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.
Heat Pump rollout far behind schedule: Why do we need them anyway?
The government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) was criticised last week, for "seriously failing to deliver on its objectives" as it aims to encourage people to upgrade their home heating systems to low-carbon alternatives.
Under the programme, households could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
In a letter addressed to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Lord Callanan, Baroness Parminter, a member of the house of Lords, said: "The BUS is seriously failing to deliver on its objectives with a disappointingly low take-up of grants.
"If the current take-up rate continues, only half of the allocated budget will be used to help households switch
to low-carbon heating systems, a healthy market of installers and manufacturers will not be in place in time to implement other low-carbon heating policy measures smoothly, and the Government’s 2028 target is very unlikely to be met."
For heat pump uptake, the UK ranks second to last in Europe with only 412 units per 100,000 people. In contrast, Norway has one heat pump for every four people.
Public understanding of the BUS is low, with 62 percent of people having little or no awareness of the need to change the way homes are heated to reach "Net Zero." Meanwhile 80 percent of people have little or no awareness of air source heat pumps.
The UK will have achieved "Net Zero" when the carbon emissions emitted into the atmosphere by the UK are equal to the carbon emissions removed.
An integral part of the "Net Zero" target is reducing the amount of Carbon Dioxide the country emits, before the effects of climate change become irreversible.
What's wrong with our current heating systems?
Conventional methods of heating our homes rely on fossil fuels. In fact, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the top four methods of heating homes in the UK are fossil fuel based.
A dependence on fossil fuels is unsustainable. Firstly, as highlighted by the invasion of Ukraine, it can lead to political instability and unpredictable price variations. Many European countries are trying to reduce their dependency on Russian oil and gas.
Currently, 17.5% of all global greenhouse gas emissions are a result of the energy used in buildings, whether it be in heating or the powering of appliances.
What are heat pumps and how can they help?
Surprisingly, heat pumps have been a staple in our houses for decades. We rely on heat pumps to keep our food cool, but we call them fridges and freezers. They work by absorbing excess heat from a cold area and pumping it to a warmer area, which is why the inside of a fridge remains cold and the outside is warm.
A heat pump uses the same concept, but it works in reverse. It absorbs excess heat from the outside and pumps it inside the home, where it is released. Moving heat is much more efficient than generating it. In fact, heat pumps are three times more efficient than typical fossil-fuel dependent heating systems, such as gas or oil fired boilers.
They can match conventional methods in terms of heat output, whilst emitting a fraction of the greenhouse gases.
Why are heat pumps crucial to "Net Zero"?
As part of the UK's green industrial revolution, the country is undergoing a gradual, but crucial, change to its energy grid. Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, tidal and biomass systems, are being heavily invested in and our dependence on fossil fuels is starting to decline.
As the UK's energy network transforms, the electricity needed to power the heat pumps will become more and more sustainable and one day, it could be possible that heating our homes emits hardly any greenhouse gases at all.
By rolling out heat pumps in anticipation of this revolution, the UK can increase its chances of meeting its "Net Zero" goals by 2050.
What are the specifics of the Boiler Upgrade System?
One government grant is available per property. There are three options available:
- £5,000 towards an air source heat pump
- £6,000 towards a ground source heat pump
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
There are three criteria that must be met for eligibility. Applicants must:
- own the property they're applying for
- have installed (or plan to install) a new heating system on or after 1 April 2022
- be replacing fossil fuel heating systems (such as oil, gas or electric)
More information on the scheme and how to apply is available on the government webpage.
Richard Dentith death: boy, 17, pleads not guilty to murder charge
The trial of a 17-year-old boy who is charged with the murder of a Sheffield man began today.
Richard Dentith, 31, was stabbed to death in the early hours of 7 April 2022.
The incident occurred outside the Earl Marshall Guest House on Grimesthorpe Road, Burngreave, Sheffield Crown Court heard today.
Four other men were arrested in connection with Mr Dentith’s death. Two, aged 22 and 49, were released on bail, with the others, aged 33 and 58, released without charge.
The young defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
Due to his age, Ms Danielle Marron will be acting as an intermediary to communicate on behalf of the boy.
Twelve jurors were selected and sworn in by her honour Judge Sarah Wright, who is leading the proceedings.
The court adjourned until 28 Tuesday February, when the trial will officially open.
The case continues.
Local businesses feel Brexit pinch despite £4.55 million Sheffield Council funding approval
Local businesses continue to feel the funding hole created by Brexit despite the Council's approval of a £4.55 million funding package last Wednesday.
Part of the central government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the package is designed to replace the EU Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and help support businesses across various dimensions.
The program, which will be rolled out over the next three years, will target small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce inequalities in Sheffield.
Cllr Paul Turpin, the spokesperson for the Economic Development and Skills Policy committee, said: "Until those inequalities are reduced, we are failing, Sheffield is failing.
"We don't want winners and losers, we want everybody to be a winner."
According to data from the Department for business, energy & industrial strategy, private sector businesses across the UK have continually decreased since 2020.
Nevertheless, with South Yorkshire and the Humber placing second in terms of numeric private business decrease in 2022, councilors believe this funding will not be enough to achieve the council's objectives. These include:
- Launchpad (£850,000), which will focus on start-up and early-stage businesses.
- Productivity and digital innovation grants (£2.1 million), providing SMEs with access grants to support productivity gains and digital adoption in the business.
- Low carbon (£1.3 million), aiming particularly at improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon consumption and running costs.
- RISE (£300.000), a partnership program providing funding to create graduate jobs in Sheffield SMEs.
Yvonne Asquith, the head of Business Sheffield, said: "UKSPF funding is not significant — those four key elements will not provide the transformational change that we need in Sheffield.”
That said, with UKSPF funding estimated at a £10 million cut from its EU equivalent, the three-year running time of the package is concerning councillors in terms of the long-term viability of Sheffield businesses.
Cllr Minesh Parekh, said: "UKSPF was established to provide local authorities with the money they would have received if we were in the EU.
"So, there is an immediate, real-terms drop in funding now, but also potential for far, far less in the future too."
In the meantime, it seems the council is committed to continuing to explore new ways of supporting local businesses.
Cllr Tom Hunt added: “We should, as a committee, retain our focus on the transformational change that’s needed to get us to a high-wage, high-productivity, high-growth, low-carbon economy.”
Sheffield Hallam students raising funds for period poverty awareness
A group of Sheffield Hallam University students are raising funds of Roundabout Homeless Charity, as part of their campaign to raise awareness of period poverty.
Mental health nursing students have already smashed their £100 GoFundMe target, raising £420 in three days.
Daisy Drakeford, 21, who is leading the fundraiser, said: "One in 10 females or people with female organs can't afford them (sanitary products). So they have to improvise with other sanitary wear, which a lot of the time is a sock or tissue paper, which isn't very sanitary.
Period poverty is a critical issue facing women nationally and internationally. A 2018 report from Plan International UK found that 1 in 7 girls have had to borrow sanitary wear from a friend due to affordability issues.
"We've spoken to Roundabout and they've essentially told us that since COVID they've been getting a massive influx of young girls coming into their services. So they're in desperate need of sanitary products.
"You're not going to just sit around with blood in your pants. It's horrible. People do that. But that's only because it's so expensive."
A 2019 report from Bloody Good Period found that women in the UK spend an estimated £4800 on periods during their lifetime.
The Plan International UK also found that 1 in 5 women have changed to a less suitable sanitary product due to the cost.
Roundabout commented on Daisy and her team's efforts: “Period poverty is a big problem, especially for the young people who use our services who are disproportionately affected.
"As such, we are delighted to be able to support Daisy and her group's fundraising efforts to help raise awareness and vital funds for those we support in our services and alleviate the problem of period poverty and the stigma surrounding it.”
Donations can be made through Daisy's GoFundMe page.
Sheffield Wednesday make history with record-breaking unbeaten run
A 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic on Saturday saw Sheffield Wednesday set a new club record for games unbeaten in the league.
A Liam Palmer goal in the ninth minute means the Owls have now gone 20 games without losing a league game.
The last time Wednesday lost a League One fixture was 4 October, a 2-1 defeat to title rivals Plymouth Argyle.
Since then Wednesday have picked up 14 victories and six draws.
Speaking after the match, Owls boss Darren Moore paid tribute to the players who helped make the run possible.
He said: “High praise and accolades to the players, well done to the boys. Excellent to achieve that in the history of the club and we’re really, really pleased.
“We’ve just got to keep going.”
The result keeps Wednesday at the top of the League One table as they continue their push for a return to the Championship.
A loss for second place Plymouth Argyle means the Owls have extended their lead at the top to three points, and 8 points over Ipswich Town in third, with a game in hand over both.
The win over Charlton means Wednesday’s streak has surpassed the previous run record set in 1961, when they went 19 games without defeat on the way to a second place finish in the First Division.
Having already kept more clean sheets in a season than any previous Wednesday team, Moore's squad now have a few more history making statistics in their sights, including most points in a season, and most league wins.
Despite the chance to set new records, Moore says his side remain focused on the league.
He said: “We have this record but we’ll put it to one side and keep going.
“We don’t look at anybody else, we focus on us as a group and as long as we’re being competitive and showing our level best then we can’t argue with anything.”