward, and the changes made possible with this money have already made a huge impact on our community." Funding applications will be open till August 4, and applications can be made at
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on trains, buses and housing
York and North Yorkshire's mayor has said he hopes to see half-hourly trains between York and Scarborough by David Skaith has been answering questions on BBC Radio York's Message the also spoke about improving bus services, changing high streets and the need for affordable our takeaways from the interview below or listen to the full interview here. Railway challenges Skaith has previously said he is determined to improve railway services between York and Scarborough to help drive economic growth, however, he said there have been challenges."One is a lack of drivers, we need about 23 drivers, so we are in the process of that training journey, and rolling stock, we physically don't have the trains."He said work was under way to address both those issues."I am very confident we'll be able to get half-hourly trains services."The timescale at the minute is something like 2027, because it takes time to train drivers."We have to make sure we've got the drivers trained up and the rolling stock." Buses 'not good enough' The amount of money the mayor will have to spend on transport will be announced as part of today's spending review."We know that bus travel in York and around North Yorkshire is not good enough," Skaith said, before adding that he was "exploring" all options to improve the situation, including bringing buses back under public control."A York city-wide [franchise] could be a very good option, but in rural parts of North Yorkshire it could be an incredibly expensive option," he mayor said there had not been the investment, with an emphasis on buses, in places like North said people wanted to use buses but they needed to know they were reliable and "[were] going to come". Changing high streets The mayor highlighted the work he was doing on high streets across the county, with a specific £10m fund to help communities expand their town centre offering, increase events and run activities to attract residents and said high streets were "not dying" but were changing."What I am driven to do is actually have a much wider offering on the high street, how they can become much more a place of community."Skaith said one project they were examining was how to bring health services into high streets."To take some of those services you may go to hospital for, to get a screening for breast cancer or prostate cancer and have that offered on thee high street in a shop." Affordable homes "We know there's about 10,000 people in North Yorkshire on the housing waiting list, which is shocking," the mayor said they were looking to increase funding particularly into social housing."There's a project just outside Thirsk, which we are supporting, where three and four-bedroom homes are renting for £400 a month."That's what we mean by social housing."He said that was an affordable price to help people stay in the area, and without low rents people would be forced to leave the said the affordable element of homes being built in the area was not there."Roughly speaking homes are about 10 times the average salary in York and North Yorkshire," he said. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Yorkshire bids to become AI Growth Zone
York and North Yorkshire has bid to become one of five artificial intelligence (AI) technology "growth zones". North Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership with North Yorkshire Council, Drax Power Station, the University of York and other organisations, has estimated that the investment could generate £85billion for the region. David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said if the area is selected by government to become an AI Growth Zone, it would be a "transformational opportunity". "It is bold and credible plan that could transform the economic future of Yorkshire and the Humber," he said. The submission sets out how North Yorkshire, if successful in its bid, could benefit from a 15% share of the UK's AI economic growth by 2035. The region would research the potential for AI to bring innovation to a number of sectors, including farming, life sciences, clean energy, rail innovation and creative industries, the bid claimed. PM plans to 'unleash AI' across UK to boost growth According to the proposal, Drax Power Station, near Selby, would be home to a new AI and Clean Energy campus. The bid claimed the site would be able to develop bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) to deliver carbon negative power, helping the UK to meet climate targets. It also estimated that the zone would protect 7,000 jobs, including 3,500 in the north of England. Richard Gwilliam, Drax development director, said the investment would "catalyse thousands of new jobs". Mr Skaith said the region was "shovel ready" and that a successful bid would "empower the potential of our communities through skills, jobs and digital inclusion". An announcement on the AI Growth Zone plan is expected on 11 June as part of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review, according to North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. PM plans to 'unleash AI' across UK to boost growth Is AI the answer for better government services? What is AI and how does it work?
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
North Yorkshire bids to become a UK 'AI growth zone'
York and North Yorkshire has bid to become one of five artificial intelligence (AI) technology "growth zones".North Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership with North Yorkshire Council, Drax Power Station, the University of York and other organisations, has estimated that the investment could generate £85billion for the Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said if the area is selected by government to become an AI Growth Zone, it would be a "transformational opportunity". "It is bold and credible plan that could transform the economic future of Yorkshire and the Humber," he said. The submission sets out how North Yorkshire, if successful in its bid, could benefit from a 15% share of the UK's AI economic growth by region would research the potential for AI to bring innovation to a number of sectors, including farming, life sciences, clean energy, rail innovation and creative industries, the bid claimed. PM plans to 'unleash AI' across UK to boost growth According to the proposal, Drax Power Station, near Selby, would be home to a new AI and Clean Energy bid claimed the site would be able to develop bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) to deliver carbon negative power, helping the UK to meet climate also estimated that the zone would protect 7,000 jobs, including 3,500 in the north of Gwilliam, Drax development director, said the investment would "catalyse thousands of new jobs".Mr Skaith said the region was "shovel ready" and that a successful bid would "empower the potential of our communities through skills, jobs and digital inclusion".An announcement on the AI Growth Zone plan is expected on 11 June as part of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review, according to North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
