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Anti-austerity campaigners condemn autumn budget statement

Green party co-leader Jonathan Bartley joined anti-austerity campaigners at a rally outside Sheffield Town Hall to condemn the autumn budget statement. Meanwhile Labour have said the government was “unprepared and ill-equipped” for Brexit. In the first financial statement since the Brexit vote in July, Chancellor Philip Hammond said government borrowing will increase by £122 billion over the next six years while UK growth predictions have been severely cut. Hammond vowed to ensure the UK economy was “resilient” and unveiled a fuel duty freeze and more cash for housing, transport and digital infrastructure. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Boxer Kell Brook opens new Wisewood Sports Centre

IBF Welterweight Champion Kell Brook officially opened the renovated Wisewood Sports Centre today alongside the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Denise Fox. A year ago the centre had an uncertain future but it has benefited from a £1 million revamp by property management company, Places for People. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Kell Brook and Denise Fox at the opening.

Protest pensioner speaks out on Rustlings Road tree fellings

Freda Bradshaw, the 71 year old pensioner arrested last week after protesting the felling of trees on Rustlings Road has spoken to Sheffield Live! of her frustration over the incident. Bradshaw was one of three protestors arrested and later released without charge after being held in a police cell while Amey contractors took chainsaws to the century old trees. Residents were awoken to police knocking on their doors as early as 5am to remove their vehicles from the road so work could commence. Many residents and tree campaigners have been left furious over the action by Sheffield City Council. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield City Council backs ‘Dying to Work’ charter

Sheffield City Council has become the first employer in Yorkshire to sign up to the TUC ‘Dying to Work’ Voluntary Charter which protects the employment rights of terminally ill employees. The charter supports terminally ill employees who wish to continue work after being diagnosed with a terminal illness and protects their right to dignity and not to be stigmatised in the work place. The Council is the latest high-profile employer to sign up to the charter which was developed by the TUC following the case of Jacci Woodcook, a 58-year-old sales manager from Derbyshire, who was forced out of her job after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.

Torrential rain causes flooding across Sheffield

Over 150 roads have been affected by flooding in South Yorkshire after the torrential downpour on Monday. There have been reports of abandoned cars south of Sheffield and many commuters were affected by cancelled rail services and traffic gridlock. The Sheffield ‘Streets Ahead’ team were despatched across the city unblocking drains and clearing debris build ups. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke with drainage operations manager, John Mollart.

Community group in bid to buy Gardeners Rest pub

The Gardeners Rest in Neepsend could become Sheffield first community-owned pub following a successful crowdfunding campaign by the newly formed Gardeners Rest Community Society. When the owners of the Gardeners Rest pub, Eddie Munnelly and Pat Wilson, announced their intention to sell up for a quieter life on a narrow boat, pub regulars grouped together to try to raise the necessary funds to take the pub into community ownership. The Gardeners Rest Community Society intend to maintain the pub and to develop it as a community hub supporting local businesses, artists and community groups. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Harrassment of councillor’s family condemned by tree campaigners

Deepa Shetty, of Sheffield Tree Action Groups, said there was no place for harrassment of members of a local councillor’s family in the campaign to save Sheffield trees. Councillor Bryan Lodge has defended the Sheffield City Council action to cut down trees in Rustlings Road which left many residents furious. Subsequently it has been reported that the councillor’s family faced harrassment at their home. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield Tent City disbanded as residents offered alternative housing

Sheffield Tent City, the camp set up outside Park Hill flats has packed up as residents have now been offered alternative accommodation. A solitary tent and an old caravan remain on the site set up to provide a safe place to sleep for the city’s homeless and raise public awareness of homelessness. The initiative was boosted by donations of food and blankets from the general public. Sheffield City Council has offered accommodation to all of the Tent City residents. Organiser Anthony Cunningham has pledged to set up a new shelter for the homeless. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield United: Wilder plays down injury concerns ahead of Bury game

Blades manager Chris Wilder expects Paul Coutts, Kieron Freeman and Mark Duffy to be available for Tuesday’s game against Bury despite weekend injuries. Goals from Billy Sharp and Stefan Scougall gave Sheffield United a 2-1 victory over nine-man Shrewsbury that lifted them into the automatic promotion places this weekend. However the game was marred for United with injuries to three key players. Paul Coutts, Kieron Freeman and Mark Duffy all had to leave the field with injuries. Paul Coutts was on the receiving end of a studs up high challenge by Shrewsbury’s Abu Ogogo. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Film festival marks Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transforming Cinema film festival is being held at venues across Sheffield this weekend to coincide with Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday, 20 November. The film festival, produced by E.D.E.N Film Productions, brings together speaker events and films on trans issues and productions from the LGBTQ community. Transgender Day of Remembrance, is an annual memorial to those murdered as a result of trans-phobia, and highlights the violence faced by the transgender community. In Sheffield there will be a vigil at 6pm in Hallam Square. Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to festival organiser Claire Watkinson of E.D.E.N. Film production and film producer Taylor Le Fin.