More than 50 black cab drivers gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall, protesting against Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone regulations and calling on councillors to extend the temporary exemption until July 2024. The temporary exemption charge of £10 is due to expire at the end of June 2023. Drivers say an extension will give them time to raise enough money to buy new vehicles. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to black cab drivers Qasim Aslam and Majid Kahn.
An extraordinary Sheffield Council meeting last week to discuss the findings of the Lowcock Tree Inquiry into the Street Trees Dispute turned heated as questions were raised by former tree campaigners. Calvin Payne who was arrested in 2016 for protesting against the cutting down of thousands of trees across the city told Sheffied Live! he accepts the council’s apology over the felling of street trees and the treatment of campaigners but feels more accountability is needed. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Local politicians and community activists joined a rally at Fargate in solidarity with pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Campaigners marked the 35th anniversary of the Battle of Orgreave with a rally on Orgreave Lane at the site of the former coking plant. Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign are continuing to seek a public enquiry into the events of June 1984 when miners were assaulted and arrested by police on charges that were later dropped as allegations emerged of fabricated evidence and police brutality. The government has refused to grant their request. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Community activists held a vigil outside Sheffield Town Hall to mark two years since the Grenfell tower tragedy in London and to remember the victims. Seventy two people lost their lives in the tower block after a fire got out of control in the building. A service of remembrance was also held in London and attended by friends and families of the victims. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The BBC has been criticised after its decision to scrap free TV licences in a move that will affect the majority of pensioners over the age 75. Following a public consultation, the BBC Board decided that from June 2020 only those households with someone who is both over 75 and in receipt of Pension Credit will be entitled to a free TV licence paid for by the broadcaster. Currently all households with people over 75 are entitled to a free TV licence. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Dozens of firefighters gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall to lobby councillors to seek a reversal of planned cuts by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. The fire service faces cost pressures from a national shortfall in pension contributions and is proposing to reduce the number of firefighters on each fire engine from five to four. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
South Yorkshire Police are set to share with other police forces across the country an additional £100m of government funding to help deal with the surge in knife crime. The cash is to be used for police overtime and to fund new ‘Violent Crime Reduction Units’. South Yorkshire Police have been running a campaign this week to raise awareness about knife crime and to reduce the numbe of weapons on the streets. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to detective superintendent Una Jennings.
Pro-European campaigners demonstrate at Sheffield Town Hall as MPs vote to reject the Prime Minister’s Brexit withdrawal agreement. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Neil Schofield, chair of Sheffield for Europe.
Hundreds of people attended a People’s Vote rally at Sheffield’s Victoria Hall, Norfolk Street, to demand a second referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out another referendum as MPs debate government proposals for Brexit. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!