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Birley Blitz Litter Pick 9 February 2019

On 9th February the Birley Ward Councillors were joined by Hackenthorpe Litter Picks and Owlthorpe Forum to litter pick on Silkstone Road. Councillor Denise Fox said “although it was a very windy day the turn out from Hackenthorpe Litter Pickers and Owlthorpe Forum meant we were able to clear a lot of litter from the street and wooded area. We retrieved lots of cans, bottles, litter as well as plastic garden furniture and carpets” Councillor Karen McGowan added “it was disappointing that no local residents joined us, we hear a lot of complaints from residents about litter so we organised this litter pick in response to people’s concerns”. The Birley ward councillors would like to thank the Hackenthorpe Litter Pickers, Owlthorpe Forum and Sheffield City Councils Parks & Countryside Department for supporting this event.

We need your help to stop fly-tipping and to keep our communities clean of litter. Any evidence you can provide would also be considered such as vehicle registration number (you can report this anonymously). If you see any fly-tipping you can:

Telephone: 0114 2744567
Email: Streetsahead@sheffield.gov.uk
Or contact one of your local labour councillors

For more information see https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/content/sheffield/home/pollution-nuisance.html

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Speeding on Fox Lane

Residents contacted Councillor Denise Fox regarding issues of speeding vehicles on Fox Lane. The brow of the hill makes it dangerous for residents entering or leaving their driveways. Councillor Fox was joined by Councillor Karen McGowan when she set up a community speed watch session with the police on 14 September Councillor Fox is also working with officers to get the speed reduced from 40 mph to 30 mph in this location.

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Birley Spa Primary School visit to the Town Hall

On Friday 11 May Councillors Karen McGowan and Denise Fox arranged for the School Council from Birley Spa Primary School to visit the Town Hall. They were shown round by the Lord Mayor Councillor Anne Murphy and they visited the Lord Mayors Parlour and the Council Chamber. Councillor Karen McGowan said “the children were so engaged, they asked the Lord Mayor some really good questions” and Councillor Denise Fox added “they were so well behaved they were a real pleasure to meet.” The school thanked the Lord Mayor and the Councillor for arranging the visit and for giving up their time.

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ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL BIRLEY BLITZ

Councillors with the Fire Cadets and Police

It was a miserable, damp and rainy Saturday morning but that did not deter the local Frecheville residents, Fire Service Cadets and police who joined the Birley Ward Councillors in cleaning up a large area of Jaunty Park. This initiative came about through a couple of residents raising concerns about fires, litter and general anti-social behaviour in park land behind Longstone Crescent. The litter pick is a follow on to work done two weeks previously by Councillors, a resident, Fire Service and Police in talking to pupils in assemblies at Birley Academy on the dangers of fire and the consequences of a criminal record.

Councillor Karen McGowan said “The response from everyone especially the local residents and the fire cadets was fantastic and I can not thank them enough. It was terrible weather but everyone did a great job”.

Councillor Bryan Lodge said “ the enthusiasm was great, residents retained some of the litter pick equipment so they can continue cleaning up the area which we are happy to support”.

Councillor McGowan added “the most encouraging part is the willingness of the local residents to form a Community Group to look after this area and some great ideas where discussed such as working with the wildlife trust to educate people on the different species of trees and animals that can be found here and creating seats areas for people to enjoy the area”.

Councillor Denise Fox said “We could not have done this without support from everyone that attended including the Councils Parks & Countryside Department who provided equipment and collected the waste. Also Ruth from the Remember When Café on Silkstone Crescent who provided warm drinks and buns. It was a real community effort and we look forward to supporting and working with the new community group in the future ”.

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Speeding Vehicles on Linley Lane

In response to complaints by local residents on speeding vehicles on Linley Lane Councillors Karen McGowan & Denise Fox held a speed watch session on 6 December with police.

Councillor Karen McGowan said “firstly I’d like to thank the residents for raising their concerns and to the police for supporting us with this activity. In the hour that we were present we recorded vehicles doing up to 55 mph which is way above the 30 mph allowed. This is a danger for anyone trying to cross the road as well as other road users and we urge drivers to slow down. To further support this work we are also moving the Birley Ward Speed Indicator Device (SID) to Linley Lane”.

Councillor Denise Fox added “Thank you to the residents who brought us flasks of coffee out which was very welcome as it was a cold morning”.

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Happy 60th Anniversary to St John Fisher Primary School

St John Fisher School 60th

On Friday 23 June Birley Ward Councillors Denise Fox and Karen McGowan joined the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Councillor Anne Murphy to celebrate 60 years of St John Fisher Primary School. The event was very well supported by pupils and there parents. Councillor McGowan said “it was great fun seeing all the teachers dressed up in 60’s style clothing.” Councillor Denise Fox said “even the Headteacher joined in dressing up” he is in the middle with the bright patterned shirt.

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Tree Planting on Fox Lane Recreation Ground

tree planting

Saturday 21 January at Fox Lane Recreation Ground, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Denise Fox put on her gloves and wellies to join her ward colleagues Councillor Karen McGowan and Bryan Lodge along with Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, forestry staff, members of Hollinsend Methodist Cricket Club and the community to plant over 150 trees.

In partnership with the Trees for Cities organisation, 7,500 trees will be planted in the south-east of the city. Trees being planted include a mix of native woodland species, including English Oak, Hazel, Field Maple, Spindle, Hawthorn and Blackthorn.

This tree planting will encourage wildlife and provide residents with opportunities to connect with nature. Sheffield is the greenest city in Britain where people can do a wide variety of outdoor activities such as walking, jogging and ride their bikes.

Birley Community Primary school children will also be involved in a separate planting session on Wednesday 25 January.

Birley ward councillors would like to thanks all the volunteers for their participation and the Community Forestry Manager at Sheffield City Council for organising the events.

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Birley Ward Labour Party Social Event

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On Tuesday 15 November the Birley Ward Labour Party held a social event. This was an an informal evening giving members (new and old) an opportunity to meet over a few drinks and a chat and yes the bar was open!!!. There was also nibbles and home made mince pies thanks to Pat Emmingham our Social Secretary. The invitation was open to family, friends and neighbours and a very pleasant evening was had by all. We were joined by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield our very own Birley Ward Councillor Denise Fox. One new member that had recently joined the ward attended and we had another person joined the Labour Party on the night.

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Cycling 100 miles for Lord Mayors Charity

jordan-cycling

Lord Mayor of Sheffield Birley Ward Councillor Denise Fox’s son Jordan Fox and family friend Ray Mason will be cycling from Sheffield to Skegness on Saturday 9 October to raise funds for the Lord Mayors charities. Jordan says “I only started cycling at the beginning of the year and I got addicted straight away. I wanted to join a club and thanks to the great set of fellow riders at Sitwell cycle club, I joined. My other goal was to complete a 100 mile bike ride. What better way to do this then to help my mum who is the current Lord Mayor of Sheffield raise as much money as she possibly can for her four chosen charities which are close to her heart. The four charities are:
Army Benevolent Fund – supporting soldiers, former soldiers and immediate family of the British army.
St Luke’s – supporting a hospice which helps people through a difficult journey.
Sparkle – supporting disabled children, young people and their families.
Support Dogs – supporting a Sheffield based national charity helping children with epilepsy, physical disabilities and autism.

I hope you all give generously as I am going to kill myself doing this ride. Thanks to Cllr Karen McGowan for generously putting the accommodation up for me. Thanks to Cllr Terry Fox for being the support on the way down. And thanks to Ray Mason for taking me on the route and looking after me or killing me.”

If you would like to donate please go to Jordan’s just giving page on facebook
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jordon-fox-1?utm_campaign=projectpage-share-owner&utm_content=jordon-fox-1&utm_medium=Yimbyprojectpage&utm_source=Facebook&utm_term=EdB8W64am

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Lord Mayors Launch of Nightstop in Sheffield

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nightstop

On Friday 16 September Councillor Karen McGowan, Cabinet Assistant for Housing and Planning attended the launch of Nightstop in Sheffield. This event was officially launch by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Birley Ward Councillor Denise Fox.

Nightstop provides overnight accommodation in the homes of trained and vetted volunteers in the area. The Nightstop service is designed to stop young people, aged from 16 to 25, entering the cycle of homelessness and unemployment that can lead to this devastating outcome. Nightstop teams work with homeless young people, in partnership with local agencies, to help them address the issues that caused them to become homeless, providing family mediation and securing long-term settled accommodation.

At the launch attendees heard from a family who had been volunteering for 2 years and from a young person who said he had only been homeless for 11 nights thanks to Nightstop who helped him get his life back on track, but he didn’t know what would have happened if the volunteers hadn’t been there to help him.

The new service, is funded by a £200,000 grant from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. They are aiming to recruit 45 volunteer hosts to provide around 400 nights of accommodation in its first year. Once the service is established in Sheffield they are hoping to expand across South Yorkshire.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering for Nightstop Sheffield, please call 0114 278 7152 or email amy.smith@depaulcharity.org.uk For more details and photo’s see the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NightstopSouthYorkshire/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1127375057346197

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Fund Raising for the Lord Mayors Charity

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On Saturday 25 June Cllr Karen McGowan and Marie Lodge who are part of the Lord Mayors Fundraising Team attended the Yorkshire Regiment’s Freedom Parade. This year the Lord Mayors Charity is supporting: The Army Benevalent Fund, Sparkle, St Lukes Hospice and Support Dogs

The Lord Mayor and Colonel George Andrew Kilburn MBE DL undertook an inspection of the service personnel and made speeches in Barkers Pool. The Freedom Parade then proceeded up Devonshire Street to Devonshire Green which Karen and Marie joined with collection tins. The Lord Mayor then hosted a Civic Reception in the Town Hall for the Regiment.

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Cllr Denise Fox as Sheffield’s new Lord Mayor

We would like to congratulate Councillor Denise Fox who is now Sheffield’s new Lord Mayor.

 

Denise is the 120th Lord Mayor of Sheffield, and the 17th female, and has been a loyal Labour Councillor for the Birley Ward since 2005.

 

Denise said ‘I will carry out my role as Lord Mayor the 1st citizen of Sheffield to the best of my ability, and I look forward to the year ahead’.

 

Congratulations Denise and good luck in your new role!

Mayor