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

Man accidentally drives car into Sportsman pub

A driver accidentally drove his new Mercedes into a Crosspool pub last week.

After enjoying a meal at The Sportsman on Thursday 3 February, the man left the premises at around 6pm to drive home in the car he’d collected earlier that day from the motor dealer.

Apparently being unacquainted with the layout of the vehicle, he inadvertently engaged forward drive, rather than reverse, and shot forward through the walled bay window, causing extensive damage to the front of the building .

Fortunately no one was sitting near the window at the time, and the driver walked away shaken but uninjured.

The bay window adjacent to the disabled parking spaces at the front of the pub is now boarded up on both the outside and inside.

Boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool
Boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool
Boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool
Boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool
Boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool
Boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool
Inside the boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool
Inside the boarded up area of The Sportsman pub in Crosspool

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)

Crosspool businesses open despite major snowfall

Shops and businesses in Crosspool opened this morning despite what the council is describing as the deepest December Sheffield snowfall for a century.

The photos below were taken just before 9am this morning, and show Philip James butchers, GT News, Spar and the greengrocers all open for business. MG Mosley & Sons milk float was also out and about making deliveries as normal.

Local community spirit was also in evidence, with residents assisting with the clearing of snow and making trips to the shops to pick up supplies for neighbours. With the local schools all closed today (Wednesday 1 December 2010), children are also making the most of the snow with sledging and snowballing.

People are being encouraged to only use cars if absolutely necessary and also check that elderly neighbours are coping with the conditions.

Travel South Yorkshire advises that bus services have been suspended until further notice.

Latest Travel South Yorkshire updates

Extra news and updates about the snow will also be posted to our Twitter account and Facebook page.

Minutes from Crosspool Forum seventh AGM and Open Meeting, 28 October 2010

Below is a bullet point summary of Thursday’s meeting. Extended minutes can also be downloaded.

Download full AGM/Open Meeting minutes (Word document, 20KB)

Matters arising and Chairman’s report

  1. Second computer course (St Columba’s) very successful
  2. More spring bulbs have been planted. Christmas trees are expected to be erected in early December.
  3. Crosspool Forum website has really taken off – thank you to Robin Byles
  4. Another successful Summer Fayre and first-time Crosspool Festival; both are planned to continue next year – helpers and ideas please
  5. The Crosspool Harvest scheme has had some set backs but hopes to rally
  6. The Motor World site (Turner Investments) – planning officer recommends refusal
  7. The Forum Committee still has a vacancy for one more member.
  8. Treasurer’s Report and balance sheet was presented.
  9. Police report and incidents -PCSO Garry Hizam
  10. Graffiti artists have been making reparation – ‘restorative justice’
  11. The week beginning 1 November the police will be cracking-down on school childrens’ behaviour in the Crosspool shops area
  12. Operation Dark Night from 31 October to 5 November will target disruptive behaviour.

Environmental Enforcement Officer (Sheffield City Council) – Andrew Ashforth

  1. Crosspool shops and business correct waste-disposal project. All businesses must have special arrangements for the removal of their non-domestic waste, and ensure the rear of their property is kept clean and tidy, as well as the front.
  2. Scrap collecting vehicles – in four days Andrew has stopped and searched 6 of these. Householders (arranging for eg fridges to be removed) must ensure the company they deal with has the correct licence to do this work – or will be held liable of the item is then fly-tipped.
  3. Tyres are not to be put in skips – the skip companies will give advice on their disposal.
  4. Wheelie bins must be removed from the highway as soon as possible after emptying – residents can be fined if they persist in not doing so.
  5. Portable CCTV cameras – Sheffield City Council have a few available they can fix on lampposts to target fly-tipping sites.
  6. Nuisance bonfires on allotments to the rear of gardens; talk to the allotment association chair about getting all the allotment owners to have one big fire rather that lots of little ones, or composting the waste.
  7. Should residents wish to contact Andrew at the council, his telephone number is 0114 293 0347.

Garden Waste scheme (green bags)

This scheme is being phased out and shortly no more green bags will be available. After 8 November residents will need to phone up for the next date of full bag collection in this area, but from February 2011 a waxed/hessian bag scheme may be in place; these will be reuseable.

Anyone needing more green bags this autumn and winter – or indeed with far too many unused ones! – to contact the Clarion so these bags can be put to good use and not wasted.

Planning

  1. Vernon Terrace bus shelter – no further information.
  2. Crosspool Tavern old car park entrance – this should have been ‘greened over’ a year or so back – this will be chased up.
  3. Benty Lane/Manchester Road junction; an urgent Highways engineer’s visit is requested; a ‘no right turn’ onto Manchester Road sign, or mini roundabout is needed here.
  4. Crosspool Coffee Shop – an application to allow this to become a house has been accepted.

Download full AGM/Open Meeting 28 October 2010 minutes (Word document, 20KB)

PCSO Garry Hizam and Andrew Ashforth
PCSO Garry Hizam and Andrew Ashforth
Crosspool Forum AGM/Open Meeting
Crosspool Forum AGM/Open Meeting

Crosspool Forum seventh AGM and Open Meeting, 28 October 2010

You are invited to Crosspool Forum’s AGM and Open Meeting on Thursday 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.

Provisional agenda:Crosspool Forum seventh AGM and Open Meeting

28th October 2010, 7pm

AGM

  1. Chairs 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. Treasurer’s report
  8. Election of Committee members
    No resignations or nomination received; nominations, four vacancies exist on the committee (15 members maximum)

Open Meeting

  1. Minutes of last meeting to be approved
  2. Matters arising
  3. Police Liaison
    In Louise’s absence, PCSO Garry Hizam will give an update on policing in the area
  4. Guest Speakers
    Andrew Ashforth (Environmental enforcement officer, guidance on how to keep within the law).
    Cllr. Brian Holmes (Community Assembly)
    Also hoping to attend, Carolyn Sleath (providing information on the BBC’s First Click Initiative locally)
    Other possible speakers: John Boyden (Community cohesion Manager)
    Andrew Revitt (Solicitor, Wills and Lasting  Powers of Attorney)
  5. Planning and Highways
    Bus shelter (Vernon Terrace)
    Grassing over of closed exit to Crosspool Tavern
    Benty Lane/Stephen Hill junction Questions and Answers with Councillors
  6. A.O.B

Download provisional agenda 28 Oct 2010 (Word document, 40KB)

Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers performing at Crosspool Festival 2010 (video)

The warm weather may seem like a long time ago, but you can remind yourself of the summer with this video of Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers performing as part of July’s Crosspool Festival:

The dance took place outside Stephen Hill Methodist Church on Manchester Road, opposite the Sportsman pub.

The video introduction is an animated version of the cover of the festival programme, originally designed by Joseph Bates and Max Rowlands of Lydgate Junior and Infant school respectively.

Crosspool Festival 2010

Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers

The Sportsman pub to reopen on Friday 18 September

The refurbishment of the Sportsman pub on Benty Lane is due for completion in time for its reopening tomorrow (Friday 18 September).

The new look reflects a change in the approach of the Sportsman from a bar with a restaurant, to a restaurant with a bar. On entering the premises through the main entrance, black tiles, boarded by a carpeted area to the right, and a polished wood floor dining room to the left, direct you to the bar.

Work started in earnest when the pub closed for business last Sunday teatime and this week has seen vans, machinery and workers arrive to transform the premises in time for the reopening.

The new-look Sportsman pub in Crosspool
The new-look Sportsman pub in Crosspool