Autumn 2002

Editorial

We keep being told that walking is the easiest and best way to keep fit, but are we listening?

According to a recent Department for Transport survey, a typical person walks 189 miles a year - a drop of nearly 40 miles in the past 10 years. This means that less than 3 % of journeys are made on foot.

Since 1990-91, the proportion of children walking to primary school has fallen from 62 % to 54 %, while the number driven to school has increased from 27 % to 39 %. My guess is that even higher percentages are driven to school locally!

Driving accounts for 80 % of the total distance travelled in a year, this being the dominant form of transport for all trips longer than a mile. 60 % of cars carried one occupant, but this figure rose to 84 % for commuting and business trips. On average, each person travelled 6,815 miles a year, an increase of 5 % over the decade.

There is no sign that things will change as life gets more hectic and time saved on getting from 'a to b' is at a premium. Come to think of it, more people might be inclined to vote if they could do it by post or on the Internet.

Which reminds me that local ward boundaries are currently being reviewed to bring the numbers of voters represented by each councillor more in line. I understand Bradway looks likely to stay in Dore Ward, which may loose Low Edges and gain Whirlow. Whatever is decided, the election in May 2004 will be fought on the new boundaries, with all councillors up for re-election at the same time. Could be interesting!

John Baker, Editor

Armed robbery

The robbery has been linked with four others across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire for which investigations are continuing. It is believed the three men were drinking in a local pub immediately prior to the robbery and Woodseats police would welcome any additional information on this. If you think you can help please ring Detective Sargeant Lisa Ray at Woodseats CID on 296 3661.

King Ecgbert School

A presentation of plans for the future of King Ecgberts was held at the school on July 12. The proposals were down to a shortlist of two companies, Focus Education and Priorgate Consortium. Subsequently it has been announced that the Priorgate Consortium has won.

The winner of the contract will design, build and manage the building for a period of 25 years. The £25 million capital cost will be raised by the company. It will recover the money over the management period by rental charges to the City Council.

The Priorgate proposal involves building a new school on the playing fields below the existing Wessex Building, that's the lower building off Totley Brook Rd. When the new building is completed the existing building will be demolished.

The ideal site for the new building would be on the site of the existing building, but this would mean providing temporary accommodation for the school which would add another £2 million to the cost. It is felt that sort of money can be better spent elsewhere. The new building is to be 3 storeys high with a monopitch roof.

Both schemes were for pretty ordinary looking modern schools, brick walls with plenty of glass and almost flat roofs.

The timetable of events is for the selection of preferred bidder to be made by Sept 6 2002. Construction to begin Feb 2003, and completion Sept 2004.

What's going to happen to the Mercia building and surrounding land isn't made clear.

Richard Farnsworth

Telecommunication protest

As we went to press, local residents had successfully joined forces to stop builders erecting mobile phone masts on top of the flats above the parade of shops on Bradway Road.

By protesting and parking cars in strategic places they managed to prevent contractors Taylor Woodrow from erecting three aerials for Hutchinson 3G on the roof of the flats. The installation of these had been agreed by the landlord who is based in Gibraltar, after months of correspondence between residents, their landlord's agent and the company wishing to install the aerials.

Residents claim the masts could effect their health and will disadvantage commercial activities in the area. Despite assurances from both the landlord=s agents and the communications company they say they are determined to do whatever it takes to stop the masts going up.

Under current legislation formal planning approval is not required for this kind of development.

New Nature Reserve

Ecclesall Woods is one of three new areas in Sheffield that has been declared a local nature reserve following approval by English Nature, the government's advisors on wildlife.

The declaration gives all three sites added protection from development. It also strengthens the City Council's commitment to manage the sites for the long term for the benefit of the wildlife, visitors and local people.

At all the sites, strong community involvement in their care and management is important and the Council is striving to improve access for the local community and visitors from further afield - Ecclesall Woods alone receives around 400,000 visits a year. This includes resurfacing main paths, tackling fly-tipping, developing information leaflets and doing educational work with local schools and the wider community.

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