Crime Prevention Initiative in Birley Ward

Burglar Bill

Over the last year your local councillors have been working in partnership with police to reduce crime and make residents feel safer and increase community prevention in our area. One of the initiatives provided by local councillors through the community LAP is a crime prevention pack. The packs have been offered in phases which started last year in Basegreen, Charnock and Frecheville. We are currently offering packs to those on the Birley/Thornbridge estate and over the coming months they will be offered to the remaining Birley Ward residents. The process is:

• Leaflets are delivered to the residents in the allocated phase with a deadline for requesting a pack. Requests can be made by telephone, text or email
• The information of the requests are compiled by the councillors.
• Packs are purchased through the community LAP from the police.
• Once packs are received they are deliver to the residents by the Birley Ward Councillors.

The packs contain items such as smart pens, window locks and useful literature about what householders can do to deter would be burglars.

The packs are a great reminder to us all to be on our guard and protect our property, we are glad to see many local people applying for the packs. It has also been a great opportunity for the councillors to meet and talk to residents about any concerns.

George McDonald

Hackenthorpe Gala 25-6-11 (41) George with Pat Emmingham (right) and Councillor Denise Fox (left) on the Labour Party Stall at Hackenthorpe Gala in 2012

George McDonald sadly passed away on the 1st January 2016 peacefully surrounded by his family. George had been Clive Betts agent for many years as well as the agent for many councillors over a long period of time. His life was dedicated to helping others and he saw the labour party, the party that cared enough to make the difference. He was a governor at Charnock Primary school and Birley Learning Community. He also sat on the schools appeal panel. He gave a lot of his time to the schools and spent many hours listening to children read helping them improve their skills.

George will be missed by many but he will never be forgotten. He had an abundance of energy that astounded people younger than himself.

Birley Environmental Group – First meeting a success!

Environmental - Birley

Thanks to all those who came to this evenings public discussion regarding a Birley Environmental Group.

 

Councillors Bryan Lodge, Karen McGowan and Denise Fox were all in attendance and answered questions from members of the public, before the evening turned into a group session on what current problems the community faces and how these can be addressed in future.

 

A second meeting will be held in January 2016. If you would like to get involved please keep checking our website for updates.

Birley Ward Labour Interviews Councillor Karen McGowan

Continuing the Councillor interviews, today Councillor Karen McGowan has answered a few questions on her motivations for becoming a Councillor, what she’s most proud of achieving and how local people can get involved in community activities.

Karen McGowan
Birley Ward Labour Councillor

 

Growing up in the Birley area, Karen has been a Birley Ward Councillor since 2010. The first question we put to her was what motivated her to become a Councillor?

 

I’ve been a member of the Labour Party since the 1980’s and have been active within the community for as long as I can remember with things such as being a school governor at Birley Learning Community and a member of the Birley Health Centre Patient focus Group.

 

It was Councillor Bryan Lodge who suggested the idea of becoming a Councillor. I was hesitant at first, but after shadowing other Councillors I realised I had the passion to help make a positive difference, and if being a Councillor will help me in achieving this, then it was something I felt I should get involved in. Although if you had told me 10 years ago I’d be entering my 5th year as a Councillor I wouldn’t have believed you.

 

In you time as a Councillor, what have been your proudest moments?

 

Serving my local community is something I’m extremely proud of. I’m really passionate about making it the best place to live and work for everyone.

 

The development of the Hackenthorpe Skate Park was a great success. We listened to all the residents and came up with a solution that’s worked for everyone. It’s given the local youth something they wanted and has been extremely popular so far.

 

Working with local volunteers is also something I’m always proud of, especially recently with volunteers who are running both the Frecheville and Gleadless libraries. I’ve found it a real privilege to help support such dedicated and hardworking residents who are making our areas better.

 

Additionally, the amount of litter around is something I don’t like to see, and so in response to resident concerns, the Birley Blitz litter-picking events were organised and so far these have been brilliant. It’s been a great way to get others involved and really make an immediate difference to how our streets look and feel.

 

How do you fit all the council duties around your day-to-day job and family?

 

It is difficult to manage as I have responsibilities just like everyone else. As well as being a Councillor I have a husband and daughter and work for the University of Sheffield 3 days a week. I’m very lucky in that my family are hugely supportive, as it’s them that my Councillor duties impact upon most as I’m often out both evenings and weekends meeting residents, at council meetings, or getting involved in local events and activities.

 

How can members of the local community get involved?

 

They can let me, Bryan or Denise (fellow local Councillors) know of any issue that’s important to them in our community. Alternatively, they can get directly involved in any existing community group we have such as Friends of Charnock Recreation Ground, Friends of Frecheville Park & Pond, Friends of Dykes Vale Park, volunteering at Frecheville or Gleadless library or even by simply buying and donating books from the libraries. There are already a lot of local people making a huge difference to our local community and I’m always keen to help others the best I can.

 

And finally, what are your main hobbies outside of the council?

 

I enjoy swimming and also like to read whenever I can – I’m a big Nora Roberts fan.

Birley Blitz Litter Picking Event near to Birley Spa Primary School

7 blitz2

 

Saturday 21st March saw the latest Birley Blitz litter picking event take place around Birley Spa Primary School. Organised by the Birley Ward Councillors, the open space outside the school was tidied with the help of several volunteers.

 

At the event Councillor Karen McGowan said “we are very grateful to both the Sheffield City Council Parks & Countryside and Sheffield Youth Justice Service for supporting all of these events, we definitely couldn’t do it without them”.

 

This Birley Blitz tied in with the ‘Spring into Action’ and ‘Help Clean up your Community events’ which are national initiatives aimed at helping improve local areas.

 

Afterwards, Councillor Denise Fox commented, “when we first looked at the area we didn’t know where to start but the difference when we’d finished was impressive, thank you to everyone for helping out”.

 

Councillor Bryan Lodge added that carpets, a flat screen TV, kids bike, shelving, and car parts were just some of the items removed “It amazed me as there’s no way of getting a vehicle near so people have been carrying this stuff to fly tip it. It took two people to carry the TV so someone must have seen them!”.

 

Check back on our website, or follow us on twitter for information on future events. Everyone is always welcome to come along and get involved!

 

Hedge Laying in Birley Ward a great success

East Glade Hedge Lay 1-11-14 (6)

East Glade Hedge Lay 1-11-14 (26)

Photos By Peter Wolstenholme

Local Birley Ward Councillor Karen McGowan joins staff from Sheffield City Council’s Environmental Planning section and the Sheffield Landscape Trust on a hedge laying course. Councillor McGowan said “It was more complicated than it looks but very enjoyable and the finished result looks great”. The course is part of the Eastglades Project and covers the open space between East Glade and Scowerdons estates. Local expert, Jasper Prachek, led the Hedge Laying course as part of the improvements works on the site. Councillor Karen McGowan added “part of the funding for this work is to hold public events, the idea is to involve local people. It would be great if we could form a new action group and encourage people to support the work”. If you are interested in forming a group or getting involved in helping out please contact Helen Mitchell at Sheffield City Council (0114 2735804). Any help and support would be gratefully received even if you can only give a couple of hours every few weeks it all helps to improve our local community.

Friends of Dyke Vale Park organised a fun day

Birley cllr Denise Fox and labour member Pat
Birley cllr Denise Fox and labour member Pat
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It was a great day lots of the residents came out and joined in the fun. The children loved the rides and there was a free bouncy castle. Activity Sheffield organised a penalty shoot out and the adults joined in too. The rain stopped play and we all thought the fun was going to end but it only lasted for five minutes and cleared up quickly then the sun came back out.

“It was great to see every one joining in and enjoying themselves” says one of the residents “the friends group have worked really hard to bring the community together”.
Councillor Denise Fox and Member Pat Emmingham organised the Birley Labour Party “hook a bag” stall with a free prize every time. The kids loved it and kept coming back for another go, it was great to see their faces light up when they won a toy and sweets.

The local supermarkets had donated fruit and the volunteers made fruit kebabs for everyone to try.

Local businesses had also been generous in donating raffle prizes which was most appreciated.

East Youth Forum presentation at Birley Ward Labour Party Branch Meeting

DH2

On Tuesday 26th November 2013 the Birley Ward Labour Party heard a very thought provoking presentation from two members of the East Youth Forum; Daniel Smith and Harley Cooper. Councillor Karen McGowan said “Members were very impressed with these two young people. Whenever I work with these them they never fail to impress me, they are an absolute pleasure to be around and great young ambassadors for the East of the city.” The meeting should have concluded at 9 pm but due to the interesting discussions it didn’t end until 9.50 p.m. Councillor Bryan Lodge said “We had a very interesting discussion on whether the voting age should be reduced to 16 years. Daniel and Harley conducted themselves with professionalism throughout”.

They also put forward a suggestion regarding an information board at the skate board informing the public how it came about and who had been involved. The Birley Ward Councillors are now in the process of taking this suggestion forward.

Birley Blitz Litter Pick at Hackenthorpe Skate Park

Hackenthorpe Skate Park Litter Pick

Photography by Peter Wolstenholme

Our thanks go to the Sheffield Youth Justice Service, East Youth Forum and Sheffield City Council Parks & Countryside who joined the Birley Ward Labour Councillors on the third Birley Blitz event on 31 October to clear litter from around the Hackenthorpe Skate Park. Birley Ward Councillor Karen McGowan said “although there wasn’t as much litter as we have found in the other areas it was a good effort by all who took part”. Thanks must also go to Rother Valley Church for joining us and also allowing us to use their premises for refreshments. Thanks also go Councillor Bryan Lodge for providing excellent homemade soup. Birley Ward Councillors undertook a walking surgery around the area after the litter pick and where joined by members of the East Youth Forum. Denise Fox said “we knocked on the doors of those houses that faced/backed onto the skate park. We had promised residents that we would consult with them six months after the skate park had been installed”. Councillor Bryan Lodge said “It was great to talk to residents as they were previously concerned that the skate park could attract anti-social behaviour. The residents were pleased with the park but raised concerns over litter.” Councillors are now responding to this by investigating if another bin and signs can be installed. For details of future events go to birleywardlabourparty.org.uk.