Sheffield residents and business owners condemn council ‘connectivity plans’.
Many people living in Kelham Island, Neepsend and West Bar have criticised Sheffield City Council's plans to introduce numerous pedestrian and cycle lanes in the area.
Updated plans show that many roads, which provide access to local traders, are being converted into primary cycling routes, one-way streets and a 'Dutch-style' roundabout.
This is all part of the council's wider plans to increase 'sustainable transport options'.
But with many businesses already suffering the impact of the Clean Air Zone, the council have not responded to our approach for comment on the additional plans which many fear will put businesses under.
"It's short sighted and it's killing industry." said Sarah Walker, a local resident who attended the council's public information event.
"This is a waste of time because its going to happen no matter what the people of Sheffield say. I have emailed the council and told them what I think but they're not very good at getting back to you."
Dana Windle, organiser of Rex Market on Neepsend Lane, echoed Sarah's frustrations at the lack of communication from the council.
She said: "It feels like there is no democracy in Sheffield City Council. There's no taking in people's opinions and seeing who its actually going to effect before going ahead with the changes. They've just decided they want to do something and gone ahead with it."
Michael Windle, who founded P&W services 60 years ago and runs the car body repair shop on Neepsend lane with his son Matt, fears the worst.
He said: "The passing trade will disappear. People come here because we're a father and son business and they always know we'll be here. Well, we might not be soon."
His son, Matt, believes it's no accident that these plans coincide with the introduction of Sheffield's clean air zone.
"These plans are all designed to send vehicles through the clean air zones because no lorry will be able to access this area without going through the clean air zone." He said.
Whilst the council have not responded to these criticisms, Councillor Mazher Iqbal believes these changes are important for the regeneration of Sheffield.
"It's important we make it easier to travel by public transport, cycling and walking" he said in a press release.
Whilst protecting Sheffield's status as one of Europe's greenest cities is a noble cause, business owners between Kelham and Neepsend wonder if they are collateral for the council's regeneration plans.
“Every game is a must win”: Doncaster Rovers’ Charlie Seaman views on rest of season hopes
Defender Charlie Seaman has reflected on his season so far and looks forward to Doncaster Rovers' fixture against Crawley Town tomorrow evening.
The full-back has been in and out of the starting eleven this season, but is determined to nail down a starting spot in the side for the rest of the campaign.
The former West Ham youth prospect played as the Rovers lost 3-1 to Salford at the weekend.
In a press conference, he said: "You can't expect to stay in the team if you are not performing. I want to stay in the team and nail down a position.
"I've had to work hard to get back in. I just need to be consistent and hopefully I'll stay in the team."
The defender has played in more in recent weeks in a variety of positions, including left-back and as a left winger.
"It has been up and down since I signed. I played towards the back of 2022 and I'm comfortable on either side. The manager asked if I can play there and I had before on loan at Maidstone United."
The 23-year-old believes the mid-table side can still have a successful season, despite being 10 points off the play-offs.
Mr Seaman said: "We'll take it game by game and take it from there but every game is a must win. We can't take our foot off the gas."
The former Bournemouth defender also praised manager Danny Schofield, despite some fans expressing their discontent with him.
"He's a great manager, he's implemented a style we like to play. He makes it clear what he needs and what you need to do as a player.
"We've got a good group of boys and there's no negativity in the building."
Seaman has made 27 appearances for the South Yorkshire side since he signed in 2020. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, the right-back is determined to earn a new contract.
"You can say you aren't thinking about it but contracts are always at the back of your mind. Sometimes it's about putting yourself in the shop window and I'm working hard to prove my worth.
"If you perform, the contract will come. Here or elsewhere."
Eco-friendly aeroplanes will create 1,200 new jobs in Doncaster
Over 1,200 new jobs will be created in Doncaster from the construction of eco-friendly aeroplanes.
The Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, approved plans to invest a £7 million loan into the company Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) to build its new fleet of aircraft in Doncaster.
Green technology specialists HAV are UK-based, and will create over a thousand "highly skilled" jobs in South Yorkshire.
Their Airlander 10 vehicle creates 90% less emissions per passenger than a standard aeroplane, and can carry up to 100 people.
Mr Coppard said: “I was elected as South Yorkshire’s Mayor on a pledge to build on our world-leading assets in the region and create a bigger, smarter and greener economy.
“We have a world-class cluster of companies working at the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing and green technology, so I’m genuinely excited that we can support HAV in their ambitions to build a sustainable aviation cluster here in Doncaster.”
HAV aims to have completed its first orders to customers by 2026. After that, it will construct 12 planes per year in Doncaster.
Chief Executive of Hybrid Air Vehicles, Tom Grundy, said: “ At Hybrid Air Vehicles we are revolutionising views of what aviation is, and Airlander is designed for us to rethink the skies.
“We will work with outstanding regional partners, including Mayor Ros Jones and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Doncaster UTC, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the University of Sheffield, to establish a world-leading cluster for green aerospace technologies, skills and supply chains.”
Arundel Gate bus and taxi only route came into effect this morning
A new city centre 'bus gate' came into effect today, reducing access to Arundel Gate for normal traffic.
From the morning of 20 March, drivers will be fined £60 for driving northbound on Arundel Gate toward the Park Gate Roundabout - but will still be able to travel southbound.
Drivers will still be able to access the Novotel Hotel and Q-Park before the bus gate comes into effect. Only buses, taxis and other authorised vehicles will be allowed to use the road.
The new scheme is part of Sheffield City Council's Clean Air Plan, which aims to reduce emissions in the city centre.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Co-Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “Arundel Gate is one of the most polluted spots in the city and the Council must do all it can to reduce these dangerous pollution levels.
“We cannot ignore the devastating effects pollution can have on people’s health, particularly the elderly, children and people with existing health conditions.”
The Council described Arundel Gate as one of the most polluted areas of the city, and said the gate will help the environment for pedestrians and cyclists as well as improve reliability of bus services.
The changes are being implemented through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), a legal tool that allows new highway measures to be implemented for a period of time, allowing members of the public to give feedback to the Council.
The bus gate will initially run for 18 months, and the consultation period will take place for the first 6 months of that period.
Cllr Iqbal said: “We encourage local people to have their say on this measure now to help us as we progress our plans. The statutory consultation is live now and will be for the first 6 months.
"Everyone’s feedback will be considered before a decision is made on whether or not to keep the bus gate in place.”
The Council's Clean Air Plan has seen a series of measures put in place to reduce air pollution in Sheffield city centre.
This includes the controversial Clean Air Zone, which was introduced last month and charges heavy polluting vehicles for driving within the cities ring road.
Those wishing to make comments on the bus gate must send their name, address and details of comment to trafficregs@sheffield.gov.uk or info@connecting-sheffield.co.uk, with the subject line ‘Arundel Gate ETRO’.
Ponds Forge sports event helps combat isolation felt by carers
A monthly sports social afternoon to prevent carers from feeling overwhelmed by their duties has got underway.
Sheffield Carers’ Centre has partnered with Ponds Forge Sports Centre to host a free monthly event where attendees can socialise through sports and games like badminton, skittles and table tennis.
The Carers’ Centre estimates that one in five UK adults are unpaid carers, and wants to raise awareness so people are able to seek support and prevent 'carer breakdown'.
Stephen Broomhead, from Sheffield, has attended both previous sessions of the group along with his wife and father, both of whom he cares for.
He discovered Sheffield Carers’ Centre when his daughter was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 16, and needed their support to continue on when she sadly died a year later.
He said: "They gave me that foundation to build a life, otherwise I don't think I would have been here."
Mr Broomhead isn't the only person whose life has improved because of the group.
Debjani Chatterjee is a Sheffield writer who cares for her mother and husband.
She said she struggled to exercise after the pandemic when their conditions worsened, but sports like doubles badminton have helped her by allowing her to meet people in similar situations.
Mrs Chatterjee said: "Just knowing we're both carers, it's good.
"There does need to be more of this, but I know I haven't got the time. This is all I can manage, an hour once a month."
Mrs Chatterjee tries to visit her husband in hospital every day, and needs to hire a professional carer to look after her mother when she leaves the house.
As well as this new sports afternoon, the Carer's Centre organises other events like regular support groups, walks and helpful courses like first aid, general health and how to deal with dementia.
Jan Outram, the activities coordinator for Sheffield Carers’ Centre, said: "Carers are often quite isolated, they might be looking after someone with dementia who they can't leave at all, or sometimes can't leave for more than an hour. This is just a short amount of time where they can do something completely different."
She discussed the importance of carers looking after themselves too, as their needs often go overlooked.
She said: "The emphasis is so often on the person being cared for and the carer can feel invisible a lot of the time."
For more information about their events, click here.
Special educational needs pupils will be “living the experience” as teachers raise £1,500 for France trip
Schoolteachers from a Doncaster school will be climbing three of England’s highest mountains later this month to raise money for a trip to France.
Twenty pupils, aged 14-19 years-old, from Coppice School will spend four days to develop their independence in a different country, and for the majority of them, this will be the first time they have gone abroad.
Sixth form teacher, Chris Medwell, said: “Our curriculum is very experiential. Doing something like this is a very holistic organic way of delivering sessions. We’re not just sat in a classroom; we’re actually living the experience. We do that in our local community so just imagine doing this on a ferry to France.”
Mr Medwell said special educational needs schools are largely funded by the government and although opportunities like this are possible, the budget can sometimes be tight.
The logistics of organising a trip abroad include the provision of adequate transport facilities, sufficient support for each pupil, and a range of pre-planned activities.
Mr Medwell said: “It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but we know that if we don’t put the hard work in, we’re not going to be able to offer an opportunity like this four our young people, which they absolutely deserve.
“We will be trying snails, which the students are excited about, but what I look forward to the most is for them to watch the sunset on a beach in France.”
Last year was the first time Coppice pupils travelled abroad. The school took six of its students to Belgium, where they took part in Special Olympics.
One of their students, Dave, even won six medals.
Mr Medwell said he was happy with the success of the trip. He said: “Going away we were expecting issues, but we didn’t have any. We label our young people, but we’re blown away by what they can do given the opportunities.”
The school has, so far, managed raise £1,126 for the trip which is due to take place in May.
Fundraiser launched to keep popular Sheffield event Pax in the Park free for all
Dorothy Pax, a city centre pub, has set up a GoFundMe page in the hopes of keeping their 'community-spirited' music festival running for free this summer.
The three day festival is set to start on 21 July and will be held at Heeley People's Park.
Richard Henderson, 50, the managing Director of Dorothy Pax Ltd, said: “I think it's great for people's wellbeing to get together, attend a free event, and enjoy some great free music.”
So far, the appeal has raised almost £2,000 towards the £10,000 goal.
Mr Henderson said: “The people who have donated are absolutely amazing. They have not only given a gift to us, but to the people and community of Sheffield.
“It makes us feel acknowledged and recognised for the good work all the artists and crew at the Dorothy Pax do.”
The total cost to run the event will be around £85,000, with the £10,000 going towards the sound production.
There will be many local food and drink vendors at the event and about 20 performers across the weekend, with the first line-up set to be announced on 7 March.
Last year, the event attracted about 9,000 people, but this time Mr Henderson is expecting around 15,000.
Dorothy Pax offer over 120 bar shifts to people who want to get experience, as well as hiring a local stage, and employing three sound engineers.
Mr Henderson said: "It really is a community endeavour."
To those who wish to support the cause without sending money, Dorothy Pax is eager for volunteer litter pickers and stewards to take part on the day.
Contact the organisers on DorothyPax@gmail.com.
To donate to Pax in the Park, visit their Gofundme page.
Historic Sheffield United Cricket Club appeals for extra funds to help pay for scoreboard
Sheffield United Cricket Club (SUCC) are looking for extra funding to put towards a brand new scoreboard amongst other facilities.
Dating their roots back to the 1850's, SUCC were the first ever sports club or association in England to have the word 'United' feature in their name. Up until 1973, the Cricket Club still played their matches at the football stadium Bramall Lane.
During their early years, SUCC played matches against another cricket side called 'The Wednesday' , who would later go on to form the modern day Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Playing now at Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park in the South Yorkshire Cricket League, the once historic Cricket Club needs funds to put towards its facilities.
Malcolm Clench, junior co-ordinator of SUCC, started volunteering with the club when his sons got involved in the sport.
He said: "I got involved, as you do, when my sons started playing. So, they started playing when one was eight and one was seven.
We're talking twelve or thirteen years ago. You get roped in initially as scorer, then it was running a team and scorer, then it was running the whole junior section and scorer!"
Mr Clench is just one of many volunteers helping SUCC keep functioning with many other selfless individuals getting involved.
Without a functional scoreboard, the club will be unable to host academy level cricket matches which will impact the predominantly South Asian community who play regularly at the sports park.
For Mr Clench, new funding is integral to give this sector of society a place to play cricket on their doorstep.
He said: "There's an interesting social mix that doesn't quite happen in many environments.
"Providing that social mix and those facilities to that community is an important part of what we do."
A new GoFundMe is looking to raise £8000 to contribute towards a new scoreboard, improving facilities and ultimately lessening the workload for the volunteers helping out.
The fundraiser stands at £230 so far, and Mr Clench is still optimistic for the near future of the cricket club as a community-driven organisation.
He said: "We've accepted the changes that have happened, Sheffield United Cricket Club has changed from being thought of as an elite club to being a community club.
We're looking at running all these junior teams, doing the outreach work, our coaches go out into schools. We still aspire to play at a higher level but that's chicken and egg. We need to improve the funding situation before we even think of that."
If you wish to donate money to Sheffield United Cricket Club's GoFundMe, the link is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sheffield-united-cricket-club-scoreboard
Fairtrade Fortnight: What is it and how is Sheffield getting involved?
Fairtrade fortnight is getting underway across the country. We spoke to a local business in Sheffield who is participating in hte event.
Good Taste, which is the only fair trade shop in Sheffield, is participating in the celebrations which began on 27 February and will run to 12 March.
According to Fairtrade, the event is designed to spread the message to: "Make the small switch to Fairtrade products to support producers in protecting the future of some of our most-loved food and the planet."
Jenny Coleman, who opened Good Taste eight years ago, said: "Almost every single product we sell has changed someone's life."
She and her husband Rob Coleman take part in Fairtrade Fortnight every year which also coincides with the anniversary of the shop opening.
This year they are taking part in the 90kg rice challenge, to raise funds to send a Malawi farmer's child to secondary school for a year.
The initiative involves selling 90kg of high quality brown and white Kilombero rice, which is harvested once a year by small scale farmers in Malawi.
Jenny said: "It's all about helping people to have the dignity of earning their own living and supporting their family, and this is one of the ways we help to achieve this."
Before the pandemic Good Taste welcomed rice farmers from Malawi to the shop and held a tasting event where they and customers discovered about the tradition.
The couple are also being supported by several local churches across Sheffield who take boxes of their fair trade products to sell across the fortnight.
Jenny said: "This acts as a reminder to their church family of the importance of trade justice across the world."
The shop also stocks cards from FairMail, a social enterprise company which produces photo cards using pictures taken by under-privileged Peruvian teenagers.
The pictures are taken during free photography classes and then used on the front of greeting cards, while the back of the card provides information about the photographer.
The teenagers who take the photographs get to keep 60 per cent of the profit from their own photos to help fund their education and housing.
But what is Fairtrade and what does it mean?
Fairtrade works with farmers and workers to improve their living standards by offering them fair prices for their work and the goods that they produce.
The organisation was established in 1992 and has since seen large companies such as the Co-op, Nespresso and Mars Bars also committing to the scheme in one way or another.
Fairtrade are encouraging communities to get involved in the fortnight through joining their Big Fairtrade Fortnight Get Togethers where people can sign up to hear from Fairtrade farmers and other experts on how we can ensure a sustainable future for our favourite foods. People who are interested will also get to ask questions to an expert panel.
The organisation is also inviting people to hold their own events, such as a coffee morning or a quiz night, to raise awareness and spread the word.
They are also asking shoppers to choose more Fairtrade products to save the future of some of their favourite foods.
Anyone who is interested can download digital campaign resources from the Fairtrade website which range from university materials to information to help the local community to get involved.
The organisation are also setting up 'The Endangered Aisle' which is a pop up shop in London, designed to show which supermarket items are at risk of being endangered by the climate crisis.
Climate change is making many products, including chocolate, bananas and coffee, harder to grow meaning there is a chance they will become harder to come by on the supermarket shelves.
Fairtrade help communities which are growing these crops by paying them fairly and offering more support to ensure that these crops and the people who grow them aren't pushed into chaos.
By encouraging more people to switch to fair trade goods by shopping at stores such as Good Taste, we can work together as a community to protect the future of the environment and the foods which we love the most.
International Women’s Day 2023: What’s happening in South Yorkshire?
International Women’s Day is this Wednesday, and many businesses and organisations across South Yorkshire are hosting events to spotlight women in the area and discuss gender-based equality.
The region will be bustling with activity and discussions this week promoting equality and equity.
Across the city, events include a ‘Solidarity Through Song and Dance’ disco by Sheffield Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund; a ‘Rising Above Gender and Racial Bias’ conference by Black Northern Women; and an ‘International Women’s Day’ panel discussion by In Good Company.
Shane Young, Head of Commercial and Partnerships at, Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce said: "Equality is the goal, and equity is the means to get there. It's about being included and a sense of belonging."
Equity, as opposed to equality, recognises that circumstances and other factors mean that not everyone has equal access to opportunities - even if everyone is offered equal opportunities.
Officially created in 1911, International Women’s Day was made as a response to the worldwide suffrage movement of the early-20th century. The date, 8 March was initially used by left-wing movements and countries before being adopted by the global liberal feminist movement in the mid-20th century.
In the 21st century, the day is used to reflect on key issues that impact people who identify as a woman, from reproductive rights to abuse, to workplace sexism. While not a national holiday in the UK, it is marked off as a government-imposed holiday day in some countries and provinces, including Madagascar and the German capital Berlin.
Various South Yorkshire-based organisations are approaching this year's theme in different ways. Some are explicitly having conversations about intersectionality and equity, whilst others are encouraging women to speak about their own experiences, so they can think about how these themes impact their lives.
Doncaster-based organisation My Network For Women is hosting a free event, including talks, stalls, panel discussions, and skills-based networking at Cast Community Theatre at 10am on Wednesday.
The group, which helps connect professional and creative women, is hosting an International Women’s Day special networking event, featuring skill-building workshops and talks. Ideas and skills around natural healing, therapy, creating flowers, and business coaches will be included.
May King Tsang, Director and Media Contact, from My Network For Women champions and empowers women from the Doncaster area.
She said: “Every year we do an International Women’s Day event. It’s always about helping women, and non-binary people, in various aspects of their business. We want people to be inspired, to learn, and to network. There will be a speaking panel at the end to encourage discussion about networking and what it’s like to take up these professions as women.”
Ms Tsang will be teaching a workshop about using the concept of ‘FOMO’ in social media marketing. There will be a raffle to raise money for The British Red Cross, to support Syria and Turkey earthquake relief. Prizes include therapy sessions, mentoring sessions, and workshop packages.
Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce is hosting a conversation at the Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham.
Shane Young said the annual International Women’s Day event is a “flagship” occasion in the organisation’s calendar, and each year they learn from the speakers’ tales of lived experience.
There will be poetry as well as talks from Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL, Kelly Wooller from ACW Medical Services, and Claire Louise Dickinson - Director of AESSEA, which are designed to “lobby for accelerated gender parity” and “celebrate women’s achievements”.
He said: “The speakers have been selected to inspire and motivate attendees in the room. They bring their own unique story and business journey that will inspire our local business community.”
These are just a few of the events going on across the region but there are plenty of others to choose from here, each with its own angle and focus.
‘Something like this will happen pretty much every time I cycle’: Are Sheffield’s cyclists vulnerable?
A Sheffield cyclist has said dangerous incidents with drivers on the road are ‘routine’ after posting several near-miss videos.
Twitter user @Llamasteve has called for more segregated bike infrastructure on which cyclists can complete their whole journey, as well as greater traffic speed controls.
He added: “Something like this will happen pretty much every time I cycle in or out of the city centre or anywhere for that matter.
“When you go out, there's always something in the back of your mind of will this be the day? You shouldn't think that when you set off in the morning. I don't think that when I set off in the car.”
The safety of cycling in Sheffield has been an important topic of discussion following the crash of broadcaster Dan Walker.
Mr Walker was cycling around the roundabout at the junction of Moore Street and St Mary's Gate on 24 February, and said he was ‘glad to be alive’ after colliding with a car.
Two of the main arguments arising on social media after the incident concerned who was at fault for the incident, and whether Mr Walker’s helmet saved his life.
Some users also questioned why Mr Walker didn't use the underpass below the roundabout, but others said it was often very busy with pedestrians and debris makes it unsafe at times.
South Yorkshire’s Cycling Action Plan, from 2015, aimed to increase the share of cycling to 10% of all journeys by 2025, and to 25% by 2050.
But questions still remain about the viability of this target when accidents are happening frequently across the city.
Triple Olympic Champion, Ed Clancy OBE, 37, was appointed South Yorkshire’s active travel commissioner by Mayor Oliver Coppard in February 2023 and stated he was committed to addressing this issue.
He said: “South Yorkshire has some of the deadliest roads in the country and this stops people choosing to walk or ride the short distances they currently drive, which just adds to the pollution and the danger. If you’re scared to cross the road, you’ll use the car instead.
“I’m committed to using my platform to get more people of all ages to walk, cycle, scoot or skate around South Yorkshire and this means giving people a real, safe choice when it comes to their journeys.”
Cllr Mazher Iqbal also said the council is striving to achieve a transport network that meets Vision Zero by 2050 - meaning no people are seriously injured or killed in road accidents within the next 28 years.
@Llamasteve said he feels the council have good intentions, but he hopes that more can be done practically to support cyclists in the city.
Recent measures taken by the council such as the closing of Archer Road and Little London Road, were extremely controversial, and demonstrate the difficulty in dealing with the issue.
Sheffield City Council were contacted for comment, but have not yet responded.
Transpennine Express to cancel 23,000 services in 2023, says mayor
The train operator Transpennine Express is on track on to cancel more than 23,000 services this year should reliability remain at its current levels, according to a new study by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The annual conference of Transport for the North was held this morning in Newcastle, where West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin urged the government to 'get a grip'.
The company runs trains across Northern England and Scotland, and passengers have suffered a number of delays and cancellations due to strikes, as drivers are no longer wanting to work paid overtime shifts.
The office of Rail and Road data showed that Transpennine Express cancelled 1,781 services over the last four weeks from February 4.
According to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, there will be a total of 23,153 services cancelled by the First Group company if this rate of cancellation continues.
Mayor Brabin said: "This is shocking, and the government must hear our calls, get a grip and bring this situation under control.
"Without action people will lose jobs, our youngsters will miss vital opportunities and the northern economy will go off the rails."
A spokesperson for Transpennine Express said: "the company worked hard with the Department for Transport to improve the offer on overtime working for our drivers.
"it is deeply disappointing this offer was rejected, we hope the union will reconsider and put the offer to its members.
"We know the service levels over the past year have not been good enough and we are pulling out all the stops to make things better."