Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 26 July 2012

You’re invited to Crosspool Forum’s Open Meeting on Thursday 26 July 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.

Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 26 July 2012 (PDF, 66KB)

Open Meeting, Thursday 26 July 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
  4. Answers to earlier questions put to the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg
  5. Questions & Answers with Councillors
    Cllr. Sylvia Anginotti; Cllr. Rob Frost; Cllr. Geoff Smith
  6. Noise & parking problems, between the two churches on Manchester. Road
  7. An introduction to FunMeFit
  8. Festival/Fayre; Children Disco; Boot Sale
  9.  AOB

Date of next meeting Thursday October 25th.

Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 26 July 2012 (PDF, 66KB)

First: 51 bus ‘falls short on punctuality’

51 bus service: First has responded to questions about frequency and reliability
51 bus service: First has admitted that it falls short on punctuality

First, the operator of Crosspool’s main bus service, has admitted that the 51 falls short on punctuality at certain times of day.

The operator carried out a month-long review of the service and identified several issues that the timetable doesn’t adequately allow for.

In response, a more resilient new timetable is being designed and extra buses and drivers will be deployed to improve the service. These changes will be implemented from late October to coincide with any route changes arising from the current Sheffield Bus Partnership consultation.

If these changes don’t make a difference then Crookes ward Councillor Geoff Smith intends to hold a meeting with First to discuss the 51 bus service. In the meantime, he will be at the next Crosspool Forum Open Meeting on Thursday 26 July if anyone wants to make any comments.

Full information from First regarding the 51 bus service below:

We’ve just completed a month’s study of issues and factors affecting the punctuality of the 51. Inputs to this have been:

  • Satellite bus tracking data that records a time at every bus stop on every journey.
  • Observations of traffic and other delays.
  • Journey monitoring to simulate the passenger’s experience, i.e. waiting at bus stops, travel on buses at times of delay (identified from above).
  • Comments from bus drivers, passengers and supervisors.

The conclusion reached is that, yes, the service does fall short on punctuality at certain times of day. This review has perhaps been long overdue as for key periods during the day the timetable lacks the robustness to withstand the external forces exerted on it. Having said that the journey time within the timetable does expand and contract to reflect known delays but here are a few examples of issues that we don’t adequately allow for.

The start of the school day at Crosspool, the operation of the crossings and the characteristics of the school time bus journeys. That certain buses encounter large numbers of children travelling out from the City and then encounter similar numbers from Lodge Moor. So a delay to Lodge Moor through this, the school run traffic and the crossings and then the same on the way back.

Peak traffic around the hospitals and University remains at buoyant until 0930-1000 hours.

Similar characteristics exist at the end of the school day to those at the start but it’s perhaps more intense as there’s less of a stagger.

Crossing Brook Hill roundabout continues to be a source of significant delay particularly when travelling out from City. Traffic crossing the roundabout from right to left slows entering Upper Hanover Street and obstructs the exit from Broad Lane.

Traffic queues on Rockingham Street at peak times.

Difficulty negotiating Mappin Street due to parked vehicles.

You may have noticed that on the Sheffield Bus Partnership consultation there is a proposed route change to avoid Broad Lane.

So where do we go from here? Well, hopefully the above route change will be implemented, together with a new timetable that is presently being designed. The new timetable will be much more resilient, incorporating longer journey times to reflect delays and greater recovery time at Lodge Moor before departure on the next journey. More buses and drivers will be required to operate it but deployed to maintain the present level of service where we’re falling short.

I hope this is good news. The date of introduction is 28 October 2012 to coincide with the launch of the Sheffield Bus Partnership. Generally, during the summer period there is an improvement in punctuality anyway as school and university related traffic subsides.

Damaged manhole cover in precinct to be repaired this weekend

The damaged manhole cover in the precinct is finally due to be repaired on Sunday
The damaged manhole cover in the precinct is finally due to be repaired on Sunday

The damaged manhole cover in the middle of Crosspool precinct will finally be repaired on Sunday 24 June.

The manhole – also known as a Gatic box – is the property and responsibility of National Grid. A spokesperson explained the reason for the delay:

This is a bespoke box, which due to the chamber and apparatus contained beneath it, has to be manufactured accordingly to the size, content and road type. We apologise for the length of time and any inconvenience that this has caused.

Sheffield City Council was informed on 20 April about the damaged manhole and since then traffic cones and ‘keep left’ road signs have been placed to ensure the area is avoided by traffic and pedestrians.

Video: Nick Clegg answers questions at Crosspool Q&A

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg answered Crosspool residents’ concerns at a constituency question-and-answer session on Friday.

Over the course of an hour in Hallam FC’s Sandygate clubhouse, the Sheffield Hallam MP responded to queries regarding the economy, jobs, the High Speed 2 rail link, the Leveson inquiry and the PFI project to renew and maintain Sheffield’s roads.

Questions were also asked about specific Crosspool issues. After describing their experience of travelling on the 51 bus route, one resident asked: What are the government’s plans to encourage provincial commuters to move back to using public transport? Watch the video below to hear Nick Clegg’s response:

He also responded to queries regarding the government’s policy on catchment area placements being within walking distance of local schools. Listen to his answer below (audio only):

The subject of the lack of bus shelter at the Vernon Terrace bus stop was also raised. Although local councillors are continuing to look into this, the deputy prime minister promised to also take it up.

Local residents had been invited to the Q&A via a leaflet through their letter box.

You can email our MP with your query using nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk.

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)