Protestors to stand in solidarity with transgender author outside Sheffield Central Library
Protestors are set to demonstrate outside Sheffield Central Library tonight in solidarity with an international transgender author.
Canadian novelist and cartoonist, Sophie Labelle, is due to speak about her upcoming novel The Best of Assigned Male, a coming-of-age story about a young trans girl.
She told Sheffield Wire: “The hate and harassment that have surrounded my appearance in Sheffield is entirely a product of the current anti-trans climate in the United Kingdom.”
According to student campaign organisation Sheffield Solidarity Group, a counter-protest will show support for her following social media backlash and alleged threats of violence.
Calls for the event to be cancelled have grown after concerns were raised about fetish artwork that Ms Labelle has previously made.
She said: “The fact that this is the only place (United Kingdom) I've been in the world where my work is being described as unsuitable for children is symptomatic of the lies and rumours about trans people that British politicians and media have been feeding to their audiences.”
Some of her previous cartoons fall under a kink sub-genre known as “diaperfur”, involving human-like animals wearing nappies and behaving in an infantile manner.
Ms Labelle, who addressed the controversy in a tweet in 2021, said at the time: “I made some diaperfur art. I have a kink I indulge responsibly and I refuse to be shamed for it.”
Libraries Sheffield, who have organised the event, have defended their right to host the event, stating it is suitable for families.
Cllr Richard Williams, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee, said: “Sheffield is a diverse and inclusive city and it is right that our programme of activity reflects that.
“The evening event is aimed at teenagers upwards, but we know that some families do attend Sophie’s talks and did not want to exclude them.”
South Yorkshire Police said they were aware of the event and encouraged anyone with concerns to report to officers who will be in attendance.
A venue in Manchester pulled out of hosting Ms Labelle last weekend due to safety concerns after threats were allegedly made.
MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge Miriam Cates wrote to Sheffield City Council criticising their decision to go ahead with the event.
She told the Express: "I can't understand how a council which has safeguarding responsibilities can allow this to happen.
“Why not put an 18 age restriction on this? It's not suitable for children."
The event is set to take place at 7pm this evening (27 February 2023).
The harsh cost of Sheffield’s bid to tackle the climate crisis
The Sheffield Clean Air Zone will come into force today to tackle the “invisible killer” of air pollution but small independent businesses and local artists have voiced their concern that the initiative will fundamentally damage their livelihood.
The controversial move will impact a huge sector of people who use a commercial vehicle as they will now be hit with a charge to drive into the designated zone.
Shop owners and musicians are worried the government scheme hasn't taken into account the financial strain this will have.
Lucy Savage, owner of the Savage Sister, said: “It’s £10 a day to travel in and the only vehicle I have is a transit van. If we were to drive in every day it would cost around £3500 a year."
The affected area covers much of the city centre, including the ring road and parts of the Sheffield Parkway. Lorries, commercial vans, coaches and buses that do not meet Euro 6 Diesel or Euro 4 Petrol standards entering the zone will now face a fee when they enter the zone. Larger vehicles including coaches will be charged £50 a day, and small vehicles will be charged £10 a day.
Ron Reynolds, 66, a former electrician and musician who has been performing since 1972 attended a protest against the Clean Air Zone in Sheffield on Saturday (25 February 2023).
The musician who keeps in contact with the likes of Pulp and Def Leppard said: “I'm 66 today and I'm not celebrating my birthday by coming along to support the movement against the Clean Air Zone.”
Mr Reynolds, now lives in Clay Cross in Derbyshire, which is 18 miles south of Sheffield, added: “I regularly play at the Church House which is just outside of the Cathedral. I run a transit van to cart our gear about. So I'm going to get charged 10 pounds for coming into Sheffield. And we don't finish until after 12 so I'm going to get charged again. Sunday morning, another 10 pounds.
“The venue is absolutely cracking. It's so well supported, but the point is, you get two or three transit vans that's loading cost against the owner, and he can't afford to pay all that sort of money out."
Mr Reynolds is far from the only person impacted by the introduction of the Clean Air Zone in Sheffield.
Small businesses have complained about there is a lack of support to help navigate the scheme as well as a need for a better equipped infrastructure to enable an easier transition to a more environmentally friendly way of travelling.
Miss Savage said: “To buy an electric vehicle would cost us between £15,000 to £20,000 a year and we’re just not in a position to be able to do that.”
Florist, Jill Winton, who owns Plantology and has been based in the city centre for 25 years, said: “The Clean Air Zone is a lovely idea and it’s high on my agenda for sustainability. It's just the timing is not ideal, we can’t afford to get a new electric vehicle. The infrastructure's not quite in place for electric vans just yet and it’s difficult for us as a small business to update our fleet of vehicles to be sustainable.
"I’d love to have an electric van, but we trialled one through the council’s scheme and there were problems with charging it and access to chargers as well as the mileage costs. So if I update my vehicle at the moment, I’d just be getting another diesel vehicle and then in a few years time I’ll probably have to update my vehicle again."
Sheffield City Council have implemented a funding scheme to help impacted businesses replace their vehicles with cars and vans which are classed as more environmentally friendly.
The government legally directed the council to introduce a Clean Air Zone in 2017 due to illegal levels of air pollution in the city. It is estimated that poor air quality is killing 500 people a year in the city.
Labour Councillor Minesh Parekh for Crookes and Crosspool said: “If 500 people were dying from polluted water or contaminated food, we would rightly be outraged.
“I think the fact that this is invisible, or people don't see it directly, maybe makes us a bit more cautious to take more measures. People often think air pollution is only an issue when you're near a car that is actively fuming. It's not, air pollution is an invisible killer. Living alongside a busy road carries the same risk as passively smoking 10 cigarettes a day.”
Studies have revealed high levels of air pollution has been linked to a range of lung conditions.
Other cities in the UK have also implemented similar Clean Air Zone initiatives to Sheffield which have significantly improved the air quality.
In Bath, a Class C Clean Air Zone was introduced in March 2019 and in June 2022 there was a 31.6% reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels compared with June 2019.
Alongside the Clean Air Zone, Sheffield City Council has implemented a range of measures to show that it is taking the climate crisis seriously. These include the Active and Low Traffic neighbourhoods to encourage people to cycle or walk when possible instead of driving as well as placing more no idling signs on streets to reduce pollution.
There is clearly the will at Sheffield City Council to tackle poor air quality however the question remains on what price will local businesses pay?
University of Sheffield to implement first of its kind Ukrainian language course
The University of Sheffield has announced two Ukrainian language courses, one of which is a first of its kind in the UK.
Coming a year after the conflict started, the six-week courses are an attempt to show support, as the world worries about how Ukrainian culture will survive under Russian aggression.
Many believe the country's resilience will continue to shine through, especially regarding Ukrainian culture.
Elena Mandrik, a researcher at The University of Sheffield and former chair at the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), said: “We understand that they are destroying our whole infrastructure and that there will be a huge economic cost to rebuild — you can destroy the building, but not the culture.”
Data from Duolingo, a language-learning mobile app, during the outburst of the war, showed the number of people studying Ukrainian increasing by 577% globally. Similarly, a Ukrainian study showed an increase in the usage of the language among the country's households.
Both courses are offering teaching of basic Ukrainian communicative skills, as well as exposure to the country's modern society and culture.
They will be separated into a beginners course, aiming to engage those interested in learning Ukrainian, and a conversion course targeting those who already speak, or are learning, the language.
Dr Laurent Semichon, director of the Modern Languages Teaching Centre at the University of Sheffield, said: “This initiative is not just about language; it is also about creating a space where participants can share their experience and learn more about Ukrainian culture.”
As interest in Eastern European studies increases with the prevalence of the war, the university hopes to encourage the pursuit of specialist knowledge, something which could be crucial in relation to the impact of the war in Ukraine over the coming years.
Courses will be open for students, staff, and members of the public for only £20. This is welcomed by those seeking sanctuary in the city of Sheffield, and who have continued to struggle since their arrival.
If you wish to apply, you can do so here.
Review of hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham confirmed for April
A Home Office review on the decision to use the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers as an 'asylum hotel' has been secured by a Sheffield MP.
John Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Dearne, said he will make a formal submission to Robert Jenrick as part of this review,
He said: "I will again set out our local concerns about Manvers being utterly unsuited for such accommodation and our wish to see our hotel being released back for ordinary paying customers."
This followed the events of last week, where the hotel was the site of outcry regarding the asylum seekers.
Anti-immigration protesters were met with resistance from hundreds of activists outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham on 18 February.
Demonstrators from Stand up to Racism, Unite Against Fascism and Sheffield Trade Council turned up to oppose far-right organisations, Patriotic Alternative and English Constitution Party, which gathered outside the hotel currently homing more than 100 asylum seekers.
During this demonstration, young children inside the hotel were seen waving at the crowds and holding up posters with ‘Thank you’ written on them.
Robert Jenrick MP, the Minister of State for Immigration, has confirmed the Home Office review will be taken in April.
Mr Jenrick said: "We are continuing to increase the number of asylum decision makers, whilst improving
productivity, volumes and speed of decision making so that people spend less time in
asylum accommodation."
Sheffield Local Plan threatens city’s architectural heritage
The council’s plans for development across Sheffield put the city’s architectural heritage at risk, according to a local charity.
The Sheffield Local Plan will guide development in the city until 2039 and will have implications for how all residents will live their lives, according to Councillor Terry Fox.
“Our plans will enable more than 35,000 homes to be built, in the right places, with sustainability and affordability at the heart of development. 43,000 new jobs will be created, feeding directly back into our economy and our residents' livelihoods,” he said.
“We need this up-to-date Local Plan to ensure we are not conflicted between short term economic goals and longer term environmental and social outcomes. It will provide an important tool to honestly, properly, fairly and publicly, make the right decisions for this city.”
Robin Hughes, spokesperson of Hallamshire Historic Buildings (HHB), a campaigning organisation which seeks to preserve Sheffield’s historic architecture, said the plan has “gaping holes” which overlook key protections for heritage buildings.
“The council can do better than they have with the Local Plan,” he said. “If you want to have a reputation for looking after your heritage assets, you need the tools to do that.
“Things like conservation areas, local heritage lists and areas of special character are those tools. The council is either not deploying them effectively or not deploying them at all.”
An ongoing issue in Sheffield is the question about whether Castlegate should be made a conservation area. Conversation areas have special architectural or historic interest which should be preserved or enhanced, according to the Sheffield City Council website.
Mr Hughes said buildings in unprotected areas can be demolished with only two-weeks notice, but he does not see any efforts by the council to create new conservation areas, and this implies they are not looking for more heritage to protect.
New plans for regeneration in Castlegate costing £16m have recently been announced. Mr Hughes said these do not necessarily present a risk for the area’s heritage, but until it is made a conservation area buildings will be vulnerable to demolition.
“The threat is certainly real,” he said. "If a private developer owns a building of historic value in Castlegate, there is nothing to stop them demolishing it.”
Mr Hughes cited Kelham Island as an example of a conservation area benefiting from the protection of architectural heritage.
HHB has outlined another problem with the plan, as it will remove protection of “areas of special character”.
Since 1998, the policy on Areas of Special Character has protected around forty areas, including Mayfield Valley, Devonshire Green and Mosborough. One such example is Loxley valley, which according to Mr Hughes has been crucial in the history of Sheffield.
“Loxley Valley had iron ore, a river for water power, trees for making charcoal and wind for smelting,” he said. “Sheffield exists and became a world leader in steel because of its natural resources. They are crucial for the existence of the city and, in turn, critical to the modern world.
“We need special protection for those kinds of areas, either as an area of special character or by making them conservation areas.”
As the plans stand, these protections will no longer exist.
The third oversight in the plan is that it scarcely mentions Sheffield’s Local List of heritage assets, which protects buildings of local historical and cultural importance, according to Mr Hughes, who argued the heritage list should be a crucial tool in development.
He refuted the idea put forward by the council that conservation areas can be a “brake on development” and hinder growth, saying that preserving heritage offers many benefits, including to economic growth.
Research from Historic England has shown that many jobs and enterprises are dependent on, attracted to or based in historic buildings and spaces.
The study showed that heritage employment growth outstripped the rest of the UK economy, growing almost twice as fast between 2011 to 2019.
Sheffield City Council has been approached for comment.
New Lidl opens in Sheffield city centre
A new Lidl has opened in Sheffield city centre, on the site of the former Sports Direct on High Street.
The shop opened last Thursday 23 February at 8am, and long queues were seen snaking around the store as budget shoppers were eager to see what was in the new supermarket.
The new store features several isles stocked with food, including fruits and vegetables, a bakery section, and “Middle of Lidl” section that sells miscellaneous household and leisure goods.
Prior to the new store opening, the supermarket said in a statement: “The modern store in the heart of the city will create around 40 jobs for the local community and new starters will be amongst the highest paid in the supermarket sector following the discounter’s wage increases last October. The store features the supermarket’s famous in-store bakery.
“The store, which will be open from 8am-10pm on Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday, will give those living in the area access to Lidl’s high quality, best value products.”
Sheffield city centre’s new store is the eighth Lidl to open within the Sheffield area. The others are in Malin Bridge, Darnall, Stocksbridge, Woodseats, Southey Green, Castlebeck, and Chapeltown.
Proposals for a new Lidl on Rotherham Road in Handsworth have been approved, but development is yet to commence more than a year after planning permission was given - The Star reports.
The new shop may serve as competition to other city centre supermarkets including Sainsbury's on The Moor, Tesco in Upperthorpe, and Aldi on St Mary's Gate.
Sheffield Wire spoke to customers outside the newly opened Lidl about their shopping experience in the city centre budget supermarket.
What does it mean to be ‘Made in Sheffield?’
Sheffield is known for creating films about the industrial north. Whether it's ‘The Full Monty’ or ‘When Saturday Comes’, the cinematic productions tell gritty stories about the people at the heart of Yorkshire.
This weekend the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShaFF) will bring to life the voices behind the screen with a special selection called 'Made in Sheffield'.
As part of the international event, which is now in its 18th year, there will be a specific category focussing on films recorded in the city by those who live in Sheffield.
With dozens of subjects and ideas, it will depict the region as a multi-faceted place. From the highest places in the Peak District to the mental tolls of being a runner, the category gives voice to those who make the city.
Anna Paxton, co-director of ShAFF, says: "I think that a unique character really comes out in the personality of the festival and the films we select and the people that are involved in this selection."
She believes Sheffield has a euphoric mix of the urban and rural that makes the films of this selection personal to the city,
Ms Paxton, who feels having the Peak District on the doorstep adds to its uniqueness, says: “We’re a cool urban city, but we’ve also got world class rock-climbing, trail running, and mountain biking right on our doorstep."
One film which has captured the attention of the organisers, is Tala Lee Turton’s ‘Chinese Laundry’ which has won the 'Made In Sheffield' category.
The production is a short dance film depicting the battle of a trans-generational British Chinese immigrant struggling to fit in. Turton retells a story heard from her Chinese parents, second generation immigrants from Hong Kong, while showing the peace she found in the Peak District, while growing up in a Barnsley takeaway shop.
In shots moving from a dark, claustrophobic dry cleaners, to the light, open spaces in the dales, it is said to reflect the cynical banality and frustration experienced of daily work to the aspirations to feel freely Chinese and British and part of the city and the richness of the Peaks.
Tala told Girls in Films in talking about her work with director Patricia Zhou: “We are both interested in the multiplicity of East Asian stories and the diverse array of Chinese immigrant experiences.
She spoke about how her work with Zhou allowed her to develop the story from her intersectional working class background, as they are both East Asian female creatives.
She said: “We are both dancers and so movement features as a filmic language in the short, much in the same way as, but adjacent to, the voice over.”
ShAFF are renowned for showing a wide array of immigrant experiences, which feels apt in one of the UK’s most diverse cities.
In the 2021 census, figures showed that Sheffield’s non-white British population increased by 6.3%, and that now 25% of the city (141,825 of the population) comes from a non-white British background.
To Ms Paxton, it’s important to: “Not only to show a white man climbing a mountain, but a diverse range of people that want to have adventures and explore outdoors”.
However, she is keen to point out the festival’s main job is to select quality films that entertain audiences presenting an important voice to the city. The festival is intrinsically about adventure, where most of the films lie in an active nature.
Several films display the city’s important relationship with sport. Home of one of the UK’s oldest football teams, sport has been part of its personality for a long time, and director, Che Eviénè’s, of ‘One Rep at a Time’ depicts this alongside discussing the mental challenges it often brings.
Che, who also wrote the short film, as well as performing in the production, is a runner for Hallamshire Harriers. With help from videographer and editor, Grant Archer, the film incorporates multiple running experiences and displays how tough a sport it can be.
Che started running during lockdown to help with her own mental struggles during the pandemic, but feel this will resonate with other runners who have to balance the pressure of succeeding against the passion the sport brings them.
Speaking to Che, many things become very apparent. Firstly, she isn't just a fan of running but also support's one of the city's football teams. Attending her first Sheffield Wednesday game soon after being born, she reveals sport is a big part of her life.
Che says that people often consider the physical side of running, but 'One Rep at a Time' focusses on the pressure and psychological side of the sport.
She says: “The reason I made this film is to demonstrate how running has the power to heal people in the way it did for me, helping my mental health, but often it can cause mental problems.
“Now I’ve started getting better and competing at a higher level, it’s easy for me to start getting nervous about competitions and pressuring myself. But I have to remember that the reason I started was because running helped me, you can’t allow it to become about stress."
Che’s inspiration is said to have come from her sister, Shen Wigfield-Turner, who she describes as a 'massive inspiration' to her. Shen who has competed as a runner on a National level encouraged her sister to take up the sport and now acts as her coach.
Talking to her about her sister’s impact on the film, Che says: “She’s had a lot of people try and stop her along the way. She’s not had an easy ride at all. I’m very proud of her, and while the film is not about but a collective of people, it is heavily inspired by her."
Che who will be attending the screening at the Showroom this Friday (3 March 2023), has described the upcoming event as surreal. She attended the well-known Sheffield cinema as a child to watch her heroes, but this time she will be the star, something she’s not quite yet got used to.
ShAFF have partnered with the Showroom cinema to screen all the films included in the festival. Details of the showings can be found here.
Sheffield F.C. founder’s great-great nephew selling book about his ancestor’s life
The great-great nephew of one of the founders of the oldest football club in the world, Sheffield Football Club, has funded and produced a book about his relative in collaboration with a prominent local historian.
Colonel Geoffrey Norton said that the book had been "well received", with over 70% of the copies produced having been sold so far since its launch at the start of this month.
The book details Colonel Sir Nathaniel Cheswick, who founded Sheffield (now Lindrick) golf club, travelled Europe and served in the military, as well as being a co-founder of Sheffield F.C. in 1857.
Colonel Norton said: "It is not just about football, but about Nathaniel himself and the world in which he lived.
"When he was born in 1831, the population of Sheffield was 91,000. When he died in 1917 it was over 400,000, and he had witnessed the transformation of Sheffield from a town into a City."
The launch of the book was attended by Colonel Norton, where he gave a copy of the book to Sheffield's Lord Mayor Cllr Sioned-Mair Richards.
The historian Stephen Johnson used journals of Sir Nathaniel which were donated to the city archives in 2021 by Colonel Norton to write the book.
It is titled "I have established a Foot Ball Club", the famous words that Sir Nathaniel recorded after founding Sheffield F.C.
Copies produced are selling well, and there are still some available. Those interested in purchasing a copy should email Colonel Norton at gandenorton@blueyonder.co.uk.
The book is £10 for collection and £14 including postage and packaging.
Steelers lose ground on title rivals after back to back losses
Two losses in as many days against Coventry Blaze compounded a miserable weekend for Sheffield Steelers.
Saturday's 3-5 home defeat and Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss at Coventry has left the Steelers trailing Elite League leaders Belfast Giants by seven points.
Steelers led twice in the home tie but failed to hold on to the lead as Blaze came from behind to take the two points.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat Steelers head coach Aaron Fox, said: “We’re inventing new ways to lose hockey games right now.
“As a coach you want to take some positives out of every night and right now with our group, with us having aspirations to win a trophy there's nothing positive to take.”
With a chance of redemption the following evening Steelers fell short again.
After fighting back from 3-1 down Steelers levelled the score deep into the third period to take the game to Overtime.
But Blaze left winger Ross Venus blasted in the decider for his team to win the tie 4-3.
Fox’s team picked up the point for taking the game to overtime but were still left disappointed by the result.
Speaking after Sunday’s game, Fox said: “All that matters is two points, we only got one tonight which isn’t good enough.”
The Steelers have the opportunity to get their season back on track when they face Nottingham Panthers on the road next Saturday.
Expert reaction to Sheffield Council £16 million Castlegate plan
A demolition site in the middle of Sheffield city centre could be “reactivated” under a £16m plan, but how the city council is managing it has been questioned.
Money was secured from the Levelling Up Fund to transform the plot in Castlegate, where Sheffield Castle stood in the Middle Ages.
The plan will involve excavating some of the castle and creating a park and event space.
Martin Gorman, Chair of the Friends of Sheffield Castle, said: “It’s a huge area that’s just a wasteland that needs to be reactivated.”
The Friends published their own blueprint for the site in 2018 and some of their ideas were used by the council.
But Mr Gorman said it was “disappointing” that the council has not allowed for more of the castle to be excavated, due to rising costs and supply issues.
He said the castle is important to the city’s heritage, as the site where Sheffield began: “Everyone knows about the industrial history of Sheffield.
“But the story of our medieval history has never really been told. It tells the story of Sheffield’s history right back to the year zero.”
Despite his concerns, Mr Gorman said excavating some of the castle is at least a start that can be built on later down the line.
He said: “It would have been very easy [for the council] to say ‘we’ll allocate a building plot to that area and forget the archaeology’.
“But the council have listened and said ‘ok, we’ll create the design around that’ and it gives us the opportunity to do additional archaeology at a later date.”
Cllr Mazher Iqbal, co-chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, defended the council’s plans for Castlegate.
In a press release, he said: “Our teams have worked incredibly hard to develop a plan which brings together the history of the space and offers an inviting space for Sheffielders to visit and enjoy within the city centre.”
The council’s planning application can be viewed here.
Five People Injured Following Suspected Hit-And-Run On Sheffield Parkway
Five people have been injured, with one in critical condition, after a car collided with a taxi yesterday morning.
On Sunday 26 February officers attended a scene at around 1:25AM to reports of a collision along the Parkway carriageway into the Sheffield City Centre.
South Yorkshire Police have announced a blue Mercedes GLA crashed into a parked silver Hackney Carriage along the road.
Five people were taken into hospital, with one man arriving with serious injuries and a woman in her twenties in a critical condition.
The driver of the Mercedes fled the scene before officers could respond.
Yesterday evening, a man in his twenties was arrested in relation to the incident.
A 53-year-old woman had also been arrested, but has since been released on bail.
Sheffield Parkway was closed both ways following the collision as police investigated, but has since been reopened.
Police are urging witnesses to come forward regarding any information they may have about the incident.
Witnesses should call 101 quoting incident number 55 of 26 February 2023 or send an email to enquiries@southyorks.pnn.police.uk.
To remain anonymous, contact the Independent Charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or complete their anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org
On-loan Barnsley keeper Harry Isted defies doubters as fans demand permanent deal
Barnsley fans took to social media over the weekend to give praise to on loan-keeper Harry Isted following the 4-1 win over Derby County.
There was initially a lot of confusion over Isted’s loan signing on deadline day, when he was part of a deal that involved the permanent transfer of backup keeper Jack Walton to Luton Town.
But with four wins from four appearances and two clean sheets, the player of the match is already a popular figure with The Tykes, leading to many calling for the deal to last longer than the end of the season.
Isted has made an grand impression after only having been at the club for a month, and stats show that he has conceded less goals overall than he should have in the four games he has played.
This is based on the Expected Goals on Target model, which measures the quality of a shot on target and how likely it is to result in a goal.
When looking at it from a game to game perspective, the keeper performed pretty much as expected against Derby and Port Vale. However the xGOT model is not always a perfect indicator, as Barnsley fans will likely be quick to point out.
The 25-year old’s contract expires in the summer according to Transfermrket, and if he can continue to either match or outperform his xGOT then it would be a no-brainer for Michael Duff to take the Luton keeper on a free.