Birley Ward Labour Party

Whilst out on one of our regular walks around the Birley ward, it was hard not to notice the investment taking place in our Council housing stock. Work to replace aged rooves across the ward has moved on from Basegreen, with new rooves being installed across properties in Hackenthorpe.

“A new roof will make a huge difference to the property and help in reducing energy costs for tenants. It’s really encouraging to see so many properties that have already benefited from the roof replacement work, including blocks of flats and individual houses. It’s important that tenants have warm and weatherproof homes so I’m pleased to see this work going on” commented Cllr Karen McGowan.

“I know there have been problems with the repairs service, and we’re looking at a number of measures to get things back on track.  The new homes on the Weakland estate and the planned new houses on the former Newstead estate complement the existing council properties across Basegreen, Birley and Hackenthorpe: it’s important that we continue to invest in delivering decent homes for our tenants. ”

At the moment we can’t hold regular surgeries in venues such as libraries or community centres, so Birley Councillors are planning a series of Walking Surgeries which means visiting areas of the ward and meeting people where they live.
Today Birley Ward councillors were out and about in the Hackenthorpe area. Karen, Denise and Bryan were joined by colleagues from Beighton and Mosborough Wards. They were also accompanied by Police Community Support Officers, Philip Clayton and Roger Shalome. This was an opportunity for residents to meet councillors and the PCSO’s and share any issues and concerns they have.
The Birley Councillors met and spoke with 17 people in just two hours and a variety of issues (such as speeding traffic, housing repairs, an abandoned car, inappropriate parking, tree maintenance, and grass verges) were brought to their attention. All issues raised are being followed up by the councillors (or the PCSO’s) and, although they can’t promise to resolve issues in every case, they will be working with relevant departments to try and sort out any problems.
Councillor Karen McGowan said “I think this morning’s exercise was very successful and it was great to meet so many people from the ward. We are now planning the next walking surgery and, wherever that is we will let residents know in advance.”
In the meantime, if you have concerns to raise with councillors please get in touch using the contact details on the Birley Ward Councillors facebook page or on our website:
http://birleywardlabourparty.org.uk/

Information from Councillor Karen McGowan.

We have received the following information from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive regarding temporary disruption to evening tram services in our area due to essential engineering works.

This will affect Purple and Blue Route evening services between Monday 7^th June and Thursday 10^th June.

During this time, the last the last Blue Route service from Malin Bridge to Halfway will be 20:43 (20:59 from Cathedral) and from Halfway to City at 21:46. Later services will only operate between Malin Bridge and Sheffield Station to the revised timetable

Purple Route trams will stop operating earlier than normal. The last departure from Cathedral to Herdings will be at 21:42 and the last departure Herdings to Cathedral at 22:08.

Customers impacted by these service changes may use valid tram tickets on Stagecoach and First bus services in the affected areas. These include:

First service 8 between City and Birley Lane

First service 11/11a between City and Herdings

First service 51 between City and White Lane

First/Stagecoach service 120 between City, Manor Top and Halfway

Information on revised timetables can be found at https://www.stagecoachbus.com/news/yorkshire/2021/june-2021/temporary-late-night-disruption-to-the-blue-and-purple-route-7-to-10-june.

Information from Councillor Karen McGowan.

We have received the following information from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive regarding online applications for young people’s travel passes.

It is fast approaching the end of the current academic year and the new academic year will be on us soon. We wanted to take this opportunity to promote the benefits of our free travel passes to people aged 18 and under and encourage young people and parents to apply for a concessionary pass.

Concessionary travel passes provide proof of eligibility to travel for a concessionary fare of 80p per single journey. Additionally, pass holders are eligible to purchase a range of discounted daily, weekly and 28-day tickets from bus and tram operators, including prepaid tickets offering unlimited travel across South Yorkshire.

Our travel passes are available to young people aged 18 and under who live in South Yorkshire.  Early application is encouraged in order to benefit from discounted travel over the summer holidays. The quickest way to apply for a pass is online by creating a MyTSY account. Full details on how to apply can be found at www.travelsouthyorkshire.com.

We aim to dispatch each pass within 11 days of receiving a completed online application if all details are correct.

If customers are unable to apply online, we are asking them to give our Traveline team a call on 01709 515151, between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday or 8am and 7pm Saturday and Sunday, and they will happily talk them through their options.

In addition, to help with the region’s recovery post-pandemic, the Mayor of South Yorkshire Dan Jarvis announced an extension to SYPTE’s young person’s travel concession to include those between 18 and 21 years old. The concession will allow passengers with a valid Zoom Beyond 18-21 Travel Pass to travel for 80p per single journey on bus and tram within South Yorkshire, from 21 June 2021 to 20 June 2022. The pass will expire either on 20 June 2022 or the day before the person’s 22^nd birthday, whichever is sooner. Further information regarding the Zoom Beyond Travel Pass can be found at www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/ZoomBeyond

We will automatically issue existing 16-18 Travel Pass holders with a new Zoom Beyond 18-21 Travel Pass during week commencing 31 May, though they should continue to use their 16-18 Travel Pass until it expires on 31 July.

Councillor Karen McGowan joined Hackenthorpe Litter Pickers they walked up the Cotleigh Crescent, Spa View Road, Birley Spa Lane and down Occupation Lane. Cllr McGowan said “I’d like to thank the litter pickers for making me feel so welcome. It was a lovely warm evening to be doing this.” If you are interested in joining them they meet at Hackenthorpe Medical Centre, Main Street at 6 pm every Friday and would love to see you.

Birley Ward councillors just wanted to inform the residents living around the old Newstead estate that from Tuesday 18th May for 4 days you may see people on the site. Many of you know there is a planning application in to develop the site for housing. These workers are undertaking a CCTV survey of the drains.

Whilst out walking Councillor Karen McGowan noticed that a panel had been removed from a lamp post on Newstead Drive at the junction with Birley Moor Crescent. Councillor McGowan says ” I could see exposed wiring so I have reported this through to Streetsahead asking them to repair this as soon as possible”.

Congratulations to Bryan Lodge on being re-elected as Birley ward councillor.  This was a great result on a day when results for the Labour Party didn’t go well in some other parts of the city.

The figures were.

Labour – 1848 votes.

Conservative – 1241 votes.

Liberal Democrats – 211 votes.

Green Party – 431 votes.

This gave Labour a majority of   607   and a 49.45% share of the vote.

Bryan is pictured at the count with our other ward councillors, Karen McGowan and Denise Fox.

Many thanks to all who worked so hard to achieve this result.

Re-elect Councillor Bryan Lodge in Birley ward.

Vote Labour 0n May 6th.

Thursday May 6th is local election day. Councillor Bryan Lodge is the Labour Party candidate for the Birley ward.

The Birley Ward Labour Candidate is Councillor Bryan Lodge.