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!
Broomhill Library have received a grant from the Big Lottery for improvements to the Victorian building and to restore its long-abandoned Percy Cain Heritage Garden. The building on Taptonville Road was privately owned before being converted to a library in 1957. Since 2014 it has been run by volunteers who are hoping it can be developed as a community hub. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to the David Chenchen, chair of the trustees of Broomhill Library.
Security firm G4S has lost its Home Office contract to provide housing accommodation to asylum seekers in Yorkshire after a series of scandals and efforts by campaigners to end the arrangement. A new 10-year contracts, worth £1bn, has been awarded by the Home Office to housing and social care provider Mears including responsibility for housing asylum seekers in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
With parliamentary debate once again underway on government proposals for Brexit, Sheffield Live! asked residents whether their views have changed on leaving the European Union. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
The NHS in England have unveiled a new 10-year plan which it says could save up to half a million lives by focusing on prevention and early detection. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Rail investigators have called for a safety review to be carried out by Sheffield Council after two collisions in two months involving trams and vehicles at the same spot on Staniforth Road. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said a review of the junction and road signals should be carried out following the incidents on 25 October when a lorry drove into the path of a tram and on 30 November when a car hit a tram at the same junction. James Otter reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Council is launching an urgent appeal for more adoptive parents following release of a government report that reveals the number of children adopted in Yorkshire is at a record low. Government figures reveal only 430 children found permanent new parents in 2018, down from 690 in 2015. Sheffield Council is appealing for more people to come forward to adopt children currently in local authority care including unaccompanied child refugees. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Councillor Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, told Sheffield Live! there is a need for better quality temporary accommodation for the homeless. His comments came as rough sleepers erected two makeshift tents last weekend at Park Hill flats, nearly two years after the previous “Tent City” was shut down by the authority. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Rail travellers returning to work after the festive holidays have faced a blow as train fares have increased by an average of 3.1 per cent in England and Wales. Campaigners calling for the railway services to be re-nationalised gathered at Sheffield station to greet commuters with leaflets about the change. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A Sheffield-based migration rights group is calling on the government to assure safe passage for refugees and asylum seekers crossing the Channel to enter the UK. Stuart Crossthwaite, of the South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group, said the government should provide a “safe and legal route to allow people to exercise their rights to claim asylum”. The comments came as Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced two additional UK Border Force boats will be deployed to patrol the Channel. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!