“Barclays needs to be held accountable”: Climate groups launch UK wide campaign against fossil fuel investors
Climate activists in Sheffield have launched a week-long marathon protest today against Barclays bank due to its consistent investments into fossil fuels.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) Sheffield and XR Youth Sheffield are two of the groups taking part in this UK wide campaign Better without Barclays demanding change and encouraging people to switch banks.
Barclays, out of all the European banks, is the biggest funder of fossil fuels. It is providing more than £86 billion in funding from 2016-2019.
Polly Hallam, 19, member of XR Youth Sheffield said: "Barclays needs to be held accountable, because if what they use all our money for is kept in the dark, then we can't really change it."
She continued: "We hope to show how committed we are to this cause and hopeful to show the people of Sheffield that it's really easy to switch your bank account."
XR Sheffield and XR Youth Sheffield are planning a series of actions outside the bank's branch at Pinstone Street, Sheffield, from 21 February to 26 February, including street talks and theatre performances.
Graham Rowe, 62, member of XR Sheffield said: "Climate change is an absolute nightmare, we've seen it this weekend, this is what climate change means.
"It means increasingly worse storms, it means droughts, it means food shortages because farmers aren’t going to be able to grow their crops anymore. It's got to stop."
When speaking about Barclays specifically, Mr Rowe said the bank needs to switch to renewable energy and help people to insulate their homes and invest their money sensibly, rather than investing in a "nightmare future."
The recent Banking on Climate Chaos report estimated Barclays has been Europe’s worst financier of fossil fuels by a margin of 31%, since the Paris Agreement was signed. The agreement aimed to limit future heating by reducing carbon emissions.
A Barclays spokesperson said: “We are aligning our entire financing portfolio to support the goals of the Paris Agreement - significantly scaling up green financing, directly investing in new green technologies and helping clients in key sectors change their business models to reduce their climate change impact.
"By 2025, we will reduce the emissions intensity of our power portfolio by 30%, and reduce absolute emissions of our energy portfolio by 15%. Increasing at pace, our capital markets business has already facilitated £46bn of green finance.
"We are one of the only banks globally investing our own capital – £175m – into innovative, green start-ups. By deploying finance in this way, we are accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy and will become a net zero bank by 2050.”
Climate groups will continue to protest and demand change, and Polly from XR Youth Sheffield said: "We're not going to stop telling people how awful Barclays are and we’re not going to stop telling people how important it is that we just take away the source of money which is funding the climate crisis."
The next national rebellion by Extinction Rebellion is planned for 9 April in Hyde Park, London to take action and demand an end to the fossil economy.
Sheffield domestic abuse services to receive extra support through the levelling up fund
A national support fund of £125 million has been announced by the government to support domestic abuse victims. Hollie Venn, CEO of Women’s Aid Sheffield is delighted that Sheffield City Council have been allocated around £1.3 million of the money. This provision of these services is vital for the wellbeing of women and children, Ms Venn added: “it gives them a safe space to be able to cope and a period of reflection, and a safe space to be able to recover from the trauma.”
Thought board in the women's refuge
Anger at ‘authoritarian’ measures in response to University of Sheffield building occupation
Students aired their disgust over the weekend at "hostile" policy aimed at identifying protestors from the University of Sheffield after a university building was "occupied". From 15 February to 18 February, students took over the Hicks building, protesting in solidarity with an ongoing national University and College Action (UCU) strike over "deteriorating pay" and working conditions. Twitter account Uni of Sheffield Rent Strike coordinating the protests, claims students in the Hicks building were told they could only retrieve their items after providing valid identification and a signature. Representatives from the University of Sheffield branch of the UCU told Sheffield Wire: “These actions by university management are aggressively punitive and hostile towards the students engaged in this occupation. “The decision to separate students from their property by locking a door was a deliberate one, and to treat it as “lost property” and require students to provide ID to reclaim it is an overtly threatening move on the part of management.” It was one of the five university buildings to be occupied throughout the week, along with the Diamond, Jessop West, Firth Court, and the Arts Tower.
University of Sheffield Court order displayed outside the Hicks Building
Top of the table Rotherham prepare to host a struggling Morecambe in Tuesday’s League One clash
Rotherham go into the Morecambe fixture having drawn against second placed Wigan Athletic in a tense fixture last Friday. An Ollie Rathbone strike in the 75th minute was enough to rescue a point for the high-flying Millers at the New York Stadium. Rotherham are currently six points ahead at the top of the league, a win against Morecambe would once again prove their status as contenders for the League One title. First team coach Matt Hamshaw summarised the atmosphere of the Wigan fixture, saying: “I thought it was a really entertaining game. I thought you could feel a bit of tension with it being first against.” Interest is building at the New York stadium as pundits are beginning to speculate the Millers chances of making an immediate return to the Championship after finishing 23rd in the 2020-21 season. On the topic of whether Rotherham had a unique team spirit, Hamshaw said: “If somebody wants to have an on-field fight with us, we'll have it, if somebody wants to play, we can play. We have different aspects of this team that can meet those requirements.”
Image: Matt Hamshaw, Credit Rotherham United FC
Building Safety Bill: Sheffield residents demand more support for unsafe cladding
Residents in unsafe high-rise buildings in Sheffield have called for the government to provide more support for the remediation of their homes. It came as Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove announced the Building Safety Bill last week. This would mean no leaseholder living in medium or high-rise buildings would "pay a penny" for the removal of dangerous cladding according to Gove. But Olivia Hill, a PhD student who bought a flat in Mandale House, Sheffield in 2019 may still be liable to pay thousands of pounds to fix the fire risks in her building. For 18 months, she and those in her building were paying £10,000 per month for a constant on-site fire warden. In 2020, a year after she bought the flat, the building failed its cladding safety test, receiving a B2 rating -- the worst of its kind. Plasterboard in the building is also flammable, meaning the final-year PhD student is still liable to pay the whole cost for corrective insulation work.
Above: Mandale House, Bailey Street
Miss Hill, who is part of Sheffield Cladding Action Group, spoke of the mental toll of living in the building, saying: "It's so all-consuming of your brain. It's mentally draining to keep up with everything that's happening. I'm not a building developer or a quantity surveyor." She told Sheffield Wire how a full fire evacuation at 3am left her in a "panic". "Knowing how catastrophic it could be at our building, it was extra daunting to walk outside to five fire engines and teams storming into the building," Miss Hill said. The draft legislation states those living in buildings over 11m high will not pay over £10,000 to remove flammable cladding if the original developers cannot pay. Other areas of buildings, such as insulation, are not covered by the proposals at all. So far, the government has not provided an estimate of how many people could be left to pay thousands of pounds. Although the draft legislation proposes to give courts powers to go after shell companies, if it is not possible to trace them, residents are still liable to pay up to £10,000 for the cladding removal. Miss Hill, who is part of Sheffield Cladding Action Group, said: "I don't think leaseholders should be paying to correct any historic defects, and the Bill should be inclusive of all fire safety-related costs." Her view is echoed by Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield, who said: "Recent announcements from the government are just a sticking plaster and don’t cover many of the problems caused by non-cladding related safety defects in certain blocks." William Martin, a leaseholder of a dangerous high-rise in Sheffield and the founder of UK Cladding Action Group, is also calling for the government to do more. He says the issue is first and foremost about keeping people safe. Mr Martin said: "We've lost count the number of times that the government has said that we shouldn't have to pay to make buildings safe. "But this is them writing into law that if you have tried to go after the original building owner, and you haven't had any luck with that, you're well within your rights to bill a leaseholder ten grand." Housing and public law solicitor Christian Hansen said the announcements were positive for residents, but lacked the details needed to provide certainty. He warned of "potential high costs liability" for those living in unsafe high-rises. The Department for Levelling Up did not respond to our request for comment.
South Yorkshire volunteers raise over £1,400 in community project to help renovate kids’ educational facility
A group of volunteers from South Yorkshire have raised over £1,400 to help transform an educational facility which supports children with additional learning difficulties. Sheffield’s Team 10 of the Prince's Trust Programme, featuring members of South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, have engaged in various fundraising activities in the last couple of weeks to raise money to support P.A.S.T. Ways. P.A.S.T. Ways are a non-profit charity based in Ecclesfield who support children aged 10-16 with learning difficulties associated with issues such as anxiety, autism and ADHD. James Wilson, a Fire Support Volunteer for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said the primary goal of the community project was to make the children at P.A.S.T. Ways feel valued and appreciated. He said: “These children might have different learning difficulties or disabilities and feel like they’re not having much done for them or not a lot of people care. “The aim of this project was to give them a safe space, to show that we do care and to provide that environment where they can look forward to learning and have fun.”
Volunteer James Wilson, 22, said his main goal is to become a firefighter or fire support officer in the future. (Image Credit: @jameswilsonsyfr)
The volunteers have helped install a number of changes at the P.A.S.T. Ways Centre in Ecclesfield, including improvements to the outdoor area and comfort room (Image Credits: @jameswilsonsyfr).
‘It insults the integrity of the vast majority of teachers’: South Yorkshire teachers criticise new government anti-bias guidance
Controversial debates have been sparked across schools following a classroom impartiality guide published last Thursday. The Secretary of State, Nadhim Zahawi has said the guidance aims to allow children to form their own opinions without influence from teachers, but many teachers argue this influence is rare. Wayne Chadburn, a Maths teacher at All Saints Catholic High School, Penistone, said: "It’s a sledgehammer to crack a nut. "The vast majority of teachers have strong opinions but when we are in the classroom we get splinters in our backsides constantly sitting on the fence. There are a tiny minority of teachers who wear their views like a big shiny label. "It’s this tiny minority this guidance is aimed at and it insults the integrity of the vast majority of teachers." The guidance comes after a Nottingham Primary School was blasted for encouraging children to criticise the Prime Minister. Bradfield School teacher and local councillor, Ben Miskell, said: "this impartiality is normally down to lack of training. "Our schools need to be safe places for the discussion of controversial issues and an antedate of toxic internet conspiracy theories."
Ben Miskell, Sheffield Councillor and Teacher.
Blades dominate a sorry-looking Swansea
Bramall Lane was electric on Saturday evening, after Sheffield United accomplished a clinical 4-0 win against Swansea City. Morgan Gibbs White, on loan from Wolves, scored the opener from the right-side of the box, with an assist from Oliver Norwood. The Blades kept up the pressure, with right-back George Baldock doubling the lead only three minutes later with a 12-yard volley – his first for the club in over two years. Star-striker Billy Sharp netted his 12th league goal this season, making it 3-0 before the break. The excellent Gibbs-White completed his brace in the second half, assisted by Sharp. The 22-year-old impressed both fans and pundits alike and was included in the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Week. Swansea failed to make an impact on United and their defence was picked apart in the first-half. Although they showed more fight in the second, the Jacks only achieved two shots on target despite having 62% possession. Head-coach Russel Martin said: “I feel sorry for the fans that have travelled in difficult circumstances and were incredible throughout the game, they deserve better from what we’ve given them away from home at the moment." He lamented: “There was a big difference in the physical profile and make-up [between the teams], and it really showed”. Blades manager Paul Heckingbottom said of the game: “I can’t fault any player who was on the pitch today – the boys who came on, the boys who started – in terms of executing what we wanted from them they were perfect.” The victory took club to sixth in the championship, unbeaten in their last eight games. Heckingbottom seemed to manage expectations, saying: “There’s 15 games – a third of the season – so a long, long way to go. Lots of things will happen, we’ve got so many teams to play”. The Jacks meanwhile, are left lingering in the bottom half of the division at 17th, without a win in their last six away games.
Sheffield City Council pledges to reduce deadly weedkiller in a bid to increase biodiversity
One of the greenest cities in Europe has vowed to reduce its use of glyphosate to help stop the destruction of wildlife in response to the national nature recovery strategy.
The Council’s Cooperative Executive committed to constantly reviewing and reducing its use in September 2021. The Council are trialling glyphosate free areas in certain parts of the city, with trials beginning this year.
Glyphosate is a weed killer which is used to destroy both broadleaf plants and grasses. It is used across agriculture and forestry; with people using it on their lawns and gardens. It is also currently used to tidy up the weeds on the highway and green spaces; including parks.
According to WedMD, some poeple who have intentionally ingested glyphosate have died, and some studies have even linked the weedkiller to cancer and liver and kidney damage.
Dr Ross Cameron, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture said: “I think it [stopping the use of glyphosate] sends a signal that we need to be more relaxed about our relationship with nature and it’s not all about control. In our discipline of Landscape Architecture 200, 300 years ago was all about humans and dominating nature- that has changed. We want to work with nature. So I think it could be a step along that way but it’s a change of mindset, and that’s equally important.
“The biology will after itself, it’ll come back, if people can see that as a positive thing and welcome it, then that’s great. But you will get some resistance as it’s seen as a cost-cutting exercise and the council not doing their bit.”
Glyphosate is sprayed onto undesirable broadleaf species to kill them, in order to 'tidy up' an area.
Whilst the weed killer is approved for use in the UK until 2025, Sheffield City Council is investing its time and resources into looking into natural, non-chemical pesticides. Some examples include the use of ‘sweepers’ which remove debris and the use of mechanical ‘weed rippers’, a unique tool is designed to pull aquatic weeds by the roots so they cannot grow back as quickly.
Other methods, such as not treating weeds at all, have also been explored, as they would increase Sheffield’s biodiversity.
Cllr Alison Teal, Executive Member for Sustainable Neighbourhoods, Wellbeing, Parks and Leisure said: "Stopping the use of a herbicide which is also harmful to insects, birds and humans is an important part of our response to the biodiversity emergency. Sheffield will start to look different, there will be a greater abundance of long grass and hopefully, wildflowers, for example, which will, in turn, provide more nutrients for insects, which will support an increasing bird population, we hope.
“The decline of insect and bird life has serious consequences for us all, fewer pollinators mean smaller harvests. Sheffield is playing its part to reverse worrying trends and actively contributing to wider nature recovery strategies."
This news brings exciting new opportunity to Sheffield’s landscape and biodiversity.
South Yorkshire storms: latest travel updates
Major travel disruptions can be seen across the county due to yesterday's Storm Franklin. Tram, train and bus services are affected.
Trams
There is currently no service at Meadowhall Interchange, Rotherham or Parkgate. The yellow line is operating between Middlewood and Tinsley only.Trains
Train services across the North have been cancelled or delayed.- Services between Doncaster and Scarborough in both directions are being disrupted and trains between these stations will terminate at Hunmanby.
- There are currently no trains passing through Rotherham. All services have been suspended due to severe flooding. Bus replacement services have not been issued and the station is due to reopen by at least Tuesday.
- Services will be cancelled between Doncaster and Sheffield until the end of the day. Bus replacement services are available.
- Routes from Sheffield to London have also been disrupted.
- Lines are closed between Chesterfield and Sheffield.
- East Midlands railway have warned not to travel between Derby and Sheffield.
To read about the latest bus travel updates in Sheffield and Rotherham, click here.
To read about latest Storm Franklin updates in South Yorkshire, click here.
For further updates for travel, follow the thread by @Sheffield_Wire on Twitter.
Storm Franklin: the latest updates for Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham bus travel
Storm Franklin has disrupted bus services in South Yorkshire, after causing winds of up 70mph across the region and widespread flooding. Persistent rainfall between all three of the past week's storms have caused the River Don to overflow in several places. Most disruption to Sheffield and Rotherham's public transport is caused by flooding at Meadowhall, meaning many services are diverting travel away or stopping services earlier in the route. Information from Travel South Yorkshire explains the changes to today's bus services.
Doncaster
Flooding throughout Doncaster has caused problems for several bus services. Stagecoach Yorkshire: 218, 218a, 220, 221 These services will be diverted via Queen Street and Wath Road in both directions, between Swinton and Mexborough. The 220 service will also not stop at Cortonwood Shopping Park. First South Yorkshire: 84b This service will not travel to Sykehouse.Sheffield and Rotherham
Many services have been diverted to avoid flooding around Meadowhall. The following services are affected: First South Yorkshire: 137 This service will stop at Blackburn. First South Yorkshire: 208 This service will be diverted via Attercliffe Common Stagecoach Yorkshire: 218, 218a, 220, 221 These services will be diverted via Queen Street and Wath Road in both directions, between Swinton and Mexborough. Stagecoach Yorkshire: 220, 222 These services will not stop at Cortonwood Shopping Park. First South Yorkshire: 73 This service will not travel to Treeton First South Yorkshire: X10, X1 These services will be diverted from Attercliffe Common to TGI Fridays then left to Meadowhall Interchange. At Ickles roundabout left down Centenary Way then down Main Street into Rotherham Interchange and the same in reverse. First South Yorkshire, TM Travel: X54 This service will be diverted via Woodhouse Mill between Handsworth and Swallownest. First South Yorkshire, Hulleys of Baslow: 272 This service will not travel to Bradwell. First South Yorkshire: 52a This service will be diverted via Retford Road and will not go via Beaver Hill Road. First South Yorkshire, Stagecoach Yorkshire: 57, SL1, SL1A (Stagecoach only) These services will be diverted between Deepcar and Middlewood via Stocksbridge Bypass and Halifax Road in both directions. 57 will pick up the normal route at Dykes Hall Road bottom. There is currently no service into Oughtibridge, Wharncliffe Side or Worrall. First South Yorkshire: 9, 9a These services will be diverted via Greenland Road and Attercliffe Road in both directions. First South Yorkshire, TM Travel: X54 These services will be diverted via Woodhouse Mill between Handsworth and Swallownest. First South Yorkshire: X78 Due to flooding around Meadowhall, this service will be diverted in both directions between Meadowbank and Brightside via Tinsley Viaduct, Sheffield Road and Attercliffe Common. For further updates follow @SheffieldWire's thread on Storm Franklin hereFor further updates on the disruption caused by Storm Franklin across Sheffield, click hereTHREAD: #StormFranklin updates for #SouthYorkshire
🚨Storm Franklin brought in winds of up to 70mph across South Yorkshire last night and in the early hours of this morning. ⚠️ The Met Office issued a yellow warning... — Sheffield Wire (@Sheffield_Wire) February 21, 2022
Collaboration brings cancer treatment closer to home for Barnsley patients
Cancer patients in Barnsley can now be treated closer to home, after a collaboration between Weston Park Cancer Centre in Sheffield and Burleigh Medical Centre in Barnsley was set up. The scheme began as the full impact of Covid-19 came to light on NHS cancer treatment backlogs. The British Medical Association found that cancer patients treated within the target timescale of two months from urgent GP referral, has dropped by over 10% from May 2020 to December 2021. The initiative, named WestonPark@BurleighMedicalCentre, currently runs on Thursdays and Fridays, but is expected to expand soon. It allows Barnsley patients to have a more comfortable treatment experience. Dr Madhavi Guntamukkala, the Medical Director at NHS Barnsley CCG said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to improve people's experience and outcomes. Treatment for cancer can often be tiring and with this new option we can take some of that additional stress and exhaustion of travel out of it." The project is being funded by the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw ICS Cancer Alliance, and is part of a wider scheme to bring more cancer treatment closer to home in the area. Although the scheme was launched regionally by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, it came after Sajid Javid launched a call for evidence last week as a part of the government's ambitious 10-year plan to tackle cancer in the UK. Dr Lucy Walkington, Clinical Director for Specialist Cancer Services at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with our colleagues at NHS Barnsley CCG and Burleigh Medical Centre to establish this service. “Where it is clinically appropriate, delivering treatment closer to home is better for patients, some of whom otherwise have to travel a considerable distance. This collaboration will enable patients to attend treatment more easily and stay closer to their local support networks." Burleigh Medical Centre will have a dedicated treatment suite, seven treatment chairs and will be nurse and pharmacy led by specialists from Weston Park. It is an extension of their day case unit and patients will receive systemic anti-cancer therapy. Although most Barnsley patients will be able to now access treatment close by, those in need of more complex and specialist treatment will continue to be treated at Weston Park Cancer Centre.