Woodseats Scouts Venture Unit

Woodseats Venture Unit after their St Georges day performance of 'The Good Samaritan'.

A Right Royal Street Party

Sheffield residents have come down with Royal wedding fever as over 31 street parties are reportedly going to take place.

A right royal knees up on  Cardoness Rd, Sheffield

The 29th April is an official holiday and so the streets of Sheffield will be filled with people who have the day off work.

Sheffield City Council has already had 31 applications for street closures and they are expecting to get a few more before the big day.

Royal Wedding activities include a party at Spa Sensations day centre on Spa Lane, Woodhouse.  A party on Devonshire Street on the edge of the city centre.  Residents across Sheffield are also expected to hold their own street parties.

Julie Freeman of Woodseats, Sheffield said; "I am not having a party myself but my neighbour two doors down are having a barbeque and they have invited everyone on the street.  I will be going with my husband."

The Devonshire street party has been organised as a part of Sensoria music and film festival and will run alongside the new Devonshire market which will have around 70 stalls.

Sarah Nulty, co-founder of Tramlines and market organiser said; “With the market we are aiming to recapture some of the Tramlines vibe. When we heard Sensoria were already planning a street party on the bank holiday it seemed like the perfect fit.”

There will be a bar as well as food stalls as the green has got a license for the day. 

The event will run from noon until 8pm on April 29^th.

Graves Park Faces Budget Cuts

The entrance to Graves Park

Graves Park in Woodseats, Sheffield faces budget cuts as the Government tries to cut down on spending.

Graves Park is Sheffield's largest park and the cuts are bound to have a serious impact on its facilities and maintenance. The Council have produced a report which acknowledges that Sheffield's residents are currently more satisfied with their parks then the residents of any other major town or city. 

The proposed cuts will include:

Reducing management costs and maintenance budgets for parks and playgrounds.

Charging for car parking at Graves Park.

Increasing the charges for the hire of facilities in the park.

Reducing the money provided to voluntary organisations to help improve the city's greens and open spaces.

Reducing the number of rangers and community foresters, which will lead to a reduction in community activities such as: tree planting, youth engagement, supporting volunteers and events and activities in the park.

There will also be cuts to Activity Sheffield who run activities in the park.

The Aiming High for Disabled Children programme that has paid for the new accessible playground will also end.

These cuts will not just affect Graves Park; they will affect parks across Sheffield.

Woodseats resident and frequent visitor to Graves Park, Alan Cox said: "I think the cuts are disgusting.  We love the park as it is and we don’t want it to change."

The Council have stated that they will continue to work with 'Friends of' groups to see what they will be able to do with the resources available.  By focusing on the basics and working with Sheffield people, they hope to achieve a lot.

University Shut Down During National Strike

Protesters in London making a stand against education cuts

Lecturers at Sheffield Hallam University went on strike today in an attempt to make their pensions more secure.

The strike took place across Sheffield city centre and involved students and lecturers from Sheffield University as well as those from Hallam.  Throughout the day, petitions were signed and protests were held.  So many people made a stand against education cuts and pension rises that by lunch time, two of Hallam's buildings were shut down completely.

When walking through the university, there was an eerie silence.  The normal routes through the campus were empty compared to a normal day where you cannot walk straight through without having to move out of people's way.  Instead of walking past hundreds of people I walked past just 5 and they did not seem very eager to study.

Although the strike focused on the lecturer's pensions on the day, press releases and leaflets given out throughout the previous week focused on the government's proposed increase in tuition fees and cuts in education fees such as EMA.  This led to a mass protest involving both students and lecturers.

Not every teacher's pension was under threat as it is only the University and College Union that is proposing change.  The Government is contemplating major cuts to the value of the Teacher's Pension Scheme as well as increasing employee contributions.  This means that teachers will be paying more money into the scheme and getting less out of it.

In 2010 the UCU began to try to reach a national agreement concerning job security.  In both further education (FE) and higher education (HE) there were disputes over pay as FE were offered an increase of 0.2% and HE were offered 0.4%.

Sheffield Hallam lecturer Alan Patterson, said: "We need to make the university aware how disconcerted we are.  We have already had a review but they are still asking for more money.  It is just not good enough."

Fellow lecturer Dr David Clarke, said: "There is no justification for it.  I worked as a freelance journalist for 20 years with no pension.  I expected teaching to have more security."

As a part of its programme cuts, the government is demanding cuts of up to £852 million from the Teachers Pension Scheme.  They propose to increase the average payment for around £100 a month.  Lecturers will also be expected to work longer as the retirement age will be moved up to 65.  They plan on changing how they measure the inflation on pensions which could lead to a loss for FE £36,000 and for HE £65,000 over the course of their retirement.

No if's, no buts, no education cuts

Although a lot of people turned up to help with the protest, there is another side to the story.  Whilst all the lecturers were outside, university students were missing their lectures.  Whilst some students enjoyed the thought of having a day off, others were getting nervous as deadlines were getting ever closer.

Laura Griffiths, a Hallam student taking Communications, said: "I travelled all the way to Sheffield from Nottingham only to find that my lecture has been cancelled.  I needed to talk to my lecturer about an assignment which is due in soon.  I'm not happy about this I think they are being a bit selfish."

Executive Assistant to the Pro Vice Chancellor, Michelle Elliot said when asked about university lecturers on strike. "I can see that they have a point of view.  I think they should think of students and how it affects their university experience." She went on to say that she could see no positive outcome from the strike as the lecturers need to get their message through to the government or their university scheme specifically. 

Protesting outside the door of the university would not accomplish anything as there was no one within the university who could do anything about it.  "At the end of the day it is important to have job security but are they damaging the universities reputation in order to get their point across?"

Technical Services Operator Philip Slingsby, said: "I am aware of the strike and why they are doing it.  What people don’t see is that people like us have to make cuts all the time.  We have to always do what is best for the students but the lecturers don’t see this side of things.  The strike is totally misplaced.  A much more effective way of making their point would be to travel to London on Saturday. I personally think they have thrown in tuition fees to get people on side."

On Saturday 26^th March the Trades Union Congress is holding a national demonstration in London.  This will be a march for the alternative: jobs, growth, justice, focusing on the opposition of Government spending cuts.  Young people, students, workers, service users and pensioners are expected to attend.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT EDUCATION CUTS AND STRIKES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE FUTURE?

Sheffield United are relegated making Sheffield a city on the move once again…

Sheffield United after yesterday's relegation

In the 1970s, Sheffield City Council commissioned a video called ‘City on the Move’, four decades on the footballing city is on the move once again.

This promotional video was intended to promote Sheffield as the steel city of tomorrow; vibrant, lively and full of promise. However yesterday, the scenes of Sheffield United’s relegation could not have been further from those of the 1970s.

The camera hovers over Bramall Lane whilst the team gains it’s promotion to the old first division in front of packed crowds after a season of playing impressive football. Yesterday’s scenes, however, showed Sheffield United being relegated after a 2-2 home draw with Barnsley in front of a crowd which has depleted by a 1/3 since their premiership departure in 2007.

Before yesterday, their fate had all but been decided for them anyway, relying merely on other teams results going in their favour. However after all they could muster was a draw at home, they were put out of their misery after a disappointing season.

Following the relegation of Sheffield Wednesday to league 1 last season, England’s sixth biggest city does not have a team in the top two tiers since 1980.

Despite pre-season hopes of a play-off place, United have been in a relegation battle for much of the season, and their relegation represents a major fall from grace for United who were playing in the Premier League four seasons ago and reached the play-off final at Wembley in 2009.

Unlike the usual cycle relegated teams go through because of promotion, overspend and then relegation- this was not the case for Sheffield United. Instead, a competitive division coupled with subsequent under-investment and a plague of injuries has caused stagnation in the team.

Micky Adams' future is uncertain

Off-field instability hasn’t helped either. Former manager Kevin Blackwell departed in August and his replacement, Gary Speed, lasted four months before transferring to the Wales job; then after John Carver acted as caretaker manager Micky Adams was hired from Port Vale.

“Up until last year, I’d had three managers in seven years,” says captain Nick Montgomery to The Telegraph, who has spent his entire career at Bramall Lane. “To have four in one season is just ridiculous.”

“Sheffield United’s been a selling club. Financially, the club’s not the power of eight years ago. Getting relegated from the Premier League was a massive blow.”

However it’s the speed of the decline that has shocked him. “I never for a second thought we’d be where we are now,” he says.

“I’m devastated we’re even close. But a lot of teams in the division have gambled on their futures by spending so much money. For the rest of us, it’s a real scrap.”

United have become a selling club in recent years with the departure of locally sourced players such as Phil Jagielka, Kyle Walker, Kyle Naughton and Michael Tongue and quite simply the players left over were not good enough.

In stark contrast Sheffield United’s youth academy team will play Manchester United in the final of the FA Youth Cup next month. It is this youth squad that United hope can pull them out of League 1 and restore the fan’s faith in the team.

However, higher league clubs could poach their promising youth payers and stronger squad members and plunge United in to a downward spiral.

A disappointed fan looks on

 Sheffield United fan, Chris Horner from York, says he is disappointed with his team. “At the start of the season, on paper, we had one of the strongest teams in the Championship. To see the team I have supported since being a child relegated is frustrating. The club has just been too unsettled this season and it’s shown through injury and lack of goals being scored.”

Chief executive Trevor Birch spoke to The Telegraph: "The club has to hold its hands up and acknowledge that we got it wrong,"

"We apologise to the fans that have so steadfastly stood by the club. They deserve success and we will work like hell to build a solid foundation on which we can base a team capable of not only promotion back to the Championship, but also the Premier League.

"Even though we have run with a higher average wage bill for players since relegation, we have made mistakes and ultimately the board has to accept responsibility."

So now the question remains- will Sheffield remain a city on the move, in footballing terms anyway, and in which direction will this be?

New and exciting activities in Sheffield for snooker world championship.

Photo of Steve Davis snooker player in the winter gardens, with
the BBC studio in the background
.

The world snooker championship is back at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The tournament runs from Saturday the 16^th of April to Monday the 2^nd of May, with all the best players coming together to compete for the famous trophy and the top prize of £250,000.

The top snooker contenders of 2011 will include John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Mark Selby and Ronnie O’ Sullivan, all battling it out for the goal of becoming world champion.

Sheffield is known as ‘home to snooker’, with the Crucible Theatre hosting the world championship game since 1977. Sheffield snooker chairman Paul Bannister, said: “The atmosphere at the Crucible really is one of the most magical anywhere in the world, and with the incredible standard of snooker the top guys are producing now, this is really an event not to be missed.

Photo of the cue zone, a member of the public playing on the
full sized table in the Winter Gardens.

“Our aim this year is to open up snooker to everyone across the city, so even if people have not got tickets for the matches, they can get involved in new and innovative snooker related activities in the city centre.”

There are lots of snooker related games and activities running throughout the tournament. Organisers of the Snooker World Championship want the public to have the opportunity to take part in the snooker for free.


Activities include, street snooker taking place daily, the cue zone exhibition in the Winter Gardens, of an authentic sized snooker table where people will have the chance to pot some balls and a big screen outside the crucible to watch the snooker action.

Photo of the street snooker in Tudor Square.

The free new activity street snooker is a target practice game that involves players kicking or throwing a ball against a green board resembling a snooker table, in order to pot balls of different colours, earning varying points. High scorers will win fantastic prizes, including tickets to the championship final, snooker cues signed by the professional players and much more.

Carrie Hampton, a part time worker who manages the street snooker game, said: “Over the bank holiday we were buzzing with lots of people interested and taking part. It is great to see how many different people of all ages have got involved. So far the highest score was by a young lad who managed to kick the ball scoring 178, however if someone can beat that score by the 2^nd of May they will win the ticket to the final."

“I believe this new and exciting activity, crossed between the traditional snooker and football game has drawn in lots of young people to follow snooker. It also has encouraged people to get more active, as well as having the opportunity to win snooker prizes.”

Photo of student playing street snooker.

Taking part in the street snooker was Ryan Allmark a student at Sheffield Hallam University, he said: “I am considering starting a snooker and pool society at university, as I am disappointed that there are no societies for cue sports, considering that Sheffield is supposed to be ‘snooker city’. However, this year I am impressed with all the new and different snooker activities people can get involved in, and for free which is a bonus.”

To follow all the latest snooker action, visit the Betfred.com World Snooker championship Blog and get the latest news and backstage insights from the Crucible http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/blogsarticle/0,,13165~2212649,00.html

Sheffield population will slide by 2020

Sheffield students protesting against fee changes in Nov 2010

A recent survey by The Star has announced Sheffield’s population may have halved by 2020 due to recent University fee changes.

Sheffield University confirmed last week that they would be raising their fees to the maximum charge of £9,000 and Sheffield Hallam will be announcing their fee proposal tomorrow.

The survey has found that Sheffield’s population could fall by up to 40 per cent in the next ten years as students decide to attend universities closer to home.

The poll of 1,000 students and parents predicts that the number of students living at home will double to 47 per cent over the next 10 years and climb to over 50 per cent by 2030.

In November 2010, 200 students marched through the streets of Sheffield in protest to rising tuition fees.

Vice chancellor Professor Keith Burnett believes a degree at Sheffield University would be worthwhile. "At a time when many sectors of society are feeling the impact of cuts and young people are increasingly concerned about employment and debt, we must effectively deliver and communicate the positive worth of university.

"We will not do this by underestimating what this investment will mean to graduates, but rather by championing an education which is worthy of that investment."

All universities charging over £6,000 have to devise a payment scheme for poorer students, a plan which is in place to ensure enrolment at university is open to all.

Richard Jackson, 17, a student at York College, was planning to attend University in 2011.”Ever since I heard about the rise in fees I have had to think twice about my future. I may have to live at home to subsidise the fees I will be paying.”

“I have to weigh up whether the debt I’ll be left in will be worth the degree I’ll be gaining. After all, with the current job market, will I even be guaranteed a job after university- degree or no degree?”

Tomorrow is the Government’s deadline for universities to set their tuition fees from 2012.

Spring has Sprung at Graves Park

Woodseats is home to Sheffield's biggest park, with plenty to do for everyone including: formal gardens; an animal farm; ancient woodland; playgrounds; sports fields; a cafe; bowling greens; tennis courts; small lakes; a golf course and a cricket oval.
A local mother of three, Elaine Goddard, has taken her children for a play in the spring sun. "Graves Park is great for families as it offers large open spaces for the kids to run and a lovely cafe which serves great cakes!"
Graves Park  is just a short walk from Woodseats town centre which includes a good range of shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Woodseats has a great community spirit which contributes to the town's growing popularity. With two schools, a youth club, a local football team, two churches, a theatre club and a local library it is no surprise that Woodseats is an attractive place to live.

Woodseats Community Support Officer on Social Networking Site

Community Support Officer, Ian Stubbs

South Yorkshire police have begun to use social networking sites to report crime rates to the local public.

Police Community Support Officer, Ian Stubbs, of Woodseats Safer Neighbourhood team has been using social networking sites Twitter and Facebook since October 2010.

Ian Stubbs, known as @KEInspector on Twitter, regularly updates the public on the crime statistics in the area over the last 24hours. Yesterday he tweeted: ‘Assisted Sheffield Homes to evict a tenant from Spring Close View yesterday. Hopefully peace will now return for the residents.’

Stubbs said that Twitter has become an important part of his job. “My role as Community Inspector is to reassure the public and I think tweeting helps this. I think fear often far exceeds the reality of what is actually happening and if we tell people the truth then that tends to address the concerns the public have.”

So far the community support officer has 350 followers on Twitter and 234 friends on Facebook who regularly reply to his posts with messages of appreciation.

Fiona Wainwright of Helmton Road, who has a daughter, aged 7, said: “I regularly look at the safer neighbourhood page as it is reassuring knowing the streets are being patrolled by a community support officer when my young child is walking to school. I appreciate knowing what crime has occurred in the area.”

As Twitter and Facebook obtain more and more followers daily, South Yorkshire police have currently trained 16 officers to use social network sites. However as technology becomes ever growing the figures are presumed to rise.

Tony Dobson of Fraser Road, Woodseats, was not aware of the Twitter and Facebook sites. “I think it’s a really great idea however evidently it needs publicising in our area more. The more local people who are made aware of crime the more that can be done to prevent it. I will be sure to join the sites and inform others of the good work Ian Stubbs is doing in Woodseats.”

You can follow Ian Stubbs on Facebook and @KEInspector on Twitter.

Verity MacGregor

What is the future of our libraries?

The peace and quiet associated with libraries, with rows and rows of shelves packed with the printed word, allows people to take a step back from the frantic, instant text and electronic world we live in today.

Most of us have fond memories of visiting public libraries as children. They are a vital and extremely cost effective way of providing recreation and education all in one go, supporters say: “If freedom of knowledge, information, self improvement and education is not high on the governments list of priorities, do not deny others the opportunity to have them.”

National save our libraries day on the 5^th of February took place across Yorkshire after proposals to cut Sheffield libraries budget by almost 30% over the next three years were put forward. This would mean a loss of £2.5m from the present library budget of £8.5m. There are concerns that this could have a devastating effect on the quality of library services.

There is much anger among readers, writers, parents and community groups at the announcement of cut-backs to our library system. With more than 400 libraries under threat of closure due to budget cuts, campaigners in Sheffield have taken to the streets for its mass 'shhh-in', organised by library workers for a brighter future.

Rosie Saunders who worked at Sheffield library and attended the protest, said: “I worked in the central library throughout the 80s and 90s, when the Tories cut the support grant to Sheffield. We brought no new books for three years and six local branches had to close. It took years for the library service to recover, I never want to see those days return and with cuts set to take place it looks as though they will.”

The protest in Sheffield Central library was aimed to encourage locals to come and borrow books and use the free facilities, as the more often libraries are used the stronger the argument will be to keep them open.

Libraries have so much to offer, as Jane Russell a worker in Sheffield Central library said: “Libraries are amazing places and are absolutely free to join. For families on a budget there are plenty of activities going on, which are as cheap as five pounds. This summer we were planning art workshops, reading challenges and clay modelling, which in other venues are far too expensive for some family’s to pay out for. With the lack of funds and possible closure, these free activities may no longer be available.  

“If the library closes then it may cut off the only access some people have to essential information and a local point of contact.”

Hundreds of protestors turned up with their fingers to their lips for the mass ‘shhh’. With queues trailing all over the library as people stacked up books to borrow, the library staff were the busiest they have been for a while, due to the large turnout that came to show their support.

The budget was passed by Sheffield Council and from the main report they are considering what kind of libraries are needed over the next ten years. Councillor Simon Clement Jones said: “We are asking what the purpose and role of local libraries will be in the future. Certainly a lot has changed, for example, many people just use libraries for internet access. We propose to cope with the reduced budgets by reducing the amount we spend on new books, introducing self service, use of volunteers and reduce opening hours of the library.”

Libraries are more than just buildings they are the trained staff, the service and resources. Promises to keep the buildings open at the expense of other factors, looses the cultural and enriching appeal.

Annie Stiller, a part time worker at the library believes: “We need locals to be involved in the library. I believe this protest is a great opportunity for people to influence the future of one of Sheffield’s most important buildings.

“As staff, we not only provide access to physical materials, but we are trained in finding exact sources, whether on the internet or using the archives. It is devastating that the proposal is to replace trained staff with volunteers and the management of the library building passed over to voluntary groups and private companies.”

The importance of libraries should not be underestimated, the world has changed and the way we read has changed. However, libraries can be adapted to new technology if funding is made available to them. They are a wonderful community resource and play a pivotal role in many elderly lives, as most do not have internet access at home.

With the fight back from protestors uniting to protect the much loved institutions, what seems certain is that the need for a central library in Sheffield will not disappear. Even in a century when much of the world’s knowledge can be accessed at home with a click of a mouse, people still believe libraries play a crucial role in society.   

Join Sheffield City Library here.
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/using-the-library/joining

Motorists triumph as bus traffic lights are finally turned off

The controversial bus priority traffic lights on the A61 Chesterfield road at Meadowhead are finally facing closure after a long campaign by commuters and residents to Sheffield City Council, complaining that traffic congestion has increased.

The complex traffic light system on the A61, approaching Woodseats, has been scrapped after angry  residents  complained it has caused congestion, forcing drivers to make longer journeys to miss the huge traffic jams.

The lights were installed to hold traffic in a queue and allow buses to come through. However drivers find the lights are turning red all the time, even with no buses coming so cars still have to wait, causing frustration amongst drivers.

A local resident Moreen Barker, a regular public transport user, said: “The new bus lights were supposed to make travelling by bus through Woodseats quicker, instead I am stuck in traffic for an extra 20 minutes, I am fuming.”

“Also have the Council forgot their commitment to green and environmental issues? All these traffic jams are causing more pollution and toxins.”

After months of petitions and campaigns from local people, Sheffield council have finally acted on the huge number of comments they received and are going to turn off the lights.

The A61, Meadowhead road traffic.

It was the feelings of people like Peter Marsden that brought about the u-turn. Peter Marsden, a regular commuter on this road, said: “I dread driving home in rush hour after work, as I know I will be stuck in traffic for an hour. I am very angry and have made a complaint to the council.”

“It’s frustrating, and an annoyance which could have been avoided if they had not made the lights so complex.” 

The report considered at the cabinet highway committee has recommended the bus gate lights should be removed and the bus lane extended down the road. This should not affect bus operations as the bus lane will still have priority but motorists will not have to wait at the lights when no bus is coming, improving the residents and road user’s route.

Councillor Ian Auckland, the council’s cabinet member for Business, transport and skills, said: “It is a shame that another transport mistake has been left by Labour and hard earned taxpayer’s money has been wasted.”

“However the process involved has been recognised, from the ongoing concerns of locals on how this busy main road operates. Changes are proposed which will be more conventional and less restrictive for the travelling public.”

The council’s proposal is to create a continuous bus lane and switch the bus lights off. Other highway changes on the road to Woodseats include removing several pedestrian crossings which have caused heavy traffic. These changes will be part of the budget for next year.


To keep updated on any upcoming roadworks in and around Sheffield, visit the Sheffield City Council Highway website at:     http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads/travel/driving/roadworks/roadworks

Woodseats Musical Theatre Company in Rehearsals

Local children gather in the town hall for a weekly rehersal for their upcoming play. This was an activity where the children had to use improvisation to express certain emotions, warming them up before rehersals.

Easter at Woodseats Methodist Church

A special Easter service 'Saints alive', took place at Woodseats Methodist church put together by the children who attend the Sunday School. Locals turned out to watch the puppet show celebrating Easter sunday, hosted by a special guest, Christian magician Stephen MacBeth. This Easter fundraiser event was in aid of the redevelopment of the Woodseats Montgomery hall, taking donations from those who attended the service.

Arson attack on betting shop

Terrified workers at Bob Holmes betting shop were forced to flee, when a man believed to be a regular customer set the shop a blaze yesterday. 

A man who had been involved in a dispute over the betting machines at City Road, Sheffield, had supposedly set fire to a flammable liquid, he had poured over the counter of the shop where two women, Nicola Holmes and Sally Manning were working.

Bob Holmes Betting shop, photographed by Joanne Mascall

Nicola Holmes, 46, who works at the family run business, said: “I was shocked at first, but managed to shout at the man to find out what he was doing, but he ignored me and carried on pouring liquid up the walls and over the counter.”

“Me and my colleagues then panicked and ran out from behind the counter to the door, where we could see flames all around us.”

Her brother, Ben Holmes, who was also working in the back of the shop, said: “I saw my staff panicking and rang the police when I realised the man was dangerous and was going to set the shop on fire.”

“I am just glad everyone is safe and we all got out in time, as the shop went up in flames so quickly. We are lucky to have support from the locals, as they are already offering us help to clear up the mess caused by the fire.” 

The alleged incident happened yesterday at around 5.15pm. The bookies are hoping to open as soon as possible after refurbishment.

A South Yorkshire police spokesperson, said: “After investigating an alleged attack at the bookmakers, we have arrested a 49 year old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, he is in custody and enquiries will continue.”

Firefighters had been called out to a similar incident at the betting shop in 2008, for an alleged fire scare only to find that an alarm had been set off by an intruder. Police arrested a man, aged 33, on suspicion of burglary.