Working for the Community by the Community

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Web site last updated 19th June 2009.

Following the receipt of nominations for residents to become Parish Councillors there is currently a vacancy for one Councillor. If any Strensall with Towthorpe resident is interested please contact the Parish Clerk in writing indicating your wish to become a Councillor or attend in person at the monthly meeting.

To navigate through this web site please click on the links at the top of this page.

On the page titled The Parish Council you will find details of how local councils operate.

The page Councillors and Duties is a list of the current parish councillors and their responsibilities.

The page Calendar of Events shows details of the dates of parish council meetings and also provides a link to agendas and draft minutes of meetings. The hard copies of minutes are held by the parish clerk and are also available to view at Strensall Library.

The page Local Information provides details of local facilities.

And the final page Late News Items is a link to topical items being addressed by the parish council.

Strensall Village and the Hamlet of Towthorpe are located about six miles to the North of the City of York. They are in a semi-rural environment and are administered by the unitary authority of City of York Council. They have a total population of around 6500.

Strensall is referred to in the Doomsday book as Streonaeshalch, after Streona - a name, and halch - a corner of land. The land was owned by the Church an in particular the Bishops at York.

Towthorpe Hamlet was designated a conservation area by the Parish Council on 6th November 2001. It survives as a peaceful cluster of 19th Century, or earlier, brick farmhouses as well as more recently built properties. It includes Towthorpe Moat and Low Farmhouse which retains many original features.

The nearby Strensall Common is a National Nature reserve and a Sight of Special Scientific Interest. It is an example of a lowland heath land habitat and covers 500 hectares. Rare species of flora and fauna are to be found there including moths, flowers and ferns. To the south of the highway between Strensall and Flaxton the common is owned and exclusively used by the Ministry of Defence for military training. The public are welcome to use the facility but must not enter any Danger Area when the red flags are flying or red lights are exhibited.

Historically Towthorpe and Strensall were separate parishes but for many years they have been administered as one parish and are soon to be recognised as one parish to be called Strensall with Towthorpe.

Both Strensall and Towthorpe are pleasant and quiet places for families and the Parish Council is committed to working with the community to improve lives and amenities.

Ordnance Survey Maps show the extent of the boundaries of each Parish. Strensall Parish consists of the area roughly just south of the York to Scarborough Railway and is represented by 9 Councillors. Towthorpe Parish consists of the area from Towthorpe crossroads almost to the York to Scarborough Railway and is represented by 5 Councillors.

If you wish to become involved in the process of local government at parish level or to contribute with ideas for further improvements then please contact the Parish Council at the contact address provided below.