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51 bus: Crookes councillors and First/SYPTE meeting report

New timetables for the 51 bus start today
Our local councillors have met with First and SYPTE to discuss the 51 bus

Our three councillors, Sylvia Anginotti, Rob Frost and Geoff Smith, have recently met with First and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) to discuss the 51 bus route.

A report from the meeting, written by the councillors, is below.

If you have comments regarding this then the best way to get in touch with them directly is via the contact details on the Sheffield city council website.

The three Crookes councillors (Sylvia Anginotti, Rob Frost and Geoff Smith) have been made aware by individuals and through the Crosspool Forum of dissatisfaction with the 51 bus. In particular with the failure of buses to run at the published times.

We were going to have a meeting with First and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) in January but unfortunately the bad weather forced a postponement and we were not able to meet until March.

You will remember that we were promised an improved service when the Bus Partnership arrangements started at the end of October 2012. This was going to be achieved in two ways; an additional bus on the route and a change of route to avoid Broad Lane.

The additional bus was put on but the change of route didn’t happen. This was because of the number of people who protested that they would not be able to get to the NHS walk in service.

SYPTE figures for complaints show a continued high level of complaints up to January of this year and then a falling off. This could be for either of two reasons; people have become fed up with complaining or there has been some improvement in the service.

SYPTE’s own figures for punctuality at stops on the route show an improvement from 72% punctuality pre-October 2012 rising to 84% recently. This is against a target of 95%. So even by their own figures there is still some way to go.

First admit that punctuality is still not good enough. They said that double deckers were part of the problem and that from early July they will be replaced by brand new single deckers which along with ticket issue speeding up should speed up overall loading times.

They are also putting an additional bus on the route on Saturdays from the end of April and making minor timetable changes. They gave us a list of traffic hotspots on the route which cause problems and we will be taking these up with the Council.

Also they warned that the service could be affected by planned roadworks across the city.

We will continue to have meetings with First and SYPTE. We will welcome your views and experience at the next meeting of the Crosspool Forum and please keep on complaining to SYPTE if you have problems with the 51.

Sylvia Anginotti, Rob Frost and Geoff Smith
April 2013

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Poll: would you like additional recycling facilities for plastics in Crosspool?

Plastics recycling bin
Would you like additional recycling facilities for plastics in Crosspool?

With the current system, the only plastics that you can recycle in Crosspool are plastic bottles. This can be done via your blue box/blue bin.

If you want to recycle other types plastic then the nearest sites are a drive away on Old Fulwood Road in Fulwood and in the University of Sheffield’s Endcliffe Crescent Flats complex.

Crosspool Forum is exploring the suggestion of having a plastics recycling bin in Crosspool. If the idea is popular then this is something we’ll raise with our local councillors.

Please can you take a minute to vote using the poll below to help gauge interest in a plastics recycling bin for Crosspool?

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Crosspool Festival 2013: your chance to get involved

Summer Fayre 2011
Fancy getting involved at this year’s festival?

If you haven’t already made a note in your diary then the dates for this year’s Crosspool Festival are 28 June-7 July 2013.

The full programme is being confirmed, but you can be sure that there will be both old and new events to get involved with including a summer fayre, street market, Open Gardens, well dressing, barn dance, folk evening, fun run, open air church service and junior bake-off.

This year the festival will be raising money for the 36th Sheffield Scout Group, which is based in the Benty Lane Scout Hut.

Get involved

This is your chance to get involved with Crosspool’s major annual community event. If you have ideas for the festival or can spare any time to help, please contact the Festival Chair Frances Eccleston on f.m.eccleston@gmail.com or 0114 267 0006.

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First Crosspool streets set to be resurfaced

Work to improve the roads, pavements and streetlights of Sheffield is due to start in Crosspool soon as part of the Streets Ahead project.

You can expect to see resurfaced roads and pavements plus the new, brighter streetlights installed in the Tapton Hill area over the next five months.

This online map allows you to search by postcode to find an approximate date for when the work is scheduled to take place on your street.

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Lydgate Green planting and tidy-up day

Lydgate Green
Lydgate Green: join in the clear up

The Friends of Lydgate Green are organising a planting and tidy-up day from 9.30am on Saturday 27 April.

They would really appreciate your support and help to replant the beds and assist with some general maintenance.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to make a difference to this local green space and to meet other local residents. Bring a pair of gloves, something to dig with and some enthusiasm.

What’s more, the kind folk at Crosspool’s Michelin Guide-featured restaurant Artisan will be providing free refreshments!

Friends of Lydgate Green is a small group of local residents who are responsible for the upkeep of the green at the corner of Lydgate Lane.

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Computer courses enrolment day on 8 April 2013

Do you know anyone in Crosspool who is learning to use computers or who has not used one before?

Crosspool Forum is organising more computer courses to help people build their IT skills. Enrolment is on Monday 8 April 2013 between 10am and 12pm at the Scout Hall on Benty Lane.

Following this, different courses for beginners and the more advanced are expected to take place on Mondays 10am-12pm and 1-3pm.

A laptop is provided and a projector is used to display lessons on to a large screen.

To reserve a place in a class or find our more information, contact Ian Hague on 07713 687 955 or Maxine on 0114 250 0613. You can also email crosspoolforum@fsmail.net.

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Break-ins and burglaries: a reminder from the police to be vigilant

Over recent days one or two cars have been broken into and houses burgled in the neighbourhood.

The police are reminding us all not to leave items on show in our car and to keep car keys out of sight. They advise to keep your home and gardens as secure as possible and if you have outside lighting or alarms be sure to use them.

If you see anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to contact the police by ringing 101.

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Hillside Harvest volunteers build a bridge and steps

Rivelin Valley-based Hillside Harvest have sent the following report and photos from their second open day of 2013:

Hillside Harvest open day: building a bridge
Hillside Harvest open day: building a bridge

Just recently, we held our second Open Day of 2013. This time our training session was on ‘plot planning’ aimed both at the beginner and the experienced gardener led by an expert from ‘Grow Sheffield’. Once again, a good crowd of new people turned up on a cold, but dry day! Even a few from the previous Open Day returned. There were also tours of the site, which was showing signs of life, despite the weather conditions.

As usual, lunch was a shared affair, centred on a vegetable stew. People are very generous, so there was more than enough to share.

We have a Growing Committee who draws up a plan of when certain activities have to be done and what time of year. But, because of the variable weather, it is still a bit of hit and miss as to whether the timing is right! Yet, we still see quite a bit of produce showing itself at the right times.

On the day a bridge and steps were built to make access easier to help everyone get from the Rivelin Valley Road car park to the lower plots in our block – so hopefully helping all the plot holders in the area.

We received help from a couple of students, who spent quite a few back-breaking hours getting them just right! Also tackled, were the putting up of supports for the fruit plants.

So, you can gather, even though hard work is involved, there is much fun and laughter and a sense of community. If anyone is interested in joining us, using their skills, even if they are not in the gardening area, there is always plenty to do, as well as making new friends, please contact Hillside Harvest via nick.rousseau@hillsideharvest.org.uk.

Hillside Harvest open day volunteers
Hillside Harvest open day volunteers