Download the Summer 2011 Crosspool Clarion now

The new edition of the Crosspool Clarion is going to press and will soon be falling on the doormats of all Crosspool households.

Crosspool Clarion Summer 2011
Download Crosspool Clarion Summer 2011 (PDF, 1.5MB)

The latest issue includes:

  • HGV Sat Navs
  • New local Councillor
  • Tapton Academy
  • Pupil wins award
  • Lydgate Lane closure
  • Centenary Walk
  • Spring Clean
  • Hallam FC anniversary match
  • Mobile Library Service Cut
  • Royal Wedding Street Parties in Crosspool
  • Computer Course
  • Neighbourhood Watch
  • Open Meeting Minutes

Download Crosspool Clarion Summer 2011 (PDF, 1.5MB)

Some back issues of past editions of the Crosspool Clarion are also available to download.

The Crosspool Clarion is the official newsletter of Crospool Forum. It is a free, quarterly publication, with over 2,500 copies delivered to local households.

If you are a local business then you may wish to consider advertising in the Clarion. It is a great way to reach over local households. Contact Clarion editor Ian Hague for more information.

To read PDFs on your computer, you may need to first download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Update on recycling and garden waste issues

New Crookes Councillor Geoff Smith has been in touch and asked us to report back his findings on two waste management issues raised at Monday’s Open Meeting. Geoff writes:

1. Flexible use of blue bin and blue box

Blue box: from April can be used to recycle bottles
Blue box: flexible use now coming to Crosspool in September

As you know it has been agreed in principle that residents will be able to use these flexibly, deciding for themselves which one they use for glass etc and which for paper etc. The date 23 May was mentioned. This is not the date for Crookes ward. This is the date for the north west and the south east of the city. The rest, including Crosspool, will be some time in September (date to be announced). All residents will receive a letter of information/explanation before the September date.

2. Green sacks

Green sacks
Green sacks can be collected from libraries and the town hall

As explained at the meeting, these are in use again and can be collected from libraries and the town hall. When you have filled them they should be left (visibly) inside your property and you should ring Veolia to ask them to be collected. This will be done within 20 days. Reasonably someone suggested that it would be better if there was a set day for collection for everyone in an area. This is what happens at the moment in the south east on a four weekly cycle and this is about to be rolled out across the whole city. There should be an announcement shortly.

Bullet points from Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Monday 9 May 2011

Download as a Word document (41KB)

Matters arising & Chairman’s report

  1. More scrap dealers cruising the area – Pc Louise Atha to be informed.
  2. Crookes/Whitham Rd junction traffic problems? The severe pollution caused at this junction is a serious issue that wants immediate attention. Cllr Holmes is awaiting a response from Pam Horner (PTES) and the newly-re-organized Planning Board decision.
  3. Crosspool is entering ‘Sheffield in Bloom’ again – look out for the tubs & baskets! The Forum will need to acquire funding next year if it is to pay for a 2012 display – for the Diamond Jubilee!
  4. Internet computer course – this started on Fri 6th (St Columbas; 9.30-2pm.) Some places are still available.
  5. Car Boot Sale (profits to Weston Park Hospital) – 11th June. (the ‘Tavern’ car park as usual).
  6. Darwin House Open Day – 18th June
  7. Motorworld site planning permission (Turner Investments)  – this has been refused  by the Planning Inspectorate.
  8. Crosspool Centenary Walk – starting at the Tavern 12 noon on 30th July. Please cheer the 3 walkers on (or join them!)in their huge walk for Weston Park.
  9. Mayfield Valley lorries – a resident there is starting a campaign to prevent satnavs allowing inappropriately  huge vehicles from trying to squeeze down the lanes.

Police issues

As Pc Atha was on leave there was no report, but residents made the following points to be passed on to her – as well as point 1 above.

  1. Drug dealers using the ginnel at the top of Delph House Rd – this is to stopped.
  2. ‘20s plenty’ local speed campaign progress? After the local elections this is waiting until the Planning Boards have been re-organized.
  3. Wooden verge bollards – are more needed at the top of Stephen Hill? There is still some verge parking on that very dangerous road.
  4. Stephen Hill/Manchester Rd/Benty Lane junction – survey conclusions? This junction must be sorted out.

Councillors’ Report (Brian Holmes and Geoff Smith)

New Cllr Geoff Cox was welcomed, & said he was still in a ‘listening mode’, but hopes to get his contact details out to the public ASAP .

Residents being able to choose for themselves what to use their recycling bin BLUE BINS & BLUE BOXES for may start on 23rd May – watch this space!

The proposed hessian bag GREEN GARDEN WASTE SCHEME is not now happening – green bags are available once more from eg the libraries for green waste. At the moment the ‘winter’ scheme of residents ‘phoning to arrange collection is still in force – this may take 21 days. Cllrs agreed that re-opening the Botanical Gardens cafe was a high priority.

Treasurer’s Report

There is sufficient in  the ‘kitty’ to cover this year’s flowers, but (see above) grants will be needed for future projects

Crosspool Festival

Rev Frances Eccleston reported that  the Festival will open with Crosspool Open Gardens on Sat 2nd July, a Street Market on Sun 3rd, and 0 after a range of day & evening events – end with the Summer Fayre on Sat 9th & Picnic in the Park (Lydgate Green) on Sun 10th. More volunteers still warmly welcomed!

Digital Switchover report

Carrie McKenzie (Voluntary Action Sheffield) said that all old TVs & aerials should work fine with the new digital signal. People receiving TV through SKY dishes or by cable will not be affected at all when the analogue signal is switched off, but if TV comes via an aerial some form of ‘digibox’ for the new freeview 15 channels will be needed.  If residents get  their TV signals from the Crookes transmitter then BBC2 will disappear on 10th Aug (& the other channels two weeks later) – if from Emley Moor BBC2 will go on 7th Sep (& the others on 21st) and if from Belmont (not very likely in this area) 3rd August (& 17th).  Residents over 75 will have received a letter already asking them whether they need an installer to call & tune their sets in – if they biined this by accidents further letters will be sent!  Video recorders will still work to play old videos, but not record any longer..

AOB

  1. Cold callers – (Pat of Neighbourhood Watch) said the digital switchover might mean scams with callers pretending new aerials are needed. The real switchover installers will have contacted households ahead & made an appointment.
  2. Guests for next Open Meeting – Ian Hague will try to get a Magistrate to attend (having been at a very interesting meeting re sentencing etc).
  3. Old ‘Threshers’ shop? No-one had any information on this site.
  4. Local King Edwards schoolgirl Alicia Cannon has been named as winner of the Big Challenge for her fund-raising work for Weston Park.
  5. Crosspool litter pick (2nd April) – thank you to everyone who attended, and helped pick up 9 bags of rubbish! A special thank you to a Tapton girl & her Essex friend for their assistance!
  6. School involvement in the Open Meetings? The Forum would like to hear from anyone in Tapton or King Edwards who would like to speak at the Meetings – to give their points of view on their community.

Next Open Meeting will be on Thursday 28 July 2011, at St Columba’s, 7pm.

Swarm of bees captured on Watt Lane

There was drama on Watt Lane this morning as beekeeper John Young and his assistants captured a swarm of bees from a cherry tree.

Chris Batchelor recorded the events on camera and supplied us with the photos below.

Bees in the Watt Lane cherry tree
Bees in the Watt Lane cherry tree
Beekeeper John Young and his assistants
Beekeeper John Young and his assistants
John captures the bees
John captures the bees
John captures the bees
John captures the bees

Green waste sacks available again

If you’ve had a busy Easter weekend in the garden, you’ll be pleased to know that green garden refuses sacks are available once again and the collection service appears to be back in full swing.

It seems that you can once again pick up green plastic sacks for garden refuse from all the places across the city we were using such as libraries, housing offices and First Point locations.

Having filled between three and 12 bags it is your responsibility to contact Veolia on 0114 273 4567 to arrange collection which will be within the following 20 working days. Soil, rocks, large logs will not be collected. If you do not ring Veolia they will not pick up your sacks even if they are left out on the path or verge.

Meanwhile, the reusable hessian sack scheme for green waste that was announced last November has been scrapped following the budget cuts to local authority spending. Plastic sacks were seen as a more affordable alternative.

Green waste collection in Sheffield

Green waste sacks
Plastic green waste sacks: more affordable than the proposed hessian bag scheme

Crosspool Spring clean: thanks for your help!

Enthusiastic young people join in Crosspool's Spring Clean
Enthusiastic young people join in Crosspool's Spring Clean

Crosspool folk sprang into action last Saturday to clean up our neighbourhood.

As part of Sheffield’s third Annual Spring Clean, a dozen or so local residents, both young and old met at 10am on Saturday outside Direct Travel on Sandygate Road.

After brief introductions, the group dispersed in small teams to various locations where there was litter to clear up.

Despite the wind and the rain, and having to deal with obstacles including parts of a discarded piano, everyone enjoyed the camaraderie of the morning and the satisfaction of what was achieved.

We hope to arrange another group clean up for some date in the future so keep your eye on this website and the Crosspool Clarion for details.

Crosspool in bloom, March 2011

Over the last couple of weeks, it seems that Spring has sprung in Crosspool. These photos, taken over the last few days, show some of the daffodils and blossom on view as you walk around the neighbourhood.

You can view them using the slideshow or gallery below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Friends of the Botanical Gardens 2011 programme

The Friends of the Botanical Gardens 2011 programme (Word document, 32KB) has been published, which may be of interest to Crosspool gardeners.

It includes details ofvarious events throughout the year including talks, meetings, plant sales and outdoor activities.

Friends of the Botanical Gardens was set up in 1984 and aims to support the gardens and also provide the opportunity for gardeners of all abilities to meet, socialise and learn more about horticulture.

New members are welcome, but you can also attend any event for the modest fee of £2.

Friends of the Botanical Gardens website including information about meetings and events

Friends of the Botanical Gardens 2011 programme (Word document, 32KB)

Grass verge protection measures installed in Crosspool

Two sets of wooden bollards have been installed in response to concerns over damage to grass verges by vehicles.

A set of four of the bollards are located on Marsh Lane at its junction with Lydgate Lane, and a further four are adjacent to 42/46 Tapton Hill Road. They are funded by the South West Community Assembly.

The bollards prevent vehicles from mounting the grass verge areas between the pavement and the road. Their arrival follows requests from local residents worried about erosion.

New wooden bollards on Marsh Lane
New wooden bollards on Marsh Lane
Cars are now prevented from parking on grass verges
Cars are now prevented from parking on grass verges