News archive

On Yer Bike?
Sheffield Cycle Speedway Club deliver regular coaching and racing opportunities for young people at the cycling track at Graves Leisure centre. Many participants are from the Norton area and we are growing really quickly and are in need of more volunteers willing to coach the junior section. We are looking for someone who is passionate about encouraging young people to get fit, have fun and make friends through sport. The club is willing to pay for some volunteers to attend a course to become a qualified cycling coach if they are willing to give up some of their time on Saturday mornings to coach the junior cycling club on our traffic free facility.
If you are interested please contact Robert Mace on 07888700355 or email robmace@britishcycling.org.uk or visit the junior cycling club activities at Graves Tennis & Leisure centre 10am - 12pm.

Chairobics!
Chairobics is seated exercise that encourages mobility and flexibility, that is , increases the range of movement in joints and strengthens the muscles by use. We do it to music that is upbeat and singalong so you can exercise your vocal chords tool It need not be strenuous so is suitable for ones that have not exercised for a while and know they need to start somewhere, to those who are active but appreciate that they need to find the full range of movement in their joints. Come and join us, sing if you want, talk with others or just get on with it, we would love to see you. Gentlemen are particularly welcome, it only costs £1. St Pauls C&C every Thursday at 3.00 to 4.00.

New mast on Warminster?
O2 are seeking permission to erect a 10m pole on Warminster road, by the substation. The application is for “Removal and replacement with 10 metres high telecommunication street-works monopole with integral antenna and 2 cabinets (Application for determination if approval required for siting and apperance)”. Click here to see the full details.

NoLRA AGM
Our last meeting was be 7.30 Thursday 22nd April at St Pauls C&C. Items under discussion included; Do we need NoLRA? It has been proposed we close down. Also, security on the estate - did you know there was a mugging by the Thorpe House Co-op recently? The following committee members were voted in ; Nick Robinson (chair) Rachel Nicholas (secretary), Pat Bradshaw (treasurer) to serve for a year.

Bishops House under threat
Museums Sheffield are considering removing regular public access to Bishops House at weekends. NoLRA had a strong representation at a recent meeting and will keep you informed of developments. Visit the Friends Of Bishops House website.

Local courses
Here's a copy of the South Community Assembly Adult Learning brochure, featuring lots of information about courses and training in our area.

Night Noise
Here is some information about nightly nuisance noise.

Poets Corner!
Local Poet Beryl Heathcote (regularly featured in the Norton Lees Newsletter) has published a book of her work, with many local subjects and funny stories. Over 100 printed pages for just £6, including a donation to NoLRA funds. See the cover and read some samples here. If you'd like a copy, please contact Richard at Thorpe House Post Office, 255 1793

Our PCSO wins an award!
Rachael Graham has been awarded the PCSO of the year award. This is in addition to the  "Partner, Individual and Organisations - Significant enhancement of children experiences award" in this years celebration of Success Awards which she won in April. Rachael was nominated for this by staff members at Mundella Primary School for the extensive work she has done with the young people there. more info

Going away? Let the Police know!
If you are leaving you house empty then you can inform Woodseats Police station of the dates and they will ask local PCSO's to check on your property while you are away. In addition you can let them know about a
key holder should your burglar alarm go off. Register at Woodseats Police Station 10am-6pm Tue-Sat for holiday piece of mind! You can now email Rachel (our local pcso) via pcso (at) nortonlees.org.uk

Meeting cancelled
The General Meeting for Norton Lees Residents Association (NoLRA) will not be taking place on Thurs 14th January due to the bad weather.

South Community Assembly - You Choose’
Would you like the opportunity to decide how the Council should spend money in your neighbourhood?
The South Community Assembly would like to give residents from the Gleadless Valley Ward the opportunity to come along and vote on which projects they would like to see receive funding. We will be at the Heeley Christmas Lights on Friday 4th December 5.30pm – 7.30pm Heeley Parish Church 151 Gleadless Road, S2 3AE. The event will include a Lantern Festival a brass band and local choir. Come along and have your say!

Partners and Communities Together (P.A.C.T)
Care about policing, crime & justice in your area? Have your say on how issues are tackled. Safer Neighbourhood Team are holding monthly meeting with members of the community to agree your neighbourhood priorities and provide updates on local crime and policing issues.

Thursday 12th November 7pm - 8pm at Gleadless Valley TARA office, Plowright Way.
Friday 13th November 7pm - 8pm at Heeley Institute, Gleadless Road

Woodseats Festival
NoLRA had a stall in the school playground and met lots of nice people, raising some money through our raffle. If you'd like to take part (lots of great prizes!) please buy some tickets from the Thorpe House Post Office - ask for Richard. We'd like to see if we can organise a Norton lees festival, possibly at the Derbyshire Lane shooping centre - please get in touch with Nick if you have any bright ideas.

Newfield - nearly complete
The old school buildings are now demolished and the new building complete. Some landscaping remains to be completed, but inside the school, the students and staff are making full use of the amazing facilities. Having survived some lean years, Newfield now looks set to join Sheffield's educational elite and places there will attract strong competition. If you wish to look round the school, please get in touch with them.

Annual General Meeting
We managed to fill the key posts, but new faces are very welcome. Why not make this the year YOU give something to the area! Whatever you want to see improved we will support you to make it happen. The experience may even improve your CV! It’s easy to get involved. Simply contact Dave the secretary by clicking here.

Have your say...
The Government has brought in a new Act - the Sustainable Communities Act, it allows councils, after taking advice from local people, to put forward proposals for government action that will help local communities to be more sustainable and offer better quality of life. It is aimed at helping to change the environment that people live in by giving them the power to change things they don’t like. NoLRA will be delighted to help local people put forward proposals - do get in touch! Read more...

Big Spring Clean
What a difference we could make to our City if we all did a little bit of Spring Cleaning in our local area and on our streets! Sheffield’s Big Spring Clean will take place 21 March to 19 April 2009. Read more...

Neighbourhood Watch meeting
Meet those already running successful Neighbourhood Watches in Norton Lees and share their experience and ideas. Tea and coffee provided.  Finishes 9pm. Thu 19 March, 7.30pm, St Paul’s Church.

Local shops raided!
Newsagents, post offices, off-licences and convenience stores across Sheffield are being warned to be on their guard after seven raids in the city over the last two weeks. On four occasions - including the most recent raid at the Derbyshire Lane post office in Norton Lees - two men entered the premises brandishing a gun. The off-license further down the road was also raided. Read more...

Bogus Callers - watch out!
Over the last few days there have been two incidents of Bogus  Callers - one in the Carterknowle area where two males claiming to be from "the  water board" said they were testing the water. After they had gone, she discovered that they had taken money from her handbag. On Abbeydale Road South, a similar incident, with an unknown amount of cash taken. Do not let anyone into your house unless they are expected, check all ID cards, and if they  are still not sure, to contact the relevant agencies involved. Do  not ring the number on the ID card as some of these can be fake.   If you see anyone acting suspiciously please try to get as the best description you can, including physical appearance,  clothing, any vehicles etc. and contact the police on Sheffield  2202020.

Bin Collection news
The snow has hit our collection of refuse. Read about new plans for collection...

101 Helpline continues
THE 101 helpline where people can report anti-social behaviour has been saved, thanks to Sheffield Council. The helpline's future was under threat after the Government withdrew funding for it, but now the council has come up with a financial package to rescue it. The council will pay South Yorkshire Police to run the 101 number, together with three other council helplines - out-of-hours numbers for homelessness, ones for children's social care, and one for adults' social care. Calls to 101 and the other helplines will continue to be answered by the same staff so there are no job losses and callers won't see a change to the service.

Here's the best Xmas display we could find this year!

Crime Figures
The snappily titled "Woodseats and Gleadless Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team’s Crime & Antisocial Behaviour Update for November 2008" is now available. Here is a highly colourful pdf version. It's always useful to see how the real figures compare with your own perception of crime rates.

New cafe opens!
"Zoe's Kitchen" is now open in the former newsagents on Derbyshire Lane. How wonderful that a local woman is prepared to tackle the recession head on and open a really useful local facility. Please support Zoe by calling by for a cuppa!