School performing arts festivals
Christian worked with colleagues to ensure that the schools' festivals programmes were not cut in the budget process for 2010-2011
Christian is well aware of how important the schools' festival programme is, having been Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion between 2007 and 2009, and being a parent with children in state schools in York. Tens of thousands of young people have had the joy of participating in the performing arts in York. For some young people this is the one thing they are really good at. Dancing at the dance festival, for example, inspires children to study dance at GCSE or at A-level. Performing in front of hundreds of other people is a life-changing experience, good for the children and great for their parents and relatives. Christian was happy to do all he could to help ensure that funding was found to keep this fantastic service going.
Crockey Hill Junction
After residents had been waiting over 20 years, Christian secured the transformation of Crockey Hill junction, on the A19. Since traffic lights were installed the junction has lost its reputation as an accident blackspot and York residents are able to access the A19 as easily as non-residents.
"Knowing people are able to approach the junction now without worrying about taking their lives in their hands is hugely satisfying," says Christian.
Ark in the Park, Rowntree Park
While serving as Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, Christian was happy to support the planning application submitted by the Friends of Rowntree Park to create an innovative new 'Ark in the Park', to create a new pavillion for the park. Ark in the Park project
With the park subject to annual flooding it is essential that an innovative and visionary approach be taken to ensuring that residents can make maximum use of this fabulous award-winning park. Christian has also proposed that a hydroelectric pump be installed in the Ouse close to the park so that when the park floods the power of the flood waters can be harnessed to put the river back where it belongs.
"We have to show imagination and forward thinking to solve the challenges we face in a sustainable and sensible way instead of endlessly repeating the same mistakes," said Christian.
press article on the Ark in the Park
The York ecoDepot
Within four years of being elected, Christian's energy and commitment to action brought City of York Council its first environmentally sustainable building. In doing so, he helped bring about a million pounds of inward investment to the city and helped to transform the self-confidence of the local authority on environmental matters. In 2003 the council had a hundred reasons why an environmentally sustainable building could not be built. The technology was unproven, there was no funding available, there wasn't a suitable site ... find out more
York pupils to learn about ecoDepot
Rubberised road surfaces
For the past six years Christian has been urging the city council to conduct a trial of rubberised road surfaces as a way of reducing the vast amounts of money that are spent on filling potholes every year.
"This winter has been particularly harsh," said Christian. "With snow and ice you always get water penetrating into the road surface. When the water freezes the tarmac cracks and potholes appear. Around the world countries are incorporating rubber with the tarmac to create a surface that water cannot penetrate. In Canada and elsewhere experience shows that rubberised road surfaces last up to five times longer. I haven't won on this issue yet but I will keep on pushing."
"It's a no-brainer that we need to change the way we fix potholes. Like washing trucks and streets in drinking water, as we did before the ecoDepot was built, local authorities need to innovate and stop wasting money."
Rubberised road surfaces also reduce road noise, tyre wear, and by using old vehcile tyres finds an excellent recycled use for use vehicle tyres. Rubberised road surfaces are laid in Canada, Portugal, Germany, France, India, and other nations. Rubberised road surface - example 1 Rubberised road surface - example 2
Intellectual Property Rights and Local Authorities
Why are local authorities in the UK not generating income from their many intellectual property assets? As a professional creator with years of experience in exploiting copyright, and as Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion between 2007 and 2009, Christian Vassie, worked with officers to change attitudes and working practices on income generation ... find out more
Intelligent Street Lighting
For the past three years, Christian has been urging the city council to make use of existing technology to vary power to street lighting. He initiated and led a scrutiny topic on sustainable street lighting that resulted in the city adopting a street lighting strategy and carrying out a series of trials to see if the public could see when power to street lights was reduced by 10%, 20% or 40%. The trials showed conclusively that the public cannot spot any difference.
"Given that we spend around three quarters of a million pounds a year on powering the city's street lights, it is clear that a 20% cut in energy use would generate significant savings," says Christian. "I am also concerned that we reduce our carbon footprint but if money is the key driver for other people, that's fine with me."
The Smart Meter Library scheme
One of Christian's most innovative ideas for York is also one of the simplest and one of the cheapest. Bored of waiting for the Labour government to ensure all households have access to smart meters, to lower bills and CO2 emissions, Christian had a brainwave. Why not lend smart meters for free from public libraries across the city? With cross party political support the idea was launched at the start of 2009 within months over a thousand households had taken advantage of the opportunity to better undrestand their energy use in the home and the scheme was copied across the country ... find out more
Published and promoted by Christian Vassie, 10 Blake Court, Wheldrake, York YO19 6BT
