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Free wi-fi plan for Sheffield city centre

Sheffield Council is considering plans to introduce free wi-fi in the city centre by the end of the year as part of an initiative led by Sheffield Business Improvement District. The authority is looking for a provider to offer wireless internet at no cost to those who use it. The project relies on a provider offering wi-fi service at no cost to the council and paying rent to use street assets, such as lampposts, to provide the signal. A decision on whether or not to go ahead with the wi-fi scheme will be made at a meeting of the cabinet next week. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Richard Eyre, head of city centre management at Sheffield Council.

E-cigarette chargers can be fire risk warns Fire Service

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have warned the general public about the risk of fire from E-cigarette chargers after investigations into a house fire in Rotherham. Firefighters were called to the blaze in a house on Roebuck Chase. An E-cigarette charger, found in the lounge, is thought to have been the cause of the fire. Nobody was hurt. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Spencer Rowland of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

Sheffield MP slams government over Post Office closures

Sheffield MP Gill Furniss, the shadow minister for steel, postal services and consumer protection, has condemned government plans for the closure and franchising of a further 37 Crown Post Offices. The Labour MP for Hillsborough and Brightside has asked the government to look instead at how it can expand Post Office services and make them sustainable rather than managing a slow decline.The latest round of closures was announced while the government is still analysing feedback from tens of thousands of people responding to recent public consultation on the future of the Post Office network. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Gill Furniss.

Celebrating Sheffield sporting success with a cuppa

A new not-for-profit café has opened on Chapel Walk. Nothing unusual about that but this café focuses on celebrating the diverse range of Sheffield sports and sporting clubs and exploring their history and heritage. Sporting Sheffield stocks products from Goalsoul, a local company with a huge range of football-inspired art and apparel. There is also merchandise from Sheffield Football Club and Hallam Football Club, as well as other sports products and artefacts. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Marathon man raises £30k for Rotherham school

Marathon runner Ray Matthews has presented a cheque to Newman School, Rotherham, for just under thirty thousand pounds, raised through his 75 marathons campaign. When Matthews turned 75 he decided to embark on a challenge, to run 75 marathons in 75 days. His motivation was to raise money for a Rotherham special school whose pupils and staff had hugely impressed him. Newman School offers a specialist range of provision to support children and young people with physical disabilities, medical needs and complex learning needs. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Young Sheffield artists showcase their work

The Rotary Club of Abbeydale are holding their annual A Level Exhibition at Sheffield Town Hall where a selection of the best pictures produced by Sheffield A level students is displayed. It includes work submitted to the annual National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS) / Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) competition. In the past four years, three of the pictures have featured in exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London. The A Level exhibition is a working exhibition and, with the help of the Sheffield branch of NADFAS, it also features artists in residence. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to exhibition organiser Ken Marshall.

City residents group oppose new West Street off-licence

The Sheffield City Centre Residents Action Group have submitted an objection to an application to the Sheffield Licensing Council for a sixth off-licence on Sheffield’s West Street. The group argues the high number of off-licences on West Street has a direct link to reports of anti-social behaviour. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Gill Furniss MP opposes Yorkshire mayor proposal

Brightside and Hillsborough MP Gill Furniss has issued a joint statement with other South Yorkshire MPs criticising the idea of an elected mayor for Yorkshire and The Humber. The statement was in response to a call by fellow Labour MP Jon Trickett at a Wakefield conference who has proposed a directly-elected mayor to run a single devolved region taking in the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber. Trickett’s proposal comes after a mayoral election for the Sheffield City Region was pushed back to 2018. The delay followed a High Court ruling about a flawed consultation process. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Gill Furniss.

Sheffield Council may cut short Veolia waste contract

Sheffield Council leaders are considering proposals to end the authority’s waste contract with provider Veolia. Veolia is responsible for collection and disposal of household waste, running waste recycling centres and managing and operating the Energy Recovery Facility at Bernard Road. The contract was signed in 2001 and is set to expire in 2036. At Sheffield City Council’s cabinet meeting next week, members will consider alternative solutions to provide waste services in the city. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Councillor Bryan Lodge, cabinet member for the environment.