Williamson Hardware in Broomhill under threat from closure

Williamson Hardware in Broomhill
Williamson Hardware in Broomhill: under threat from closure

Broomhill institution Williamson Hardware could be forced to move from its current location on Fulwood Road to make way for a Sainsbury’s supermarket.

The landlord of the building is attempting to conclude the tenancy and has applied for permission to modify the unit, including changing the use of the first floor from office to retail.

Williamson Hardware has been trading in Broomhill for 52 years. A Spar exists three doors down and a 24-hour Select and Save supermarket is located at the top of Glossop Road.

Crosspool residents can post their views on the proposals on the Sheffield City Council planning website. The application can be viewed online along with all the associated documents under planning reference 12/01352/FUL.

Planning application – 12/01352/FUL Williamson Hardware

Lydgate Reservoir housing plans in doubt

Plans to build new homes on the site of Lydgate Reservoir on Evelyn Road are in doubt following a statement from Yorkshire Water.

The information posted by Yorkshire Water’s Land Use Planning Manager on the consultation website reads:

I have now been informed by my operational colleagues that they are undertaking further investigations with regard to our distribution network in the area. Because of this I am not satisfied that there is in fact a “reasonable prospect” of the site coming forward within the plan period. I would therefore like to withdraw the site at least until our investigations are complete.

I am hopeful that we will have more certainty by the representations stage of the Publication Version and if in fact the site does prove to be surplus to operational use I will then ask for it to be included.

The site was one of 18 in Sheffield earmarked as part of a strategy to build 1,110 new homes.

Five stars for Crosspool chippy

Crosspool chippy: 5/5 for food hygiene
Crosspool chippy: 5/5 for food hygiene

On Thursday 19 January this year a local authority hygiene inspector called unannounced at Crosspool Fish Bar on Sandygate Road.

Posing as a customer, she bought some fish and chips and then identified herself to the proprietor and subsequently inspected the rest of the premises.

We’re pleased to report that Crosspool’s chippy was awarded the food standards agency’s highest Food Hygiene Rating of five stars by Sheffield City Council.

Crosspool Fish Bar on Facebook

Liberal Democrats hold Crookes seat in 2012 local election

Sandygate polling station
Sandygate polling station

Liberal Democrat Rob Frost has been elected as a councillor for Crookes in the 2012 local elections.

The results were as follows:

Rob Frost, Liberal Democrat – 1,965
Abdul Khayum, Labour Party – 1,416
Amy Mack, Green Party – 808
John Hesketh, Independent – 736
James Hoyes, Conservative – 360
Alec Hayward, UKIP – 323

There were a total of 5,608 votes from an electorate of 13,966 in Crookes, which gives a turnout in our ward of 40%.

Overall in Sheffield, the Labour gained nine seats and the Liberal Democrats lost nine. So Labour remain in overall control of Sheffield City Council.

The result for mayoral referendum will be announced later today.

Crookes Ward local election 2012 result

Sheffield local elections May 2012

BBC Vote 2012 Sheffield results

Crosspool residents vote in local election and mayoral referendum

Stephen Hill church polling station in Crosspool
Stephen Hill church polling station in Crosspool

Crosspudlians will be casting their votes today to choose a new local councillor for the Crookes ward and decide whether or not Sheffield council should switch to a system that would see it led by an elected mayor.

There are 28 seats up for election, which is one third of Sheffield City Council. In the Crookes ward there are six candidates standing:

Read comments from some of the candidates about why they say you should vote for them

Sheffield local elections May 2012

Minutes from Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, 26 April 2012

Below is a bullet point summary of Thursday’s meeting.

Download April 26 2012 Open Meeting bullet points (PDF, 78KB)

Matters arising

Benty Lane junction still ongoing – information expected soon.

Police report

PC Louise Atha – team now part of “SWSNA” (rather than Broomhill Safer Neighbourhood Area); but still the same officers working the same area. Recent items of interest:

  1. Coop Travel armed robbery – ongoing CID enquiries;
  2. armed response op, Manchester Rd, one arrest.
  3. under-age alcohol purchases; of 17 premises tested 3 failed
  4. bogus callers – list available of phone numbers to check their identity
  5. burglaries & pedal-bike thefts – reminder to keep access locked!
  6. schoolchildren fighting in Crosspool – ongoing enquiries
  7. allotment break-ins; shed alarms now fitted & new gate; Operation Herbaceous in place. Anti-social behaviour down by 4% in this area!.

PCSO Garry Hizam – BlackBerry number 07584 617 200; he can call at residents’ homes with his Hermes unit to register possessions.

Insp. Deborah Pickering – new insp. For the team introduced herself.

Guest Speaker:- Andrew Peat

Andrew Peet (Neighbourhood Watch, Fulwood).

As it is better to deter burglars from targeting your house in the first place, once secure locks have been fitted the most sophisticated (& police backed) tool is a ‘glitter glue’ type liquid that can be used by householders to mark laptops, ceramic, jewellery, cameras, satnavs etc etc. People were asked to sign up with Andrew or Pat Wilkins – or later via Ian Hague – so a large order can be placed with the company SelectaDNA, for kits at £25 a time.

Each kit has a totally different ‘fingerprint’, and will mark up to 75 items permanently., with ‘readers’ able to then trace the item back to its owner of stolen. Large door/patio window stickers then advise potential criminals that a particular house is not worth breaking-into, and hopefully eventually insurance companies will take this into account when setting premiums.

Hillside Harvest

Nick & Eleanor Rousseau, & Claire Gregory, spoke about their grow-you-own cooperative, run from on 7 allotments on Hagg Hill. The last year & a half have seen them learn by experience, how to keep the mice off, how to make use of weeds for fertilizer, & how to grow a ‘permaculture’ system that works in harmony with nature & is low maintenance. They have a rota of local members who go together to work the land, and teach school groups etc how to do this in a sustainable fashion.

Councillors’ report

Cllr. Geoff Smith said:

  1. Hadfield Reservoir – unlikely to be on the final list of proposed building sites – no plans to decommission it. Lydgate – awaiting response that Nick Clegg requested about this.
  2. Vernon Tce; sadly this is now a ‘dead issue’
  3. 20s plenty road campaign; one 2o zone will be put in place in the SWCA area – but not necessarily in Crosspool.
  4. Moor View (Gosney’s )farm; despite very worrying letters to the effect that demolition will take place on 30th April, Geoff was positive no application had even been received to do this, & Kate Mansell (planning) knows this is an important heritage site for Crosspool.
  5. Green garden waste; from 23rd April people can purchase clear sacks at £1.20 each & once filled can telephone for 5-10 to be collected by the Council. This is just for 2012, as in ’13 the Council hopes to introduce green bins. (Flytipping is recognized as a possible isse because of this).
  6. Recycling; once the black bin become a fortnightly collection people can choose which blue bin to use for which recycling – as long as they do not mix their waste.

Events

Crosspool Festival; now in its 3rd year Sally Turnbull listed some of the events happening int he week 6th to 15th July – well dressing, open gardens, barn dance, organ recital, street market, cricket club open day, Tavern & Plough events, walks, harp recital, birds talk, gardeners’ question time, tea dance, harp recital etc! Residents will get a programme through their letterboxes in June.

Summer Fayre (14th July) – new events incl. Punch & Judy, American marching band & sumo wrestlers! Helpers please contact Ian Hague.

Car Boot Sale (16th June). – but not if its wet!

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – look out for flags & flowers in the precinct!

 AOB

  1. Ian Hague was thanked for his organization of the recent Salford Quays trip; it is to be hoped they can be more!
  2. Paula Stacey is re-opening the Crosspool craft shop.
  3. A new Crosspool Women’s s Institute group has started – see Twitter (Or Paula)
  4. Computer course; names to Ian Hague please if you would like to join the new courses.
  5. Event for 21013; it is hoped to mark Sheffield’ first-ever bus route – being the 51 to Crosspool – early in 2013. Watch this space!

The next Open Meeting will be Thurs, 26th July 2012. 7pm, St Columba’s.

Download April 26 2012 Open Meeting bullet points (PDF, 78KB)

Residents’ concern over future of Moor View Farm on Manchester Road

Moor View Farm (picture and location on Google Maps) on Manchester Road has been put up for sale.

The property and surrounding land, known locally to some as Gosney’s farm, is being marketed by Eaton Commercial Property Consultants. The sellers are seeking offers in excess of £600,000.

At Thursday night’s Open Meeting, concerns were raised by some residents over whether the farm would be demolished. A downloadable document on the Eaton website gives details of how an indicative residential layout scheme might look.

Crookes Councillor Geoff Smith confirmed at the meeting that to his knowledge, no application to demolish it or for planning permission has been received by the council. Some neighbouring residents indicated that they had received letters saying that demolition of the farm was due to take place before the end of the month.

Councillor Smith is investigating further and we’ll post any updates regarding the farm to this website.

Property listing on Eaton Commercial (scroll down)

Plans document for Moor View Farm (PDF, 3.1MB)

Location of Moor View Farm (Google Maps)

Update, Friday 27 April 2012 from Councillor Smith:

I have been in contact with the Council Planning Department today. Unfortunately both the people I had dealt with before were on leave. However, I managed to talk to someone who studied the file and got back to me. The agent has applied recently to the Building Regulations office of the Council for permission to demolish the farm. This included notice of their intention to do so on 30 April 2012. What the neighbours have received is a letter from the agent informing them that the demolition will take place on 30 April. The Building Regulations office has NOT given them permission to demolish and has sent a letter today to the agent informing them that the demolition cannot go ahead without a bat survey and a planning application to demolish. The agent will also be telephoned today to inform him. I aim to be at the site on Monday morning.

Update, Thursday 3 May 2012 from Councillor Smith:

Those of you who were up and about on Manchester Road around 8am on Monday may have seen three men loitering near the farm. They were Ian and Steve from the Crosspool Forum and me. We were there just in case there was a demolition attempt. Fortunately we did not have to draw straws to decide which of us was going to dive in front of a bulldozer. There was no attempted demolition.

I have been assured by the relevant Council officers that both the owners and the agent are fully aware that a prior application to the Planning Dept. and a bat survey have to be carried out before demolition can take place. There is still some doubt as to the grounds on which the Planning Dept can insist that a full planning type application is made. But for the moment a prior application has not been made and a bat survey has not been completed.

I will keep you informed. If, though, you see any activity around the farm that looks like demolition of preparations to demolish please let me know. I can be contacted on 07581 214 783.

Crookes ward: local elections and mayoral referendum on Thursday 3 May

Stephen Hill church polling station in Crosspool
Stephen Hill church polling station in Crosspool

Local residents will be voting in the local council elections and mayoral referendum on Thursday 3 May.

There are 28 seats up for election, which is one third of Sheffield City Council. Crosspool lies in the Crookes ward, where there are six candidates standing:

If any of these candidates read this, it would be great if they could comment below to sum up why Crosspool residents should vote for them.

Voters will also be deciding they would like the council to be run, either by a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors (how the council is run now) or by a mayor who is elected by voters.

Sheffield local elections May 2012

Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 26 April 2012

You are invited to Crosspool Forum’s Open Meeting on Thursday 26 April at St Columba’s Church. It starts at 7pm.

A provisional agenda is below. Come along to give your concerns on Crosspool issues to local councillors, the police and council officials.

Update 21 April: PC Atha will be attending the Open Meeting with new inspector Deborah Pickering.

Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 26 April 2012 (PDF, 57KB)

Open Meeting, Thursday 26 April 2012: provisional agenda

  1. Apologies for absence
    Introduction of top table
    Chairman’s welcome/report
    Minutes (bullet points) of last meeting to be approved
  2. Matters arising
  3. Police Liaison
    An update on policing in the area. PC Atha will be attending the Open Meeting with new inspector Deborah Pickering.
  4. Guest Speaker:- Andrew Peat
    Demo of the advantages of Forensic marking
  5. Talk:- Nick Rousseau ‘Grow your own food’
  6. Questions & Answers with Councillors
    Cllr. Sylvia Anginotti; Cllr. Brian Holmes; Cllr. Geoff Smith
  7. Events: Festival/Fayre, Car Boot Sale, Queens Diamond Jubilee
  8.  AOB

Date of next meeting Thursday July 26th.

Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 26 April 2012 (PDF, 57KB)

Detached house proposed for former Hallamshire Hotel plot

New plans for development of the former Hallamshire Hotel site on Lydgate Lane have been submitted to the council.

The new application on the council website shows plans for five residential units, including a detached three-bedroomed house.

The original plans proposed that the former pub be demolished to make way for four dwelling houses, two apartments and detached garage block.

You can view and comment on the new application and its associated documents online, reference 12/00800/FUL.

Demolition of the Hallamshire Hotel on Lydgate Lane
The Hallamshire Hotel on Lydgate Lane: now demolished to make way for housing