Saturday, 28 February 2009
Station Protest
Here's a selection of photos from Fridays march. Thanks to underclassrising.net for these. Many thanks to all who came. It was a very successful protest, and was good to see a good representation from all 3 political parties, Labour, Lib Dem and Greens, as well as the local residents group RASC. We got coverage on Look North, Radio Sheffield, Sheffield Star and Radio Hallam. (anywhere else?) Special thanks to Chris McMahon for his splendid renditions of Another Brick in the Wall and This Bridge is Our Bridge! Thanks to to all the organisers. Work now starts on the next protest- and another motion goes to full council on Wednesday proposing an all party delegation to see Geoff Hoon, the Transport Minister. With all the Sheffield MP's opposing this I can't see why they can't persuade him to step in and alter the franchise so that EMT don't have to install the barriers. If you haven't yet signed the petition to Geoff Hoon, please do so now. It is currently on 1157 signatures.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Put away your weapons.
I am very concerned by the story on the front page of today's Star, Riot cops at school. What is even more concerning are the provocative comments that follow the article. It is clear that some people are eager to provoke violence. I am very happy to live on a multi cultural street. It is one of the things that makes this part of Sheffield so good. We must ensure that those trying to stir up violence are put in there place. An eye for an eye leads to the whole world going blind. Youth of Manor and Darnall, please be sensible- put away your weapons, keep calm. If you have witnessed incidents, report what you saw to the police. But don't try and get revenge, that will only make things far worse.
On a much happier note, there is good coverage on the plans for Sheaf Valley Park in the Yorkshire Post. I would like to say a big thank you to the hard working Friends group that have got us this far. It will be exciting to see how the park develops. It makes the campaign against barriers at the station even more important, because what will be the point of a city centre park if you can't walk to it through the station? Office workers in the city centre need green spaces to escape to in the lunch hour. They wouldn't have time to walk right round Park Square, but could use the train footbridge if it's not cordoned off with barriers. Lets get a good turnout for the protest on Friday!
On a much happier note, there is good coverage on the plans for Sheaf Valley Park in the Yorkshire Post. I would like to say a big thank you to the hard working Friends group that have got us this far. It will be exciting to see how the park develops. It makes the campaign against barriers at the station even more important, because what will be the point of a city centre park if you can't walk to it through the station? Office workers in the city centre need green spaces to escape to in the lunch hour. They wouldn't have time to walk right round Park Square, but could use the train footbridge if it's not cordoned off with barriers. Lets get a good turnout for the protest on Friday!
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Reverend signs up for station march
Jon McClure, front man of the Sheffield-based band Reverend and the Makers, has expressed his support for the campaign to resist the gating of Sheffield Station and for the demonstration on 27 Feb. (Meet from 3.45pm outside Sheffield City Hall, Barkers Pool)
He said "I have been following the campaign to retain public pedestrian access through the station. I fully support RASC (Residents Against Station Closure) in their efforts. I know that gating would cut off the community who live on the other side of the railway from the city centre. In particular it would pose difficulties for wheel chair users and for baby buggy users. East Midland Trains seem to be giving priority to income generation over social needs. I plan to attend the demonstration on 27 Feb."
Meanwhile the petition to Geoff Hoon has topped the 1000 mark and now includes Lib Dem leader and proud new dad Nick Clegg MP.
He said "I have been following the campaign to retain public pedestrian access through the station. I fully support RASC (Residents Against Station Closure) in their efforts. I know that gating would cut off the community who live on the other side of the railway from the city centre. In particular it would pose difficulties for wheel chair users and for baby buggy users. East Midland Trains seem to be giving priority to income generation over social needs. I plan to attend the demonstration on 27 Feb."
Meanwhile the petition to Geoff Hoon has topped the 1000 mark and now includes Lib Dem leader and proud new dad Nick Clegg MP.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Whoes station? Our station!
Next weeks demo at the station gets a good write up in today's Yorkshire Post.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Protesters-to-put-their-case.4992030.jp
The petition to Geoff Hoon has now reached 968 signatures. Please help us to top the 1000 mark this week! Go to http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?rasc
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Protesters-to-put-their-case.4992030.jp
The petition to Geoff Hoon has now reached 968 signatures. Please help us to top the 1000 mark this week! Go to http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?rasc
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Credit Crunch hits Park Hill redevelopment
According to today's Yorkshire Post public money is now required to bail out the Park Hill redevelopment. See http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Public-purse-hope-for-150m.4994487.jp This comes as no surprise but is another massive blow to our area. Lets hope Council leader Paul Scriven can persuade the Government to bail out Urban Splash. The worst possible option is for nothing to happen and to be left with the current mess of a building site indefinitely.
If you haven't seen the Urban Splash vision for Park Hill, do take a look at this clip.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
City Road "Placemaking" workshops
I had a letter today thanking me for my involvement in the City Road Placemaking Workshops.Unfortunately this was not very well publicised, so lots of people missed it. If you want to be kept informed about what is being planned for the City Road area I suggest you contact Alex Shilkoff Alexandra.Shilkoff@sheffield.gov.uk and /or Colin Barnes Colin.Barnes@sheffield.gov.uk.
The letter says "So much information came out of the workshops that we have quite a bit of analysis to do to make sure that the future plans reflect the themes and ideas that came out of the workshop sessions.It seems that there is the opportunity for lots of small changes that would make a big difference overall. Also a strong theme of having activities and events happening to get people out and about and mixing with neighbours came through."
Also enclosed in the letter was a postcard advertising this new site with some interesting photography of some of the characters in our area.
http://www.s2legends.co.uk/index.html
The letter says "So much information came out of the workshops that we have quite a bit of analysis to do to make sure that the future plans reflect the themes and ideas that came out of the workshop sessions.It seems that there is the opportunity for lots of small changes that would make a big difference overall. Also a strong theme of having activities and events happening to get people out and about and mixing with neighbours came through."
Also enclosed in the letter was a postcard advertising this new site with some interesting photography of some of the characters in our area.
http://www.s2legends.co.uk/index.html
Monday, 9 February 2009
Green New Deal Conference
Sheffield is hosting an exciting gathering this month.The Greens are supporting a conference organised by Sheffield Campaign Against Climate Change on February 28th to promote the Green New Deal. Green Party Councillors gained backing of the conference from Sheffield City Council at its meeting last Wednesday. A motion, supported by the Lib Dems, called on the Council to build on the decision last year to opt in to the Sustainable Communities Act.
The Green New Deal, which has been drawn up by the UK's leading green economists, calls for government action to create thousands of new jobs in the green sector through a scheme to insulate every home in the country and produce clean renewable energy in every local community.
Speakers at the conference include Colin Hines (Green New Deal Group/New Economics Foundation, Greenpeace International), Larry Elliott (Green New Deal Group, Economics Editor of the Guardian, (tbc), Dr.Fazlun Khalid, Director Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Ecological Sciences (IFEES),and Miriam Kennet Green Economics Institute.
Sheffield Green Party co-chair David Hayes said, SCACC are the first group in this country to follow President Obama's lead in holding a conference on a Green New Deal. Sheffield needs a long term strategy that uses its manufacturing base to build systems and components for the growing renewable energy sector. We need training in "green sector" skills to install and maintain systems as well as creating jobs immediately in insulating homes"
The Green New Deal, which has been drawn up by the UK's leading green economists, calls for government action to create thousands of new jobs in the green sector through a scheme to insulate every home in the country and produce clean renewable energy in every local community.
Speakers at the conference include Colin Hines (Green New Deal Group/New Economics Foundation, Greenpeace International), Larry Elliott (Green New Deal Group, Economics Editor of the Guardian, (tbc), Dr.Fazlun Khalid, Director Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Ecological Sciences (IFEES),and Miriam Kennet Green Economics Institute.
Sheffield Green Party co-chair David Hayes said, SCACC are the first group in this country to follow President Obama's lead in holding a conference on a Green New Deal. Sheffield needs a long term strategy that uses its manufacturing base to build systems and components for the growing renewable energy sector. We need training in "green sector" skills to install and maintain systems as well as creating jobs immediately in insulating homes"
Saturday, 7 February 2009
City Road Corridor consultation
Today I've been to a consultation about the City Road corridor.You can read more here
There are some great ideas around, and it will be interesting to see how many of them come to fruition. The numbers at the meeting were however disappointing when you consider the size of the area in question, which is equivalent to a small town.
One of the most popular ideas is to plant lots of fruit trees along the corridor. I think this will be great, as long as the Council can find the money in the budget to maintain them and protect them from vandals. They will be an excellent source of free food for the community! Many of our cities trees are in a very poor state of health, and we need a massive planting scheme to start to replace the ones that will soon have to be felled.
On traffic many people at the consultation thought that it was no good trying to slow traffic on City Road. I disagree. There have been many accidents on City Road and it is a residential street. I would like to see a blanket 20mph speed limit for the whole area. But if this is unpopular at least the side streets should all be 20mph. I again raised the issue of the traffic lights at the junction of Bernard Street and Duke Street, by the Trades and Labour Club/New Inn. These lights really should include a pedestrian crossing.Pedestrians should not have to risk life and limb every time they cross the road.
The major problem that needs addressing is the lack of useful shops. We have plenty of fast food outlets and takeaways, but there is nowhere to buy an apple or a potato! Hopefully investment in the area may attract new shopkeepers.
New walking routes to connect the various green spaces are to be encouraged, and it will be good to have a new entrance to Deep Pits park, next to the old Travellers pub, which I gather is to become a shop with apartments.
Cosmetic features like signposting, floodlighting etc will improve the area but wont bring regeneration on there own. The key will be to attracting sustainable local businesses that can provide for the needs of the local people.
There are some great ideas around, and it will be interesting to see how many of them come to fruition. The numbers at the meeting were however disappointing when you consider the size of the area in question, which is equivalent to a small town.
One of the most popular ideas is to plant lots of fruit trees along the corridor. I think this will be great, as long as the Council can find the money in the budget to maintain them and protect them from vandals. They will be an excellent source of free food for the community! Many of our cities trees are in a very poor state of health, and we need a massive planting scheme to start to replace the ones that will soon have to be felled.
On traffic many people at the consultation thought that it was no good trying to slow traffic on City Road. I disagree. There have been many accidents on City Road and it is a residential street. I would like to see a blanket 20mph speed limit for the whole area. But if this is unpopular at least the side streets should all be 20mph. I again raised the issue of the traffic lights at the junction of Bernard Street and Duke Street, by the Trades and Labour Club/New Inn. These lights really should include a pedestrian crossing.Pedestrians should not have to risk life and limb every time they cross the road.
The major problem that needs addressing is the lack of useful shops. We have plenty of fast food outlets and takeaways, but there is nowhere to buy an apple or a potato! Hopefully investment in the area may attract new shopkeepers.
New walking routes to connect the various green spaces are to be encouraged, and it will be good to have a new entrance to Deep Pits park, next to the old Travellers pub, which I gather is to become a shop with apartments.
Cosmetic features like signposting, floodlighting etc will improve the area but wont bring regeneration on there own. The key will be to attracting sustainable local businesses that can provide for the needs of the local people.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
