THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Wednesday, 21 October 2026

We're back, York, and you've picked a soggy week for it. If you're going anywhere by train in the next fortnight, read our top story before you go, because a nine-day shutdown of the direct York–Leeds line starts on Saturday. Also today: 541 people sign up to fight double yellows in Osbaldwick, Malton Road had a rough night, and a late Ollie Pearce header rescues City yet again.

🚆 Rail misery: nine days with no direct York–Leeds trains, plus two weekends of buses

If you're getting on a train in the next fortnight, check before you travel. Engineers are doing a big round of East Coast Main Line work over the next two weekends (24–25 October and 31 October–1 November), with rail replacement buses between Doncaster/Leeds and York, and between York and Darlington. The work covers almost 2.6km of new track around York, Colton, Holgate and Skelton junctions, new points at Tollerton North, Colton Junction and Northallerton, overhead line upgrades across the York station platforms, and resurfacing on platform 2. The worst bit: from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, weekdays included, there will be no trains on the direct York–Leeds route while the Transpennine Route Upgrade puts a new road bridge in at Church Fenton. Replacement buses will run instead. Every operator is affected in some way. CrossCountry's buses will skip York entirely, there are no Grand Central trains between King's Cross and Sunderland, and LNER is running a reduced service either side of the closure. York–Scarborough trains are unaffected.

Earlier today: It was a difficult morning on the railway. British Transport Police say a person died after being hit by a train on the line near Newcastle station at around 8am. Lines were closed while emergency services were at the scene, causing major disruption between York and Newcastle via Darlington and Durham. LNER, TransPennine Express, Northern and CrossCountry were all affected, and operators were accepting each other's tickets. At 9.50am, operators expected disruption to last until around midday, so check National Rail before you set off.

👉 Read more: YorkMix · Northern Echo · RailAdvent · York Press live blog

📰 NEWS

🅿️ 541 sign petition against Osbaldwick double yellows

A petition against plans for double yellow lines in and around Osbaldwick has reached 541 signatures, ahead of a council transport decision tomorrow (Thursday 22 October). The proposals would bring in no-waiting restrictions along almost the full length of the Osbaldwick Link Road, a clearway on part of Murton Way, and more lines at the Osbaldwick Lane junction. The council says it wants to stop verge and pavement parking and the junction parking that has blocked the No 6 bus. Twenty formal objections cite worries about local businesses and St Thomas' Church, and ward councillor Mark Warters (Restore Britain) argues the problem will simply move elsewhere. He would prefer a peak-hours-only clearway.

👉 Read more: YorkMix / LDRS · BBC News

🚒 Rough night on the roads: casualty cut free on Malton Road

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to a single-vehicle crash on Malton Road, between Elmfield Avenue and New Lane, at 8.34pm last night. Witnesses described an overturned car that had flattened a set of traffic lights. Firefighters from York and Acomb used cutting equipment to free one person, who was handed over to paramedics, and the road was shut for some time. Crews were also called to a second single-vehicle crash in Strensall at 10.54pm. Earlier this morning, a crash on the westbound A64 near Flaxton Moor caused queues in both directions, on a stretch already slowed by roadworks.

👉 Read more: YorkMix — Malton Road · York Press — Strensall · YorkMix — A64

⚖️ Police officer on trial over alleged nightclub assaults

A West Yorkshire Police officer has gone on trial at York Crown Court accused of sexually assaulting three women on the dance floor at Popworld on George Hudson Street in December 2024. Martin Brough, 44, from Morley, denies all three counts. He says he was pulling at one woman's clothing and that any contact with the other two was accidental. The jury was shown footage of the packed club and of Mr Brough being escorted out. The prosecution says the questions for the jury are intent, consent and whether the touching was sexual. The trial continues.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

🏠 Council signs ten-year housebuilding deal, starting with around 300 homes

City of York Council has signed a ten-year delivery partnership with developer Cityheart and its partner Willmott Dixon to build homes and regenerate sites across the city. The first phase is expected to deliver around 300 affordable, low-carbon homes on council land at Ordnance Lane, Willow House (Walmgate), Lowfield Green, Castle Mills and the old Manor School site on Boroughbridge Road, subject to further approvals. Council leader Claire Douglas called it a "turning point". Each site will still need its own business case at the executive, so the real test is whether spades actually go in the ground.

👉 Read the full story at City of York Council

🍺 Tougher city centre street drinking rules move a step closer

Councillors on the People Scrutiny Committee will look on Monday (26 October) at a proposal to replace the city centre's alcohol-related Public Space Protection Order with a new three-year order that adds extra conditions aimed at anti-social behaviour. The area covered would stay the same. More than 500 people responded to the summer consultation, and most backed tougher rules. A significant minority were worried about criminalising homelessness and pushing problems elsewhere, and the council says it will take a "support-first" approach. The executive makes the final decision on 3 November.

👉 Read the full story at City of York Council

☕ Market Street's Divine Project folds owing £235k

Broken Chair Ltd, which traded as The Divine Project at 22–24 Market Street, went into voluntary liquidation on 10 September after two years, with debts of more than £235,000. That includes around £106,500 owed to HMRC and nearly £24,000 owed to City of York Council and York BID. Sole director James Snowling Parker blames business rates, rising costs and government policy, and says connected businesses lost more than £93,000 of their own money trying to keep it going. Twelve former staff have been found jobs elsewhere. He stresses that Divine Coffee Roasters is a separate business and is still trading.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🏘️ Council leader invites the PM to Linton-on-Ouse

North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les has written an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham inviting him to visit the planned asylum centre at the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse, a few miles north-west of York, and hear residents' concerns in person. Cllr Les says the site isn't suitable for 1,200 people because it is remote, lacks infrastructure and would affect a small village. The Linton-on-Ouse Action Group puts the cost at £853 per person per night. That's the campaigners' own estimate, not a Home Office figure. Downing Street passed questions to the Home Office, which says no final decision has been made.

👉 Read the full story at BBC News

🍽️ Home Office drops bid to strip Goodramgate restaurant's licence

The Home Office has dropped its attempt to have the licence of Turkish restaurant Yakamoz on Goodramgate revoked, after accepting that current owner Akwan Irani had nothing to do with the business when an illegal worker was found there during a raid last year. The previous operator was fined £45,000 and went into liquidation. A council licensing hearing instead added conditions requiring right-to-work checks on all new staff. Mr Irani said 12 jobs would have gone if the licence had been lost.

👉 Read the full story at BBC News

🏙️ AROUND THE CITY

🥤 Joe & The Juice gets closer on Parliament Street

Scaffolding is up and workers are inside the former Size? store on Parliament Street, which is being turned into a branch of Joe & The Juice. Plans show seating for 65 across two floors. No opening date has been announced yet.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🍕 "We're not a pub": Clifton café gets its licence

The council has granted a licence to the Curious Coffee Company for the former Boots in Clifton, despite two objections about evening noise. Owner Eddie Copley-Farnell says it will be a family-friendly coffee shop by day and a pizza and Italian place by night, with no live music or outdoor drinking. He's aiming to open in November.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix / LDRS

🗑️ Hull Road bin "appalling", says campaigner

Lib Dem activist Andrew Mortimer is calling for a bigger bin outside the shops at Hull Road and Melrosegate, saying food waste is left on the pavement at weekends and attracts vermin. The council says it empties the bin three times a week and gets few complaints. It blames pizza boxes blocking the opening but will keep an eye on it.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix / LDRS

🎄 Over 65? Apply now for the Lord Mayor's Christmas Cheer

Applications are open for the Lord Mayor's annual Christmas Cheer Receptions at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 1 December, open to York residents aged 65 and over. There are two sessions of 200 guests, with school choirs, the Shepherd Brass Band and the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir. Paper forms are available from libraries, West Offices and St Sampson's Centre, or you can email civic@york.gov.uk. Places are allocated by random draw, and the deadline is 16 November.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

⚽ SPORT

Pearce to the rescue again as City draw with Accrington

York City were heading for their first home league defeat in 383 days last night until Ollie Pearce struck again, heading in a late equaliser for a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley at a drizzly LNER Community Stadium. Josh Woods had put the visitors ahead from a set piece just after the hour, and Accrington probably had the better chances. That's four goals in four games for Pearce, but it's also three draws in a row, and City have slipped to sixth, though the gap to the automatic promotion places is now four points.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

Malcolm appeal fails, and Lindsey isn't impressed

City's appeal against Jovan Malcolm's red card at Newport has been rejected, so the striker misses three games, including Port Vale and Barnet. Scott Lindsey called appealing "a waste of time, a waste of money". To rub it in, the FA has since banned Newport's Shaquille Gwengwe for three games for violent conduct that the officials missed during the same match.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

FA Cup: Northampton at home

Now a Football League club, York go straight into the FA Cup first round, and they've been drawn at home to fellow League Two side Northampton Town on the weekend of 6–7 November. The two sides drew 1-1 at the LNER just two weekends ago, with Pearce scoring the equaliser.

👉 Read more: York Press · BBC Sport

Palmer heads to Southend on loan

Defender Ash Palmer, 33, has joined National League Southend United on a three-month loan after making three appearances for City this season.

👉 Read the full story at BBC Sport

🎭 CULTURE

Glamour of the Kill plan a 20th birthday homecoming at the Barbican

York metal band Glamour of the Kill will mark 20 years with what they call their biggest headline show ever, at York Barbican on Saturday 21 August 2027. Beyond All Reason and The Bastard Sons are on the bill, and the winners of the Fulford Arms Battle of the Bands will open the night. Tickets go on sale Friday 23 October at 10am.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

Jimmy Carr books two York shows in one night

Jimmy Carr brings his Killing Jokes tour to York Barbican on 16 December 2027, with shows at 7pm and 9.30pm. Tickets also go on sale Friday 23 October at 10am, so Friday morning could be a busy one on the Barbican website.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

200,000 records at the Knavesmire

York Record Fair, billed as the UK's biggest, returns to York Racecourse's Knavesmire Stand on Sunday 1 November from 10am to 5pm. Expect more than 70 sellers and around 200,000 LPs and singles. Entry is £3, under-16s go free, and parking is free.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

📅 THIS WEEK IN YORK

🎤 Brandon Flowers plays York Barbican tonight at 7.30pm, his only Yorkshire date. It's sold out, so returns only.

🏴‍☠️ The Comedy of Errors gets a piratical, gender-swapping makeover from York Shakespeare Project at Theatre@41, Monkgate, from tonight until Saturday (7.30pm, plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee).

👠 Everybody's Talking About Jamie from York Stage is at the Grand Opera House until Saturday 24 October.

🏛️ The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood's take on The Odyssey starring Amelia Bullmore, runs at York Theatre Royal until 31 October.

🎨 Half-term at SPARK: a Halloween art competition in aid of Door84 runs Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, with craft workshops on Monday, a sensory space trial Tuesday to Thursday, and trick-or-treating on Saturday 31st.

🚌 Rail replacement buses take over this weekend. See the top story.

👉 Read more: York Press — what's on · York Press — SPARK

🐀 AND FINALLY...

A 17-year-old York College T Level student has outsmarted the rats. During a work placement at York firm AGH Engineering, Jackson Hall designed a guard that stops rodents (and the odd unlucky spider) getting into railway signal boxes and causing short circuits that shut miles of track. Two are already installed in the Leeds area and 63 more are planned. AGH says a single power failure at Leeds station recently cost Network Rail more than £1 million. He's been offered a full-time job, and frankly someone should give him a go at the rest of the East Coast Main Line.

👉 Read the full story at York Press