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Community comes together to tidy Local Park

Litter pick (2)

Photography by Peter Wolstenholme

On Saturday afternoon a group of over thirty local volunteers led by the Birley Ward Labour Party removed nearly sixty bags of litter from Jaunty Park. The fifth time a ‘Birley Blitz’ event has brought the community together to make a real impact in Sheffield.

The volunteers included local labour councillors Karen McGowan, Bryan Lodge and Denise Fox, as well councillors Mike Drabble and Lynn Rooney from Arbourthorne and Richmond wards. The East Youth Forum, Sheffield Youth Justice Service, Labour Party members, local residents and Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Sheffield Heeley Louise Haigh rounded off the volunteers. All taking time out of their day to spend over two hours collecting litter and helping make the park a cleaner and safer place for everyone to enjoy.

The grey clouds did little to put off any of the volunteers according to Councillor Bryan Fox who said it was fantastic to see so many people come together, and that it was really encouraging to see the amount of litter actually being dropped in the area was reducing compared to the amount removed during the last Birley Blitz litter pick. Evidencing the positive differences the Birley Ward Labour Party is having in Jaunty Park and across the Birley area.

Local resident Janet Betts pulled on a pair of gloves and grabbed a litter picker to help out, afterwards with a smile on her face she said the event was ‘a great atmosphere with everyone digging in together to make a real difference to the area’.

A special thanks is also extended to Sheffield Parks and Countryside for providing equipment and removing the litter filled black sacks, to Peter Wolstenholme for taking photographs of the hard working volunteers, and finally to Sheffield Housing Services for providing a free of charge room for everyone to enjoy a much deserved tea and cake afterwards.

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Congratulations Mike!

Mike DrabbleBirley Labour Party Chair, Mike Drabble, has been  successful in winning the Arbourthorne by election. Cllr Drabble fills the vacant seat on Sheffield City Council following the death last year of popular councillor, Cllr John Robson. John will be a hard act to follow but we’re sure that Mike is up to it.

Congratulations Mike!

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Birley Labour at the South Yorkshire Festival, Wortley Hall

Birley Labour at the South Yorkshire Festival Wortley Hall Image 1
Birley Labour at the South Yorkshire Festival Wortley Hall Image 1

Last Saturday, Birley Ward’s Labour councillors attended the South Yorkshire Festival at Wortley Hall, along with members of Birley Ward Labour Party.

This was a wonderful event, with many stalls from trade unions, local Labour branches and community organisations from across the region, as well as stalls selling all manner of arts, crafts and foodstuffs.

Birley Ward members and councillors had a great time in the sunny weather, fundraising and discussing with festival-goers how best to fight the cuts foisted on Sheffield and South Yorkshire by this pitiless Conservative/Liberal Democrat government.

Councillor Denise Fox said: ‘It was great to see so many people at the festival that are determined to fight for those suffering from the coalition’s policies. The cuts on local services and the bedroom tax are having a terrible effect, and it’s all thanks to the government that the Sheffield Liberal Democrats support. The message to them from today is clear: the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire won’t stand by while you attack the most vulnerable’.

Birley Labour at the South Yorkshire Festival Wortley Hall Image 3
Birley Labour at the South Yorkshire Festival Wortley Hall Image 3
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Labour SYPCC Shaun Wright Visits Birley Ward

Labour South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate Shaun Wright Visits Birley Ward
Labour South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate Shaun Wright and Councillor Denise Fox Discuss Crime Priorities with a Birley Ward Resident

On Saturday, Labour’s candidate for the vital post of South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner visited Birley Ward. Shaun Wright joined Councillor Bryan Lodge, Councillor Denise Fox, Councillor Harry Harpham and Birley Ward Labour Party Secretary Mike Drabble in touring Basegreen, where he talked to residents about their crime priorities.

Over the course of the morning many vigorous doorstep discussions took place, with residents leaving Shaun in no doubt as to the  issues the police should focus on. Shaun went away with a clear idea of their concerns – including anti-social behaviour, burglaries and the impact of drugs on communities – and pledged to do his best to address them if elected. He said:

“Visiting areas such as Basegreen is extremely valuable: there’s no substitute for talking to people and learning their views on how crime affects them. Unlike the other candidates, if elected I’ll make sure I continue to listen to the people to ensure South Yorkshire Police is not only a model of efficient policing but a force that is totally responsive to the needs of the community it serves.”

Having spent time with Shaun during his campaign, we at Birley Labour Party have no hesitation in urging all inhabitants of South Yorkshire to vote for him on November 15th. He is the only candidate for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner that will defend front-line policing, oppose privatisation of our police force, and ensure that the police serve the interests of each and every community across the county.

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Labour SYPCC Candidate Shaun Wright Supports Under One Roof (Basegreen Youth Project)

Labour SYPCC Candidate Shaun Wright at Basgreen Youth Project
Birley Ward Labour Party Secretary Mike Drabble, Cheryl Barrott of Change AGEnts Network UK Ltd, Labour SYPCC Candidate Shaun Wright, Cabinet Member for Finance Councillor Bryan Lodge and Project Manager John Johnson at Basegreen Youth Project

This morning Shaun Wright, Labour’s candidate for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, visited a new youth project in Basegreen called Under One Roof.

The project, a co-operative set up by Basegreen resident John Johnson, is supported by bodies such as Sheffield Labour Group (represented by Cabinet Member for Finance Councillor Bryan Lodge), Birley Ward Labour Party (represented by Secretary Mike Drabble), Change AGEnts Network UK Ltd. (represented by Cheryl Barrott), Sheffield College and a number of local employers. It is being set up to help local young people, giving them the educational options and mentoring support to ensure they don’t fall prey to anti-social behaviour or worse.

Though Under One Roof is not yet up and running, Shaun was keen to show his support at this early stage, as boosting crime prevention strategies which focus on early intervention is a key part of his campaign to become South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Shaun was given a tour of the site by project manager John Johnson, after which a discussion ensued in which Shaun made clear his backing of such projects. Shaun said:

“With the Conservatives and Lib Dems slashing funding for valuable local projects like Under One Roof, it’s essential that we support them. Such local initiatives are key in stopping crime happening in the first place by giving at-risk kids a viable future. If elected Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, I will do my best to support projects like this across the whole county, meaning better communities for us all.”

John Johnson, manager of the project, was grateful for Shaun’s visit:

“It’s a real boost to have Shaun coming out to see what we’re building here at Under One Roof. We know these kids have a future, and now we know that he sees it too. I wish him well in his campaign, and look forward to inviting him back to meet some of the kids once we’re up and running and he’s elected!”

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Kash Walayat OBE for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner: Birley Branch Endorsements

Kash Walayat OBE
Kash Walayat OBE

The Labour Party’s decision on whom to nominate for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner is imminent. Given the importance of this post, it is essential that the best candidate is put forward to contest the full election in November.

Birley Branch Labour Party is pleased to announce a number of endorsements for Kash Walayat OBE: Councillor Bryan Lodge, Councillor Karen McGowan, Councillor Denise Fox and membership secretary Mike Drabble are all convinced that Kash Walayat OBE is the right person for the job.

His skills, experience and connections with all sections of the community mean he is better placed than any other candidate to offer effective oversight of South Yorkshire Police in what will be a challenging time for our local force. In addition, Kash Walayat OBE has demonstrated his commitment to the post by giving up his highly paid civil service job to stand: something none of the other candidates can say!

So we urge all local Labour Party members to vote for Kash Walayat OBE for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner. He’s a long-standing Labour member that has worked hard for the party in the past, and will work hard for the people of South Yorkshire in the future.