Crosspool schools in ice cream van row

The council’s licensing board meets today to discuss concerns from Tapton and King Edward VII lower school teachers regarding the safety of pupils as they are drawn onto Darwin Lane at busy times in order to buy from the ice cream van.

In January, a boy was hit crossing the road to reach the van. Ice cream man Chris Turner has been trading on the site since May 1971.

Sheffield Star: Schools in ice cream van row

Police attend the scene of the accident on Darwin Lane
A boy was hit crossing the road to reach the ice cream van in January

Convenience store planning application appeal dismissed

The Planning Inspectorate today published its decision regarding the Lydgate Lane convenience store planning application and has concluded that the appeal is to be dismissed.

The appeal decision document (PDF, 98KB) gives the full reasoning for its dismissal, citing the main issue as highway safety being compromised by the proposed development. Alison Lea, the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, concludes:

“…the lack of adequate off street parking and servicing provision would be likely to lead to conditions which would be prejudicial to highway safety and that this would be contrary to Policy S10 of the Sheffield Unitary Development Plan which provides that in Shopping Areas new development will be permitted provided that, amongst other matters, it would provide safe access to the highway network and appropriate off-street parking and not endanger pedestrians.”

Download the appeal decision document (PDF, 98KB)

The original planning application was made last August. Following the planning officer’s recommendation for refusal, it was rejected by the Council. An appeal by the applicant followed and today is was announced that this has been dismissed. A more detailed summary of events can be found here.

Motor World, Lydgate Lane, Crosspool
The convenience store planning application appeal for the premises currently occupied by Motor World on Lydgate Lane has been dismissed

Polling station changes for local elections and referendum in May

Sheffield City Council’s Returning Office is communicating with the Crosspool electorate to advise of changes to polling stations for the 2011 local elections and referendum.

Some residents will be moving polling station from Stephen Hill church on Benty Lane to Hallam FC’s ground on Sandygate Road.

The communication reads:

Following the general election in 2010 the Returning Officer held a review which recommended increasing the number of poling stations. In addition some established polling stations are unavailable for this May’s elections.

Full details of where you should vote will be printed on your polling card. The deadline for registering to vote is Thursday 14 April.

Updated polling stations map

Sheffield local elections May 2011

Sandygate, the oldest football ground in the world
Sandygate: a new polling station in the May 2011 local elections for some Crosspool residents

Submit a transport service request to Sheffield City Council

Sheffield city council is inviting suggestions for how to improve traffic flow, road safety or change facilities for road/pavement users in the city.

Crosspool residents can go to www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads/report/transport-service-requests to register requests, or alternatively you can call the council on 0114 273 5907.

All the requests will be considered and acknowledged within seven days, and the assessment will generally be undertaken within around three to four months. Information regarding the outcome will be announced when the Community Assembly has made a decision.

Tai chi class in Fulwood

Activity Sheffield is the council organisation that develops physical activity sessions for older adults so they can improve their health through exercise.

They have been in touch and asked us to mention a weekly tai chi class that takes place each Monday in Fulwood. Details are below.

Have you never tried tai chi but would like to give it a go? This is the perfect opportunity to try it out in a friendly and relaxed environment.

Tai chi is a slow physical exercise ideal for improving relaxation, balance and overall health. This is a great session for beginners and can really help you improve your strength and balance. You don’t need any specific clothing; just wear something you’re comfortable in and non-marking footwear.

No need to book simply come along to Fulwood Scout Hut, 551 Fulwood Road on a Monday 1:15-2:15pm. Sessions are usually £2 but you can try your first one for free. For more information contact Activity Sheffield on 0114 273 5787.

The Old Grindstone pub to reopen on 25 February

After years of uncertainty, including rumours of closure and demolition, the future of the Old Grindstone public house in Crookes seems safe, at least for the moment.

The owners, Greene King, are refitting the premises with a view to reopening on 25 February. With a banner on the pub promising ‘new food and drinks at great prices’, it seems that a more comprehensive food menu will be a feature of the relaunched pub.

Greene King has also applied for an extension in opening hours to provide alcohol and entertainment from 9am-12 midnight Sunday to Thursday and 9am-1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The application can viewed during office hours at the Licensing Department in the town hall.

The Old Grindstone
The Old Grindstone: due to reopen on 25 February

Bullet points from Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 27 January 2011

Download as a Word document (30KB)

Matters arising & Chairman’s report

Unfortunately due to an unforeseen commitment, Ian was unable to be at Thursday’s meeting and sent his apologies.

In his absence the meeting was left in the capable hands of Roger, Chris and Steve.

  1. The usual spring-flowering bulbs were planted round Crosspool in the autumn of 2010.

Police report & incidents

  1. A new email etc newsletter is being produced by the Broomhill SNA; anyone interested can fill in a Neighbourhood News form & email/send it back to the police. Gary Hizam hopes to have enough forms to include one in the next edition of every Clarion.
  2. Watch out for an illegitimate door-to-door salesman ( – selling sticky tape & pens!); remember to check peoples’ ID.
  3. Recent police monitoring of the Crosspool shops caught a cannabis dealer. Residents are to report any suspicious behaviour to the Broomhill police on 296 4876 or use the 220 2020 number.
  4. There is a new anti-social behaviour car that patrols the streets at night; this can be deployed instantly once a problem is reported.
  5. Scrap-collecting vehicles; the scrap dealers are now targeting houses – eg flat roofs to porches & bay windows. Please report any suspicious van registration numbers for PC Louise Atha’s database.
  6. Vernon Tce in-bound bus –stop. After a meeting with the schools, PTE & police about the unruly behaviour of children waiting to catch a bus into town at the end of the school day, the PTE is considering whether to de-commission this stop during that time.
  7. Levels of crime; burglaries have been low but opportunistic car crime is still happening. (The Broomhill SNA has some packs of internal-use Smartwater still available).

Councillors’ Report (Sylvia Anginotti & Brian Holmes)

  1. Junction of Benty Lane/Manchester Rd/ Stephen Hill; a Highways Officer will survey this shortly.
  2. The crossroads formed by Sandygate Rd. Coldwell Lane and Carsick Hill Rd was the subject of a Tapton School survey, and a request made for a crossing here. This has been turned down.
  3. Pot holes; residents were requested to telephone Streetforce to report these (273 4567) as soon as possible. A large team is going round Sheffield filling them in.
  4. Despite the reduction in the amount of money available from the Government to repair all Sheffield’s roads (and it being 12 months behind schedule), this ‘fence to fence’ initiative will cover footpaths, verges, trees, street lighting & highways – and roads are already being prioritised for this work.

Treasurer’s Report & Crosspool Festival etc

The treasurer reported that the Crosspool Forum has 1 bank balance of £2430, having paid for last summer’s floral displays. The 2011 Crosspool Festival will of ahead again, starting on 2nd July with the Open Gardens, a ‘Crosspool’s got Talent’ show, a streetmarket (3rd), art exhibition (4th onwards), local walks, kids’ treasure hunt, folk evening, ceilidh, Summer Fayre at Coldwell Lane, and then ending with a Sunday open air service at Lydgate Green. Any ideas, art works for the exhibition and offers of help for the Festival and Fayre warmly welcomed.

Crosspool Harvest Project

After a difficult winter the Harvest organizers now have 20 families, both Lydgate Schools, and the Council on board. They hope to find a piece of suitable land, or several smaller sites, on which to start their small-scale, local food-growing cooperative. Please see crosspoolharvest.org.uk for further information.

AOB

  1. Tree removal on Den Bank – these were apparently diseased, but will be replaced.
  2. Ditto Stephen Drive – although one area appears to have been asphalted over!
  3. ‘Twenty is Plenty’ campaign; the decision whether our local streets should be a max. of 20mph has been delegated to the SWCA. Anyone wishing to see a particular street part of this should contact the Forum or their Councillors.
  4. Dog waste bins; there appears to be a problem with non-collecting of their pets’ waste again! The Council is hoping to order 100 more bins, but as these cost about £400 p.a. each this might need to wait.
  5. Council heavy pruning & clearing of the bench-area at the top of Stephen Hill. There was a suggestion the Forum might ‘adopt’ this bit if green space (like it has done of Hagg Copse).
  6. ‘Dig for Charity’ – a local King Edwards’ pupil, Alicia Cannon (12) is running a project selling 5 packets of veg seeds for £2.50 – profits to Weston Park Hospital. Please see her website digforcharity.co.uk for further details.

Next Open Meeting will be on Monday 9th May 2011, at St Columba’s, 7pm

Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 27 January 2011

You are invited to Crosspool Forum’s Open Meeting tomorrow night at St Columba’s Church. It starts at 7pm.

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

Open Meeting, Thursday 27 January 2011: provisional agenda

27 January 2011, 7pm

  1. Chairman’s welcome
  2. Introduction of top table
  3. Apologies for absence
  4. Minutes of last meeting to be approved
  5. Matters arising
  6. Chairman’s report
  7. Police Liaison
    In Louise’s absence, PCSO Garry Hizam will give an update on policing in the area
  8. Guest: Cllr. Brian Holmes (Community Assembly)
    Also hoping to attend: Sylvia Anginotti, John Boyden, Community cohesion Manager
  9. Festival/Fayre report
  10. Planning and highways
    Benty Lane/Stephen Hill junction (Sylvia has arranged for engineers to survey possibilities)
  11. Questions and answer session with councillors
  12. A.O.B

Download provisional agenda 26 January 2011 Open Meeting (Word document, 37KB)

Manchester Road electronic speed signs return

This week the speed indication displays returned to Manchester Road.

As well as showing drivers how fast they are going, the signs also display a happy face for vehicles travelling under the speed limit and a sad face for those exceeding it.

The idea is that they slow cars down by making drivers aware when they are driving at unsafe speeds. The speed limit for this stretch of road is 30mph.

Two speed indication displays were installed in a similar location last summer for a few weeks. We’ll report back anything we hear about the data collected.

Background information about Manchester Road speed signs

Manchester Road speed signs return
The electronic speed signs on Manchester Road have returned

Crosspool Coffee Shop closes: property to be sold as a house

The coffee shop situated on the plot between Manchester Road and Lydgate Lane has now closed.

An application to change the use so it could become a house was accepted by the council last year. The two-bedroomed property been put on the market for £264,950 and now includes planning consent for a drive.

Former Crosspool coffee shop, 315 Lydgate Lane property on rightmove.co.uk

Crosspool coffee shop, 315 Lydgate Lane
The former Crosspool coffee shop at 315 Lydgate Lane: now being sold as a house