Richard Bailey and the grouse moor owners he speaks for (Letters, 7 March) continue to promote the practice of heather burning which is harmful to public health, wildlife, and the environment.
He fails to mention the Government has banned burning on deep peat soils because of damage to protected habitat. Instead of burning, grouse moor owners can now mow and shred the vegetation. In this way, they can reduce the fire risk and reduce the air pollution suffered by people living downwind. This could easily be extended to all moorland.
Unfortunately, illegal burning continues with the owner of Bradfield Moors subject to an enforcement penalty for unlawful burning of deep peat. Three similar cases are under investigation on Sheffield moors.
During the heather burning season, local communities such as Bradfield, Loxley and Malin Bridge are subject to intolerable levels of smoke and particulates which are extremely damaging to health. Then, these pollutants drift eastwards towards the whole of Sheffield.
The ugly tradition of grouse shooting must end for the benefit of all our communities.
You may have heard about Red Lines and Bus Lanes. There are lots of myths around. Read on to find out the facts or click here to download the pdf version.
RED LINES
Myth
Truth
It’s already been decided.
No decision has been made on red routes. There has only been an initial consultation.1
Red lines mean 12 hour
bus lanes.
They are not the same thing. You can have red routes without bus lanes and bus lanes without red routes.
Red lines mean no
parking anywhere.
Red routes can have single lines and double lines. Cameras on red routes detect dangerous and illegal parking – this only affects people who park illegally.
Businesses won’t be
able to have deliveries.
There can be loading bays on red routes.
It will be bad for people
with disabilities and
taxis.
Blue badge holders and licensed taxis can stop on red routes.2
There can also be blue badge parking bays.
No one has been consulted.
Over 17,000 households and businesses were contacted by post and 3,680 people made comments in 2021-22.
No-one cares about
illegal parking –
everyone does it.
Illegal parking affects people’s safety,
particularly people with disabilities, children and people with prams.
BUS LANES
Myth
Truth
Bus lane hours are going to increase to 12 hours a day.
No decision has been made. A cross-party committee³ will look at several options. Any proposals will be brought forward for public consultation.
It’s already been decided.
No decision has been made on bus lane hours. There has only been an initial consultation.
There’s no need to change – it works well as it is.
Buses are delayed because of congestion.⁵ The current bus lane hours don’t match the peak rush hour times.
No one has been consulted.
Over 17,000 households and businesses were contacted by post and 3,680 people made comments in 2021-22.
Everyone comes to the shops by car.
In a survey, 64% of shoppers didn’t bring a car. 55% of shoppers arrived on foot.
12 hour bus lanes and red lines are the same thing.
You can have red routes without bus lanes and bus lanes without red routes. They are not the same thing.
Sheffield Greens welcomed members of theTadhamon choir to their monthly meeting in March. They spoke about their recent trip to Palestine and sang for us.
Tadhamon Choir
The meeting unanimously passed two motions. The first committed Sheffield Green Party to support the Sheffield Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid. This is a coalition of organisations and individuals united to promote a city-wide response to Israel’s apartheid regime as happened in the 1980s when the people of Sheffield proudly joined the struggle against South African Apartheid.
The crime of apartheid involves creating and maintaining the systematic domination of one racial or ethnic group over another. Palestinian and international human rights organisations are agreed that apartheid is what is in evidence in the whole of historic Palestine. We support the Palestinian struggle against it and are campaigning for all Sheffield-based institutions and companies to sever any connection that gives support to Israel’s system of apartheid.
Green Party member and Tadhamon singer Heather Hunt said:
“The recently elected right-wing government in Israel has made explicit its intentions to extend the illegal settlements throughout Palestine and is stepping up its flagrant use of force to intimidate, hurt and kill Palestinians.
The Green Party has strong policies based on international law ensuring human rights for Palestinian and Israeli citizens. This includes support for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign.
Members of the Tadhamon choir shared their first-hand accounts illustrated with images and a few songs, from their recent visit to the West Bank. This vivid account stimulated discussion on ways Sheffield Green Party can go further in putting policies into practice in support of justice for Palestinians.”
Resolution 1: Proposed by Heather Hunt. Seconded by Cllr Alexi Dimond
Sheffield Green Party agrees to pledge support for the aims of the Sheffield Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid. The aims are as follows:
Oppose all forms of racism. eg.racism against Black and minority ethnic groups, antisemitism and Islamophobia
Raise Sheffield citizen’s awareness of the Palestinian people’s struggle against injustice imposed by Israeli apartheid, settler colonisation and occupation.
Make Sheffield into an Israeli Apartheid Free Zone by campaigning for business, local governmental, educational, sporting and cultural institutions to renounce all ties that support the Israeli apartheid system in line with the Palestinian BDS campaign.
Oppose the arm trade and all forms of military collaboration with Israel and call for the end of Israeli occupation and the siege of the Gaza Strip.
Call for sanctions against Israel until it abides by all international laws and UN resolutions affecting the rights of Palestinians including the refugees’ right of return.
Supports Palestinian grassroots organisations which promote equality for women, workers’ rights and the improvement of conditions for children.
Encourage Palestinian cultural activity in Sheffield
Oppose measures aimed at shutting down public criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Resolution 2. Proposed by Heather Hunt. Seconded by Cllr Alexi Dimond
Further to the invitation from the Mayor of Nablus to the Mayor of Sheffield in 2019, Sheffield Green Party will encourage and support further twinning arrangements with Nablus; be that formally with SCC and also through informal linking with educational and cultural organisations in both cities.
Peter Gilbert on Snow PatrolPeter Gilbert on Snow Patrol
On Friday morning Green Party candidate Peter Gilbert, a former ski instructor, was out on patrol. At the top of Greystones Hall Road, he came across a cherry tree damaged by the weight of heavy snow. Together with local residents, he helped to bring the damaged branch down safely and clear it from the road.
Peter also helped people clear snow from their paths and elderly residents cross the road. He said, “The snowiest March day on record brought challenges but communities across Sheffield have overcome them together!”
Manor Castle Green Party are campaigning for improvements to an extremely dangerous traffic light junction with no pedestrian lights.
The junction of Bernard Street, Duke Street and Talbot Street is featured in a video showing people running for their lives as they try to cross the road. A petition launched in February on 38 Degrees (https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/safecrossing) already has over 190 signatures.
Ruth Flagg-Abbey at the dangerous Duke St/Talbot St/Bernard St crossing.
Ruth Flagg-Abbey, who is standing as the Green Party candidate in Manor Castle ward in the local council elections this May, said
“The Sheffield Star has an online article promoting possible routes that drivers of HGVs and other commercial vehicles could take to avoid driving through the Clean Air Zone. One of the Star’s suggestions is to exit the Parkway early and drive along Cricket Inn Road and Bernard Street, which brings drivers to this awful junction. It must be one of the least pedestrian-friendly junctions in Sheffield.”
Manor Castle Green Party activist Graham Wroe said “ The Council must now prioritise improvements to pedestrian safety at this junction. We have been campaigning for it since 2008 and now it is clearly going to get worse.”
gh ward newsletter Jan Feb 2023 pdf
