Issue 68 Free to everyone in Burngreave February 2007 Voice of the Burngreave Community Firvale School “outstanding” Firvale School has become one of just two schools in the City receiving an “outstanding” OFSTED inspection report. Headteacher Mrs Lesley Bowes said, “this wonderful outcome provides a launch pad for the next stage in the school's development.” Year 7 pupil Emily Haimeed, reporting for the Messenger, writes: “Firvale secondary school is a good school in many ways, it’s fun because of the many facilities and help that is provided. I like lessons because they are always exciting and you are always guaranteed to learn something new.The teachers at our school are very friendly, and make lessons interesting. The school is very organised, for example when pupils are asked to change lesson the whole process runs very smoothly! All the staff are very helpful and polite and everyone is made to feel welcome.The motto Fir Vale has is ‘making dreams a reality’ and teachers try and make that possible in every way. Headteacher Lesley Bowes with her pupils. I feel that the school is working me to my highest potential and I “The school is achieving in a way it is set out to do.” also feel that I will one day succeed my dream of being a lawyer Ben Thompson, 13. by having the opportunity to go to a school like Firvale. “The school is achieving its target of making dreams a reality.” When I am at school I feel comfortable because I am part of a Asad Ali, 12. friendly community. I do not worry about being bullied and I know that teachers are always there to talk to if I have a problem.” “I like the multi-cultural environment of the school.” Emma Seaton, 16. The OFSTED report says: “Students’ achievement is outstanding when set against their starting points … The care, “School is fantastic.” guidance and support provided for all pupils are outstanding. Kiran Din, 15. The quality of academic and pastoral guidance is impressive and all staff are involved in supporting and guiding students “Friendly environment and it is easy to make friends.” so that they can achieve their potential.” Jefin Jacob, 16. The Burngreave Enterprise Event Events will include… & Business Awards 2007 Business Awards Support agency stands Advice and guidance Have you got a business idea? Grants information Do you want to start a business? Do you want your business Workshops/seminars Start-up advice to be more successful? Grants for business Grants for social enterprises Verdon Recreation Centre Grants for community groups 14th March 2007, 4–8pm Self-employed builders For further information contact the Business Support Team on 292 0462 or email [email protected] www.bndfc.co.uk/ See page 2 for more details. 2 BURNGREAVE MESSENGER Messenger website Our website is up and running bringing you news, event, jobs and features. It’s the place to go for all the local info. In this issue: Burngreave/Canklow Housing News – Page 4 & 5, Redwall Crusaders at the top Developments get the go ahead to build on the controversial site at The Under 18s team were toped of the league Grimesthorpe and Sheffield Council over Christmas, and made a strong start to Cabinet Member Chris Weldon the Hawley cup. The Crusaders battled with discusses mixed communities and new the referee, the mud and the Sheffield United housing issues. Blades to win their latest cup round, showing gritty determination. Coach Steve Richardson Steam Train over the Arches – brings you the all the details of the game at Page 10, Looking forward to the arrival of the ‘Green Arrow’ in Burngreave. www.burngreavemessenger.org/january-2007/crusaders-update/ Burngreave Graduates – Carwood estate gets Page 12 & 13, This years new graduates in full colour. green boiler Party Pictures – Page 14 & 15, Pye Carwood estate were treated to a new Bank celebrate the end of the year and ‘biomass’ or wood burning boiler in November. local children have a party on ice. Not only is it reliable enough to provide heat and hot water to the whole estate on demand, Mojo Club – Page 21, Reliving the its better for the environment. The full report memories of the famous Burngreave and including info about Biomass are at music club. www.burngreavemessenger.org/archives/december-2006/carwood-green-heating/ Ellesmere Youth Project – Page 15, Funding cuts mean ‘important Skinnerthorpe makes youth worker’ is lost. the news Planned demolitions at Skinnerthorpe made channel Five news as part of a short o Meetings: 6.30pm at Abbeyfield documentary by filmmaker Julia Armstrong. f Park House Women living on Skinnerthorpe were n Editorial: Wed, 14th February I interviewed, showing the real affects of All welcome. regeneration plans on local people. You can r Copy deadline: 14th March find a link to the film on our website. e g Burngreave Messenger Ltd n Abbeyfield Park House Can you help with the website? Abbeyfield Road e We need help: s Sheffield S4 7AT • Adding news stories s (0114) 242 0564 • Getting each issue on line e [email protected] • Completing the archive of Messengers www.burngreavemessenger.org M We can give you training in adding content which is easy to do and doesn’t need any special knowledge of updating websites. The Burngreave Messenger is a community newspaper, funded by New We also need your help with news and stories – if you have something to tell people Deal, with editorial independence.We aim get in touch and we can get it online. to increase and encourage communication in Burngreave. Each edition is put together Staff team for new project by an editorial team who write articles not otherwise credited. As the Messenger starts a new project, we This month’s team: Asma Ali, Richard welcome Anne Grange, who joins the staff Belbin, Ian Clifford, Rohan Francis, Anne team to manage the project and help secure Grange, Naheem Hanif, Saleema Imam, future funding. Douglas Johnson, Jamie Marriott, Brent Moya, Derrick Okrah, Lisa Swift, Nikky Above, left to right: Anne Grange (Manager); Wilson. Lisa Swift (Assistant Editor); Jamie Marriott (Website Developer); Annie Blindell (Finance All content is copyright Burngreave Manager) and Naheem Hanif (Advertising Messenger Ltd or its voluntary Manager). contributors, not to be reproduced without permission. ISSUE 68 • FEBRUARY 2007 3 Redwall get go ahead Striving for Weldon Defends The Council’s decision to deny planning permission to Redwall Developments for part of Grimesthorpe Road has been Mixed Communities overturned in a public inquiry. In recent months the Redwall Developments Messenger has reported cleared the land in summer concerns from local residents 2005 before applying for at the lack of affordable outline planning housing in Burngreave. We permission to build flats. asked Chris Weldon, Cabinet Residents then witnessed member for housing, whether large amounts of building the Council was regenerating rubble and topsoil being Burngreave by moving poor dumped on the land. The people out of the area and area had been home to moving higher income people bats, owls, foxes and in? numerous birds and a rare “I think we’ve nailed that myth. It’s about Holly Blue butterfly had Footpath to Smithies Field listening to the aspirations of local been sighted there. before the developers cleared it. residents, which means, yes, having an Sheffield City Council element of Council Housing, but also turned down the application and Redwall appealed against the decision at a public meeting people’s aspirations to get their inquiry that took place between 28th November and 1st December 2006. first foothold on the property ladder. By building houses where residents buy a Redwall’s solicitors argued the site was a brown-field site with no amenity or share we are making sure houses stay wildlife interest and that this was the case before clearance; also that housing was affordable when they’re passed on.We desperately needed in the area. know that regeneration is futile unless local people benefit, which is why we’re Two planning officers and three local residents spoke against the development, insisting that developers use local labour citing its importance as a green-field site with local amenity value in visual terms for the construction of the new housing.” and relevance to the adjoining Area of Natural History Interest known as Smithies Field or Wood Hill. It was argued that there are already extensive areas of previously developed land within the City and considerable amounts of housing Councillor Weldon also promised quality currently under construction or planned for, within Burngreave. services, such as schools, for “mixed communities” pilot areas. Rubbish tipped “Educational attainment is critical.Where there are schools which are not hitting the After the opening statements, local residents were not given an opportunity to cross- required levels of attainment and examine Redwall’s solicitors. It appears that, whatever amenity and conservation measures that need to be taken, then value a site may have, once it has been bulldozed a developer is free to make those measures will be taken.” applications for development based on the land after demolition and destruction. Addressing the concerns of the residents The rubbish tipped on the site has now been moved by Redwall to an area against of Skinnerthorpe regarding their the trees that borders the Area of Natural History Interest/Smithies Field. Although rehousing following demolition, a tree preservation order was issued on the site after initial clearance, most of the Councillor Weldon denied that there trees were already felled and other trees near the public footpath were cut back would be a gap between demolition and after this. rehousing and stressed that new housing at Earl Marshal and Wensley is The character of our 'country lane' and associated open space looks set to deteriorate earmarked for those whose houses are further.