Huge Sheffield city centre car park approved as part of West Bar development
Plans for a nine-story car park in the Sheffield city centre have been approved by the council, despite backlash from Green Party councillors and environmentalists. The car park is the latest phase in the West Bar redevelopment project, and construction of the multi-storey is expected to begin next year. It will have 470 spaces and include disabled parking and electric vehicle charging points within the development, which will be located on the Inner Ring Road between Kelham Island and Sheffield’s Cathedral Quarter. However, Green Party councillors and green groups are concerned about the initial construction carbon footprint as well as how it might detract from more sustainable ways of transport, like cycling, electric vehicles and public transport. The car park was approved by the Sheffield City Council planning committee, with 10 votes for but two Green Party councillors voting against it. The Green Party Councillor for City Ward and Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, Douglas Johnson said: "I think this car park is a symptom of the legacy of the outline planning permission that was granted for the West Bar site in 2017. "However, that shows we have made progress in four years in that it would be considered unacceptable today. City centre developments must plan to be substantially free of cars if our future city centre is to be viable and a pleasant and healthy place to live and work in." Brian Holmshaw, the Broomhill & Sharrow Vale Sheffield Green Party councillor and Executive Adviser for Sustainable Neighbourhoods, Wellbeing, Parks and Leisure said the extra parking isn't needed and he voted against the plans.
Cllr Johnson said: "There is no loss of parking in the city centre this Christmas. I want to encourage people to come to the city centre on foot, on bikes, on the bus and on the tram. Bringing unnecessary private cars in to the city centre is bad for air pollution, bad for climate change, bad for congestion, bad for road safety and bad for buses." However, parking is a contentious issue, especially around Christmas. Read about issues surrounding free festive parking in Sheffield here. The £300 million West Bar redevelopment has seven acres of land and the West Bar website claims the overall project will provide over 10,000 jobs. The car park is only the latest stage in the project, with consent granted in August for a 100,000 square foot office building with retail space and 368 apartments as part of the first £150 million phase.Stats that I provided in the meeting came from a previous planning application, which was to build on a car park. They showed that there is more than enough car parking space in the city centre. So why build another? https://t.co/roR0zMzhXF
— Brian Holmshaw (@SheafVaHeritage) December 2, 2021
According to Urbo, the developer, funding has already been secured through Legal and General in the largest single private sector investment seen in Sheffield.
Ralph Jones, managing director at Peveril Securities, which is working with Urbo Regeneration, said: “West Bar, along with the commitment by Legal & General to invest £150 million for the first phase, is testament to the strength of Sheffield as a considerable powerhouse in the North and an attractive place to live and work.”
‘Dream wedding’ fundraiser launched for NHS nurse diagnosed with terminal cancer
A Sheffield Children's Hospital nurse who has been diagnosed with cancer three times has had a fundraiser set up so her 'dream wedding' can come true.
Mother-of-one Jodie Bale, 30, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2019 when her daughter Sophie was only four months old.
The intensive care nurse from Gleadless has beaten cancer twice already. But during the third wave of chemotherapy the doctors informed her that her cancer was terminal.
Jodie's fiancé, 34-year-old Dale Lancaster, said: "She's been through quite a lot throughout the years. She's spent a lot of time in the hospital, a lot of overnight stays, to which Sophie [their daughter] says 'oh mummy's in the hospital' and I say 'yes the doctors are making her better.'
"When she is video calling her mum in hospital and she's asking 'are you better now mummy? Are you coming home?' It's quite heart-breaking really."
Mr Lancaster also lost his mother to cancer eight years ago on Christmas Day.
Their close friend, Richard Billard, has set up a GoFundMe page to help his close friends have the wedding of their dreams.
The 34-year-old owner of The New Anglers pub in Handsworth set up the page as a surprise to the couple.
He said: "He's my best friend. He deserves it, so just being able to do it is just an achievement in itself and if I can get that money raised, it's even better.
"Times are very hard with Covid, people losing their jobs and not being able to have Christmas last year. But being able to donate £10, £5, whatever it is, it's just a big thank you to be honest."
Richard Billard (left) with Dale Lancaster (middle). Credit: Richard Billard.
Before the donation page was set up, the couple were having to trim the guest list to afford their special day. Now, more than £6,000 has been raised. Mr Lancaster said: "I feel absolutely gobsmacked, both of us do. When Richard told me about it on the Saturday and he told me he was hoping to raise quite a large amount, I never expected it to get to where it is now. It's absolutely incredible. "For us to have our dream wedding, it would mean the world. Especially for Jodie because she's always wanted to get married and to have a nice, magical wedding. She doesn't want anything extravagant, but she wants to be able to share this moment with all of her closest family and friends." There is a Christmas Fair on Sunday 12 November at the New Anglers pub in Handsworth to help raise money for the wedding. Mr Billard also plans to set up a football match fundraiser for February time, which will include raffle prizes and football memorabilia for sale. You can donate to Jodie and Dale's GoFundMe by clicking here. Cover image credits: Jodie Bale.
Driver dead and man arrested after car “left the road” in Sheffield city centre crash
South Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a man died in an accident where his car "left the road" in the city centre last night. The crash happened on Hanover Way, when a black Toyota MR2 came off the carriageway and careered into the underpass at the junction of Headford Street. A SYP spokesperson said: “Sadly the driver, a man, aged in his 30s, from Sheffield, was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers at this time. “A 30-year-old man from Sheffield has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving who was driving in another vehicle but had left the scene. Enquiries are ongoing and he remains in police custody.” The Serious Collision Unit are appealing for anyone who saw the accident or has any dash cam footage of the moments before the car came off the road, to come forward. Kaltum Rivers, Green Party councillor for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale said: “We need more preventative measures, such as a speed camera and a barrier, this is the second time this has happened”. She added: “It’s very upsetting for the local residents and I’m sure it’s heart-breaking for the family”. Any witnesses are urged to contact the police on 101, quoting incident number 953 of the 9th December. Information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Barnsley announce a new official LGBTQ+ supporters group Rainbow Reds
A new Barnsley supporters group want to create a ‘safe space’ for LGBTQ+ fans at Oakwell and tackle homophobia at football games. The Rainbow Reds was set up last month and were announced as a new official Barnsley supporters group during Rainbow Laces day. It follows the EFL’s recent league wide support of the Stonewall campaign. https://twitter.com/BarnsleyFC/status/1464598757018939400 A 2017 Stonewall survey showed that 43 percent of people within the LGBTQ+ felt sporting events were not welcoming for them. Rei Homer, one of the Rainbow Reds organisers, said: “We aim to create a safe space for Barnsley’s LGBTQ+ supporters. “We want to show that Barnsley is a welcoming place to come and watch the football and to be able to reach out to those who feel unincluded and help them come along to games.” Another 2020 Stonewall study suggested that 20 percent of match-going fans felt anti-LGBTQ+ chants were harmless if used as banter. This is one of the main things the Rainbow Reds are looking to tackle. “Our main aim is to educate people about certain words and phrases,” Rei, 18, said. “It’s about educating yourself and calling people out if they are using homophobic chants and phrases. If you see people doing this you should report them the same way you would report racist language. “We want to show how fans can be better allies and support LGBTQ+ people.” The group plans to run events within the Barnsley community and support LGBTQ+ charities. Those who want to hear more about the group can find them on twitter: @RedsRainbow.
Greenhill Park host public tree planting sessions to boost biodiversity
A series of public tree planting sessions is set to launch in Greenhill next week. The planting days have been organised by Friends of Greenhill Park and the Community Forestry Team to help extend a hedge at the side of the Sheffield park. Though there have been several tree planting projects over the years, the organisations hope the extension of the hedge will add an additional resource to improve the biodiversity of the area. Lindy Stone of community network Greener Greenhill said: "Greenhill Park is a hidden gem in a beautiful setting right on the very southern edge of Sheffield, bordering Derbyshire farmland. "We have lots of lovely green spaces locally already but we are looking to help plot and extend wildlife corridors in our part of Sheffield." She added: "The range of native species will provide a rich habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife as well as looking beautiful throughout the year." From Tuesday 14 December, Greenhill residents will gather to plant 2,000 bare root whips from a mixed variety of native hedge species including Hawthorn, Alder buckthorn and Hornbeam. All abilities of planters are encouraged to participate and members of the park’s Community Forestry team will be in attendance to offer guidance, answer questions and supply tools and protective gloves.
"I think every local effort we can make is important" - Councillor Simon Clement-JonesSimon Clement-Jones, Beauchief and Greenhill councillor, said: “I think every local effort we can make is important. “Involving the local community in this sort of thing is absolutely vital in getting to where we need to be.” The scheduled planting sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 11am to 2pm across December. Family-friendly Saturday sessions will follow in the new year. In order to keep the community safe, the organisers ask that planters remain a 2m distance from one another throughout the sessions. Masks are optional. To get involved, sign up here.
New University of Sheffield study shows city centres will lose £3 billion in 2022
A new study conducted by the University of Sheffield has discovered that the move towards working from home has moved businesses to more suburban areas, with city centres set to suffer financially in the upcoming year. It was identified that British workers will be continuing to work from home 20 percent more than they were before the pandemic started, as people will be working roughly one day a week more at home than since the 2020 lockdowns were announced. The study attributed the recent shift towards working from home as a result of the pandemic, which has dramatically impacted the way British people have administered their day to day work. The City of London has seen a 31.6 percent decrease in spending and a 32 percent decrease in employment. The places most greatly affected by this new change outside of London have been the city centres such as in Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. However, many suburbs of Sheffield have greatly benefitted from people working from home, as more people had to stay put in their local areas. Neighbourhoods such as High Green & Burncross, Walkley and Mosborough & Halfway have seen an average increase of 15.6 percent in spending and 50.2 percent increase between the suburbs in employment change. Dr Jesse Matheson, author of the paper published by the University of Sheffield’s Department of Economics, said: “We estimate that about £3 billion in annual spending will leave city centres as a result of working from home. "This decrease will be concentrated in a few very dense centres. "Some of this spending will be realised in the residential areas where these workers live, but some may be lost altogether. As suburban neighbourhoods lack the density of city centres, many retail and hospitality businesses will find it is not profitable to relocate. “Workers in retail and hospitality may also find that demand has shifted to locations to which commuting is too difficult, which means that supply may not be able to keep up with demand.”
Open Up Sheffield Christmas art exhibition being held this week
The creative talent of 17 artists in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire is being showcased this week at a Christmas art exhibition. It is a free event at DINA, Sheffield and the work on display includes oil paintings, photography, printmaking, and digital media. The event has been organised by Open Up Sheffield, the open studio events group who provide a platform for artists to showcase their work and skills with the public. Miranda Trojanowska, Vice Chair for Open Up, said: "It's a beautiful exhibition. "It's in a beautiful place as well, and it really showcases the incredible artwork that we've got in Sheffield and surrounding areas."
Artwork on display at DINA, Sheffield
DINA, 12 Fitzalan Square, Sheffield
Artwork on display at DINA, Sheffield
Newly published report highlights disadvantages faced by children in the North of the country
The Children of the North Report, which has been released earlier this week, has highlighted the issues faced by children from the North of England. The report showed the gap between the different regions of England, with respect to child healthcare, education and poverty line status has increased in a post-pandemic world. It outlined how these children are more disadvantaged than children from across the rest of the country, with certain recommendations on how to reduce this disparity in the future. The 'Child Of The North: Building a Fairer Future after COVID-19' report has been published by the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSAI) with the partnership of some of the leading universities – including Leeds, Lancaster, Durham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, York and Sheffield and NHS Hospital Trusts with the N8 Research Partnership. The 18 recommendations made in order to bridge the gap between the North and the South in this subject include-welfare investment by the Government, health and social care systems including children charities that support children's health, the introduction of free school meals, and working on residential care systems for the underprivileged amongst others. Professor Karen Broadhurst of the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University said: ''It's a really important report because it's the first report to bring together a lot of different evidence for children in the north on a range of different issues; education, early years, health, community care, diversity." According to her, a lump sum of money is needed as an investment in order to start bridging the inequality gap between the north and the south of England. Statistics show about 30 percent of children living in the north were at risk of living in poverty compared to the remaining 20 percent of England. The main issue underlined within the report is how poverty is impacting the children, which in turn is taking a toll on other facets of their life, such as education and health care.
Lowly Doncaster Rovers confident of escaping relegation
Struggling Doncaster Rovers are in desperate need of a victory in Saturday’s League One fixture, as interim manager Gary McSheffrey called for his players to trust each other. The side are currently six points adrift at the bottom of the league table and go into the fixture having lost their last three games. The game could be classed as a relegation battle, with Shrewsbury Town lying in 19th ahead of Saturday. Off the field, Doncaster Rovers are looking to appoint a full-time manager, with the club controversially advertising the job role to members of the general public. During Thursday’s press conference, McSheffrey said: “Against Oxford mid-week we made them look normal. “The only thing we needed to work on was one or two things on the pitch and we needed that extra something to come off the bench.” Despite Rovers’ dire recent form, the squad remains optimistic at the prospect of being able to get out of relegation trouble. 19-year-old midfielder Lirak Hasani confidently said: “The lads have to believe we’re going to get out of this or there’s no hope. “It means more being a local lad, it’s all about small margins in these games.” Speaking on the mood in the dressing room, McSheffrey added: “When everyone’s fit it’s not a relegation squad. “We need to trust each other, I want the players to get that self-believe back.” Rovers are facing an injury crisis, with ex-Man United academy defender Ro-Shaun Williams out until the start of January. Other key absentees include Ben Close, Charlie Seamen and Dan Gardener. With time already running out for Doncaster Rovers’ to save their season, the squad need to make every game count before the much-anticipated January transfer window. Tickets for Saturday’s fixture against Shrewsbury can be purchased online at: https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/tickets/
New safety equipment at Crookes Valley Park a “massive step forward”
New safety equipment at Crookes Valley Park has been labelled a "massive step forward" in an effort to prevent drownings in the park's pond. The new safety measures come after a man in his 20s tragically drowned there in July. Local swimming enthusiasts welcome the measures, which will help less experienced swimmers stay safe. Suzie Wheway, 40, an outdoor swim coach in the Peak District, said: "Having that rescue equipment there is a big step forward. "They’re acknowledging that people are going in and doing something positive to try and support it.” In the summer, many use the pond to cool down, but taking a dip without knowing how to keep safe can lead to fatal outcomes. Mrs Wheway said: "For about 40 years we’ve been told swimming is really dangerous. As a result, everybody’s lost the basic skills and understanding of how to assess water and water safety. "People are so scared to even talk about swimming that they don’t do any positive education on it. It’s negligence by these organisations that they’re missing the opportunity to actually prevent harm."
Reach poles and throw lines were installed on Tuesday to prevent drownings in the area.
Son charged with stabbing own mother to death in Barnsley
Agita Geslere, 61, stabbed to death by her son.
Sheffield nurse charged with multiple sexual offences against patients and staff
An operating theatre nurse has been charged with 20 offences, with most of them allegedly committed in a Sheffield hospital against the patients and staff. According to South Yorkshire Police, 13 of the charges against Paul Grayson, 51, allegedly took place at the Day Case Theatre Unit of Royal Hallamshire Hospital. The charges are 10 counts of voyeurism and three of sexual assault against five staff members and four patients between 2017 and 2020. He was charged on Wednesday, 8 December. The remaining charges are unrelated to the Sheffield hospital, according to a police spokesperson. These include one count of taking indecent photographs of a child, three more counts of voyeurism and three of making indecent photos of children. Chief Superintendent Shelley Hemsley, district commander for Sheffield, said: "I know this case is extremely unsettling. These charges follow an extensive investigation carried out by officers in our Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) department." He also said that three of the patients remain unidentified and it seems highly unlikely that they will be. He said: "Despite this, we have pursued charges on behalf of these women so that the judicial process can continue." Grayson is due at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court next year on 4 February. Professor Chris Morley, chief nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We understand that some patients treated in the Day Case Theatre Unit at the Hallamshire Hospital between 2017 and 2020 may wish to speak to us and can call on 0114 2715757."