Recycling - it’s worth it

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 03, 2017 12:48:49 PM


Looking good and feeling good is the theme of this year’s Recycle Week taking place from 25 September to 1 October.


Rotherham Council is encouraging residents to focus on reducing the amount of recyclable bathroom items like toilet roll tubes, toothpaste boxes and fragrance bottles currently evading the recycling bin.


If every household in Rotherham recycled two more toilet roll tubes, this would save enough energy to power a typical primary school for three days. Recycling one more toothpaste box would save enough energy to power a school for four days.


New research from Recycle Now shows that in the UK, almost 90% of packaging is recycled in our kitchens, while just over half (52%) of items are recycled in the bathroom.


Over a third (38%) of the UK population say they don’t always recycle glass items such as empty aftershave and perfume bottles.


Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, Cllr Emma Hoddinott, said: "I want to thank residents for the recycling that’s already being done, and ensuring less of our waste goes to landfill. But there's always more that can be done, and this week is about renewing our efforts to recycle.”


Head of Recycle Now, Linda Crichton, said: “Many of us have our daily bathroom routines in place – whether we’re getting ready to go to work, out for a party or just settling down for a night in. During Recycle Week, we are looking to shake up those routines and let people know what they can do good for the environment you live in in the process of looking good.”


Top bathroom recycling tips:


Rinse containers before they go in the recycling bin

Put caps and lids back on your glass containers before recycling

Mirrors and nail varnish bottles are not recyclable and should be put in your general waste


For more information about your local recycling scheme, including what can and can’t be recycled from around the house.

Yorkshire Photography


[catlist name=Latest News]

Rotherham’s Mayor gives her backing to Project EDWARD

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 03, 2017 12:48:49 PM


Rotherham Mayor Councillor Eve Rose Keenan gave her backing to Project EDWARD – European Day without a road death – on September 21st.


The Mayor signed a pledge to play her part in reducing the number of deaths caused by collisions on the county’s roads – and revealed the personal significance of the campaign.

Councillor Keenan said that the campaign was important to her as she herself had lost a loved one in tragic circumstances.


“I lost my husband at just 22 years old – he was 26 – in an incident caused by a drink driver,” said Councillor Keenan. “I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did and that’s why I feel so strongly about this campaign and road safety generally.


“I would urge people to think hard – think about whether to have that drink, or send that text behind the wheel – it could make a big difference to someone’s life,” she added.

Earlier this year Councillor Keenan and her fellow civic leaders from across the county joined together to take the Project EDWARD pledge and support the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership (SYSRP) as part of the Europe-wide road safety campaign.


EDWARD, the European day without a road death takes place on Thursday 21 September and is in its second year. The day of action encourages all road users to take extra care, with the aim of reducing the number of deaths and serious injury on Europe’s roads and promoting awareness of road safety across the continent.


The four main causes of fatalities on the road, often referred to as the fatal four, are:


• Failure to wear or incorrect wearing of seat belts

• Excessive and inappropriate speed

• Distractions (including mobile phone use)

• Drink and drug driving


However there are a number of other factors that contribute towards collisions, such as engaging in risky manoeuvres or not looking out for other road users. By making a few simple changes to driving behaviour we can significantly reduce the risk of a collision.


SYSRP has been promoting the day of action, encouraging drivers, riders, cyclists and pedestrians to reflect on how they use the road and what they can do to create a safer environment on the county’s roads. Participants are also encouraged to show their support by signing and sharing the Project EDWARD pledge for safer driving.

Yorkshire Photography


[catlist name=Latest News]

Iceland Foods fined £2.5 million following fatal accident

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 03, 2017 12:48:49 PM


Iceland Foods Limited have this week (18 September 2017) been fined £2.5 million at a sentencing hearing at Grimsby Crown Court.


Iceland had previously been found guilty of breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 following a three-week trial held at Sheffield Crown Court in July 2017.


The charges were brought by Rotherham Council following a fatal accident at Iceland’s store on Sycamore Road, Rotherham, on 28 October 2013. A contractor had visited the store to replace filters within an air conditioning unit which was located on a plant platform above a suspended ceiling in the store’s warehouse.


The contract worker fell almost three metres from the platform and through the suspended ceiling, sustaining fatal injuries.


An investigation by Adrian Monkhouse, principal environmental health officer at the Council, revealed that there were no barriers in place to prevent falls from the platform, the area of the platform immediately in front of the access ladder was restricted (just 45cm in width) and there were several tripping hazards in this area, including cabling and the fixing points for the ladder itself.


Iceland Foods Limited was instructed to take this area out of use until suitable protective measures had been installed on the plant platform. Once this work was carried out to the satisfaction of the investigating officer, the plant platform was put back into use in March 2014.


Further investigations revealed that Iceland Foods Limited had not carried out a risk assessment to consider access to the plant platform either by contractors or their own employees. Iceland argued that they had intended for a guardrail to be installed around the plant platform and had in fact paid for one during refurbishment of the store.


In court Iceland contended that they were entitled to rely on the specialist contractors who carried out work on the plant platform to identify the missing handrail. These claims were rejected by the prosecution and the court.


The company was fined £1.25 million for each offence and ordered to pay the full costs of £65,019.64 to Rotherham Council.


Councillor Emma Hoddinott, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Hopkins family; everyone should expect their loved one to return from work safely.


I would like to thank the council staff for bringing this case to court and getting the answers needed in these tragic circumstances.”


Karen Hanson, Assistant Director for Community Safety and Street Scene, added that the case highlighted the importance of companies considering not only their own employees but the work of contractors as part of their health and safety arrangements.


“All businesses should be aware of the importance of health and safety – particularly for high-risk activities such as working from heights,” she said.

Yorkshire Photography


[catlist name=Latest News]

Connecting Rotherham and Sheffield

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 03, 2017 12:46:22 PM


Government Transport Minister Paul Maynard MP launches first Tram Train into service.


Government Transport Minister Paul Maynard MP was joined by transport leaders and representatives from Sheffield Children’s Hospital for the introduction of the first Citylink Tram Train into passenger service on the Supertram network in Sheffield.


To celebrate the occasion, Stagecoach Supertram and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) named the first tram after The Children's Hospital Charity’s mascot, Theo, and invited passengers on the first journey to make a donation to the charity rather than paying a fare.


Transport Minister Paul Maynard said: “South Yorkshire's Tram Train project is the first of its kind in the country and will transform services for passengers, enabling quick and easy movement across the region, reducing journey times and boosting the economy.


"The first passenger service is a significant milestone for this scheme which remains on track to be completed next year and will improve journeys between Sheffield and Rotherham."


The launch of Theo the tram marks an important milestone for the unique pilot scheme, and has allowed passengers in South Yorkshire to be the first in Great Britain to travel on the innovative tram vehicle.


Theo the tram will also be in service on Sunday 17 September as a special charity service with Supertram staff collecting donations for The Children's Hospital Charity once again.


SYPTE Executive Director, Stephen Edwards: “The introduction of the first Citylink vehicle on to the passenger network in Sheffield is an important milestone for Tram Train, and we’re thrilled that we’ve been able to use this opportunity to raise funds for The Children’s Hospital Charity.”


Interim Managing Director for Supertram, Tim Bilby said: "We are delighted to be giving passengers in South Yorkshire the chance to be the first in Great Britain to travel on these innovative new tram vehicles today.


"Following successful completion of a programme of testing, commissioning and training, today is an important day for all passengers travelling across the network and is the next step towards the launch of tram train services to Rotherham next year.


"It's also a great opportunity for us to work with The Children's Hospital Charity and we're proud to be naming our first vehicle in service after Theo their mascot. We hope this will help to raise the profile of this important charity that is held close to the heart of many of our passengers."


John Somers, Chief Executive of Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are delighted that the new Citylink Tram Train is being named in honour of our charity mascot, Theo. We're so proud of our city and it is exciting to be part of this latest Sheffield development.


"It is fantastic that on these services for two days, passengers can donate to The Children's Hospital Charity instead of paying fares on the new vehicle. Your generosity will help make things even better for our young patients."


Martin McKervey, Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership board member and partner at international law firm CMS, said: “Launching this new tram today is a crucial step in the tram train project, which is set to improve connectivity within Sheffield City Region and make it easier for residents, visitors and businesspeople to move around our urban centres quickly and easily.


“I'm proud that we are the first region in the country to pioneer this innovative technology. Improving transport links is also a key priority in our new Inclusive Industrial Strategy, as we drive forward our aims in ensuring everyone across the city region is able to benefit from, and be a part of, our economic growth.”


Sheffield Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability, Cllr Jack Scott, said: “Today is an important milestone in our ambitious plans for tram-train and is a clear signal that the project is now well on track.


“It is great that Sheffield is able to pioneer this type of cutting edge innovation. Connecting Sheffield and Rotherham in this way will bring big economic benefits to people across the whole area.”


Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: “It is incredibly exciting to be travelling on this innovative tram vehicle on its inaugural journey across the Supertram network, ahead of the new tram train route to Rotherham being opened in 2018.”


South Yorkshire’s new Citylink vehicles, which have been designed and produced by Stadler, will be used in the regular Supertram timetable from October to support the existing tram service across the network until the new tram train route from Sheffield to Rotherham is opened in 2018, once rail infrastructure work, testing and driver training is complete.


Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler Rail Valencia said: "We are proud to have participated by delivering vehicles to the success of the first tram-train project in the U.K."


South Yorkshire’s Tram Train pilot will run for two years during which customer satisfaction, passenger numbers, reliability and costs are measured. After this pilot period, Tram Train will continue to run as a local service.

Yorkshire Photography


[catlist name=Latest News]

Burglar jailed for three years

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 03, 2017 12:35:47 PM


A Sheffield burglar has been jailed for three years after admitting stealing from a 62-year-old man.


Nathan Lee Biggin, 33, of Mount Street, Sharrow, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (29 September) following a burglary on Elm Lane in August.


Biggin gained access to the property through an upstairs bathroom window and went on to steal items including cash, wallets, an i-Pad, an i-Phone as well as a car.


Sheffield detectives identified Biggin through forensic evidence at the scene which was linked to the stolen car.


As a result, he was arrested, charged and remanded on Friday 1 September.


Detective Inspector Paul Murphy, leading the investigation, said: “I am pleased that Biggin has received a prison sentence.


“Burglary leaves victims scarred for life and no-one should feel vulnerable in their own homes, or anywhere for that matter.


“We will continue to work hard to protect members of the public and bring those responsible for crime before the court.”

Yorkshire Photography


[catlist name=Latest News]

Barnsley man jailed for ‘violent’ robbery

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 03, 2017 12:26:06 PM


A 29-year-old man has been jailed for over four years after a ‘violent’ robbery, which left the victim with life-changing injuries.


Richard Dawson (pictured), of Pye Avenue, Mapplewell, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 28 September) to receive his sentence after pleading guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.


The court heard how Dawson stopped his victim, a 32-year-old man, who was driving along Bark House Lane in Cawthorne in the early hours of Monday 24 April 2017.


He attacked his victim, who was still secured in his car by his seat belt, demanding his wallet and stealing the keys.


Detective Constable Paul Woodruff, who investigated the crime, said: “This was a violent and unprovoked robbery against an innocent man and our enquiries have shown that this incident appeared to be a case of mistaken identity.


“The victim continues to require medical treatment today for his injuries, which included cuts, bruising and a fractured eye socket – over five months later. It is fair to say that Dawson’s nasty and vicious attack has changed this poor man’s life.


"I wish the victim the best in their recovery and hope that he is reassured by the sentence handed down to Dawson, knowing he is behind bars and can cause no further harm.”

Yorkshire Photography


[catlist name=Latest News]

New joint fire and police station goes live in Rotherham

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 03, 2017 12:18:08 PM


Rotherham’s District Commander has welcomed the county’s first joint fire and police station on home soil.


Chief Superintendent Rob Odell was among the dignitaries at today’s official opening of the joint station on Byford Road in Maltby.


The facility will allow police and firefighters to share knowledge, skills and expertise when it comes to tackling common issues such as anti-social behaviour, road traffic collisions and reaching out to vulnerable members of the community.


Chief Supt Odell said: “I’ve no doubt that this joint venture will help us to provide a more coordinated service to the public, particularly on issues dealt with by both services.


“This provides us with an excellent opportunity to better share information and to help meet the demands of modern policing, where working alongside our partners is vital in meeting the needs of our communities.”


Chief Fire Officer James Courtney added: “This new facility is the first of its kind in South Yorkshire and represents the best possible, physical example of our commitment to work more closely with our emergency service partners.


“By working alongside each other under one roof, we think the move will benefit both organisations by improving how we work together to solve problems we both face, which can only help to improve the quality of the service we offer to local people.”


For more information visit: www.syfire.gov.uk/new-fire-and-police-station-in-maltby-goes-live/

Yorkshire Photography


[catlist name=Latest News]