100 years ago

At several of the churches and chapels in Whitby and at a Church of England Men’s Society meeting, strong protests had been made against the proposal of the Whitby Golf Club to permit golf on the Upgang links after one o’clock on Sundays.

The resolution to permit Sunday golf was carried at the annual meeting of the club by 17 votes to nine, which, it was alleged, was not a representative opinion of the members. At the Brunswick Wesleyan Church, the preacher, the Rev HC Bassett, superintendent minister, urged every member of the congregation to send a postcard to the officials of the club protesting against the desecration of the Sabbath.

The Rev J Toyn, at the Primitive Methodist Church, also spoke strongly on the subject, while a resolution of protest submitted by Mr C Marwood, from the pulpit at the Church Street Mission Room, was carried without dissent. All the services were largely attended, and a good deal of feeling was being evinced in the matter. In consequence of the proposal, some resignations were already announced.

50 years ago

After being a debating battleground for more than two hours, 400 houses in the Nunnery Lane area of York lost their 15-year reprieve from demolition only a month after it had been granted.

A packed public gallery in the council chamber heard the debate in which Conservative members pleaded for the area to be left alone. There were dramatic moments... such as when the council’s only Liberal member (Councillor GD Field) announced that he had changed his mind. After seeing the area and weighing up the issue of “planning or people”, he now thought it should not be pulled down yet.

But Councillor Field’s “floating vote” was not sufficient to give the anti-demolition element the necessary majority. By one vote the Clearance axe fell. Those residents of the area who wanted to keep their homes would have only one chance left to sway the future public inquiry in their favour.

25 years ago

Four new cycleways in York would soon be helping make the cyclists’ lot safer and smoother. Members of York City Council’s traffic sub-committee had recommended that cycleways be approved at Water End, Sim Balk Lane and Tadcaster Road, and Bishopthorpe Road.

But some fears were voiced that pedestrians and cyclists would clash because the cycleways would be segregated between them. Inspector John Londesborough feared cyclists would come into conflict with children and parents pushing prams on the cycleway, which would run along the path.