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Sheffield celebrates the Chinese New Year

Sheffield celebrated the Chinese New Year with a traditional procession outside the Town Hall. Sheffield has nearly 7500 Chinese residents or 1.3% of the population, according to the 2011 Census. The Chinese population of the city has more than doubled since 2001, including over 3000 Chinese international students. It is estimated that international students make a net contribution of £120 million to Sheffield’s economy, around ten per cent of our inward investment. In 2016 Sheffield announced a 60 year partnership deal with Sichuan Guodong Construction Group, the largest agreement of its kind outside of London. The first tranche of funding of around £220 million will fund city centre projects over the next three years.The Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar New Year and is represented by one of twelve animals. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

New exhibition highlights Sheffield’s lost architectural icons

An exhibition opening in Sheffield, titled Blink… and it’s gone, features a series of posters highlighting the demolition of Sheffield buildings which were once at the forefront of urban regeneration. The screen-printed limited editions feature sites such as the Grosvenor House Hotel, the ‘egg box’ Town Hall extension and Hallam Towers Hotel. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Rupert Wood, founder and owner of APG Works where the exhibition is being held.

Veteran Bafta winning actor Sir John Hurt has died

Tributes have poured in for the Chesterfield born actor, known for his roles in Alien and The Elephant Man, who has died at the age of seventy-seven. Hurt, who had been undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer since 2015, was describe by US director Mel Brooks as “cinematic immortality”. He recently starred as Father Richard McSorley in Jackie, the biopic of the wife of President John F Kennedy’s. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Martin Carter, lecturer in stage and screen at Sheffield Hallam University and presenter of the Film Show on Sheffield Live! about the loss to the film community.

Street food festival planned for Chinese New Year

Street City, Sheffield’s Street Food Night Festival are organising a weekend of activities on Ecclesall Road to celebrate the Chinese New Year, including food, drinks, music and entertainment. The Chinese New Year, marks the lunar new year and is a major festival in Chinese communities around the world. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Street City organisers, Niall Gordon and Cherise Hatfield.

Council rejects bid to save Brincliffe Edge pub

A community-led application to have the Cherry Tree Inn listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has been rejected by Sheffield Council. The Carter Knowle and Milhouses Community Group applied in November for an ACV to stop the Cherry Tree Inn on Carter Knowle Avenue from being demolished and turned into a Co-op food store. In reaching its decision the Council said the group provided insufficient evidence of the pub’s value to the neighbourhood or any details of how the pub supports local groups. The building owner, Enterprise Inns, said the pub is “neither busy nor popular”. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield veterans receive France’s highest military honour

Four Second World War veterans from Sheffield have been presented with the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest military distinction, in a ceremony at Sheffield Town Hall. The four veterans, in their early 90s and all still living in Sheffield, are Roy Stout, Graham Bell, Donald Walker and George Young .The medal ceremony follows a number of similar events that have taken place around the UK since the 70th anniversary of D-Day in June 2014, when French President François Hollande pledged to honour British veterans who had served in France during the war. France has so far decorated more than 4,300 D-Day veterans across the UK. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

HS2 parkway sites shortlist revealed

A shortlist of eight sites for a potential HS2 parkway station to serve South Yorkshire has been revealed including a potential park-and-ride facility with 1700 parking spaces. The eight sites, revealed at a Doncaster Council meeting, include three sites in Rotherham, at Bramley, Hooton Roberts and Wales, three sites in Doncaster, at Clayton, Mexborough and Hickleton, and two sites in Wakefield, at Fitzwilliam and Hemsworth. The new high-speed rail network is planned to run from London to Birmingham, with branches onward to Manchester and Leeds. Government ministers say it will improve the transport network and boost the economy, but there has been controversy about the route of the line and its effect on those living nearby. Opponents living in some of the rural locations affected have said it is unlikely to benefit Yorkshire. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Homelessness charity Roundabout celebrates 40 years of service

Sheffield based charity Roundabout are celebrating 40 years of helping vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness in Sheffield with an anniversary fundraising campaign. The registered charity is asking supporters to donate forty pounds each to contribute towards their annual fundraising target of two hundred thousand pounds. Sheffield Live! reporter Sham Powell spoke to Tracey Jackson, deputy chief executive.

Sheffield pupils take part in Big Schools’ Birdwatch

The RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place in the first half of the spring term and pupils from St Theresa’s Primary School, Prince of Wales Road have been getting involved. The Big Schools’ Birdwatch is an annual educational activity which encourages children to discover the wildlife to be found in their school grounds and to get closer to nature. Sham Powell reports for Sheffield Live!