Two hundred people gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall to protest against the Council’s tree felling programme before a Council debate on the issue. Members of Sheffield Tree Action Group and Save Our Roadside Trees addressed protesters ahead of the full council meeting which debated a Green Party tabled motion of ‘no confidence’. Sheffield Live! reporter Sham Powell spoke with former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett.
The Sheffield street pastors, who volunteer every Friday and Saturday night, now carry mobile phone charging devices to help people keep in touch and get to their destinations safely. Sheffield City Council bought the battery-powered devices from funding won for its award winning Best Bar None scheme to promote a vibrant and safe city centre nightlife. Sheffield Live! reporter Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to Tricia Watts, street pastor co-ordinator.
Sheffield Green Party councillors have reacted to the felling in Sharrow of another popular tree by tabling a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the Sheffield Council leadership. It comes after the Council’s contractor, Amey, cut down the only street tree on Ventnor Place, despite objections from residents who live there. Cllr Rob Murphy said: “This is yet another example of how the council leadership has lost control of the situation. It clearly shows we’re right to put our motion of no confidence to the Council meeting on Wednesday”. The Council are already under pressure to discuss claims of mistreatment of tree protestors last week on Rustlings Road however they declined to make a statement to Sheffield Live! on the latest incident. Sheffield Live! reporter Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to Alison Teal, Green Party councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow.
As part of their 90th anniversary celebrations, Voluntary Action Sheffield organised their first ‘Make a Difference Awards’ to recognise Sheffield’s voluntary sector. The event celebrated the quality and diversity of the local voluntary sector and volunteering. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Paul Harvey, Volunteer Centre Manager for Voluntary Action Sheffield.
Senior health bosses have laid bare the scale of the challenge facing Sheffield’s NHS services following the publication of a major report which called for ‘radical change’. South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw are tasked with saving hundreds of millions of pounds by 2020 to address an estimated shortfall of £571 million. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Dr Jillian Creasy of the Save Our NHS campaign.
Burngreave Food Bank is one of a national network of foodbanks that rely on the time and generosity of thousands of volunteers to give emergency food and support for people in crisis. International Volunteer Day (IVD) is an occasion to celebrate the efforts and values of volunteers and to promote their work among communities. The Trussell Trust runs a network of over 400 foodbanks across the UK, including Burngreave Food Bank. In the last year they gave over one million three day emergency food supplies to people in crisis, many among the 13 million people living below the poverty line. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to volunteers and organisers at Burngreave Food Bank.
A new football hub has been opened at Thorncliffe Park following the launch last month at Graves Park of the first of a network of grassroots football hubs. The Parklife programme is a new initiative to develop sustainable community football hubs across the country, raising playing standards and opportunities for all. It is funded by The Football Association, the Premier League and Department of Culture Media and Sport through Sport England and works in partnerships with local authorities and the Football Foundation. Sheffield Live! reporter Bailor Jalloh spoke to Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet response for culture, sport and leisure at Sheffield City Council.
On International Day for People with Disability, local charity, Disability Sheffield, is raising awareness of hate crimes against people with disability. In partnership with the Showroom Cinema and Warp Films, Disability Sheffield screened the BAFTA nominated film “Dead Man’s Shoes” which takes a stark look at the effects of disability hate crime. The main aim of the screening is to raise awareness of disability hate crime in the region. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Kathryn Littlewood, development officer at Disability Sheffield.
A petition to keep Sheffield Central Library in its existing grade II listed building has reached over 8,000 signatures. Sheffield City Council has opened discussions with Chinese investment partner Guodong UK Limited over proposals to sell off the Central Library to become the city’s first five star hotel. The Council has said the building is in need of repairs which would cost at least £30 million and an alternative option would be to build a new modern library elsewhere in the city centre. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Rebecca Gransbury who started the petition.
Resident and campaigners are calling on Sheffield Council to re-examine plans to cut down trees on Western Road planted to honour soldiers killed in the First World War. Ninety-six trees were planted in 1919. Sixty remain including 23 planted in memory of a group of young soldiers who attended nearby Westways primary school and were killed in the war. The site is still a registered war memorial and the group ‘Western Road Remembers’ has been set up to protect the memorial. Western Road is the latest road earmarked for tree felling after recent protest and arrests in Nether Edge and on Rustlings Road. Protestors Calvin Payne and Simon Crump, arrested in Nether Edge, will return to court for a full hearing in March 2017. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke with Western Road Remembers campaigner, Alan Story.