can i just ask, does anyone know houses and grass is being trned into rubble, ive been told its because of the trams? this true? if so do u know when?

its apparenlyl a road they are going to put through it but i do not know what its for:confused:

Originally posted by savbaby
its apparenlyl a road they are going to put through it but i do not know what its for:confused:
Thats going to be one wide road.

Originally posted by ryan123
can i just ask, does anyone know houses and grass is being trned into rubble,
In Parson Cross?

How could we tell the difference?

Er this is because of the councils redevelopment of the area. Houses not deemed worthy of refurbishment are first citex screened so that Chavs can vandalise them, then they (the houses not the chavs) are demolished. Any new building appears to be done by private developers, as on the site opposite Southey Green social club.
Also, the council housing department is now a quango called "sheffield homes", and the whole ugly business has been better and more comprihensively protested about etc, than I can here.
This is not just happening in Parson Cross.
The result? Well, I moved into an estate on the edge of teh Cross 3 and a half years ago and had the choice of three flats. Now there is a waiting list hundreds long.
Plus, the rise in property prices in Sheffield to unaffordable levels for many people must be connected.
This is the action rememeber of a LABOUR council
"The revolution has been privatised!"
(With apologies to Gil Scott Heron, writer of the song "The revolution will not be televised.")

ThePiglit is spot on. My partner and I live in a single bedroomed flat. We've been bidding in vain for 2 bedroomed houses for 12 months. We've 3 points but no priority status. We've almost given up hope. Every property advertised states that preference will be given to priority bidders.

My analysis of the problem suggests the mathematics go like this: Sheffield Homes are demolishing houses but building none. The population of Sheffield is increasing and requires housing or rehousing. Private renting is fraught with problems and so most would prefer to avoid this route. House prices are beyond the means of those not on the housing ladder. The result of all these minuses is that Sheffield Homes can probably house fewer people than ever before in its history - even during the war years - while the demand for council housing is at an all-time high.

Of course, Sheffield Homes have to comply with Government guidelines regarding target figures for housing so-called vulnerable groups. However, my personal observations of new tenants moving into not only the homes I've bid upon but those that are empty on my estate suggests that Sheffield Homes is pursuing a "politically correct" policy of so-called positive discrimination in favour of certain priority applicants when it comes to allocating housing: pregnant mothers, migrants, asylum seekers, separated mothers or fathers, released convicts, etc. It's my guess they're thus far exceeding the guideline figures at the expense of applicants with no priority.

In my opinion, it seems unfair to overlook the housing applications of those who are disadvantaged only by their inability to afford today's inflated house prices. Just as I believe that it's foolish also not to discriminate between those in genuine need and those who have put themselves into their so-called vulnerable position simply to gain an advantage.

Spot on Spartacus. Can I take a guess and say that both you and your partner have their name down as joint tenants. I know of countless single people who pretend they are struggling single parents who get their name down as top priority for housing when they really have a partner who worksSo they get a house faster than anybody else who's bidding plus they pay no council tax and only water rates on their rent and have all their benefits coming in along with their partners wage. I'm mad just thinking about it

The council do indeed house asylum seekers and immigrants before the rest,if you see them where I live getting all the flats and houses it would make you sick,it does me.
Those who have played by the rules will find they are going to be overlooked for a very long time,the best thing to do is to go to the housing and claim you are a pregnant asylum seeker,you will be housed inside of a week.
You have to be crafty and dont play the game .
Good luck you will need it.;)

As I think I said in my last post, I've no beef with genuine Sheffield Homes' priority applicants whatever category they come under. What worries me is that abuse, exploitation, fraud, and institutional apathy will tarnish the Sheffield Homes' priority system in the same way they have tarnished our once applaudable asylum system.

I know the plan might be to build some new private housing on the demolished sites (eg opposite Chaucer School) but unlike the post above, I don't know any sites in that area where it has already happened.

The site mentioned on Southey Green Road opposite Southey Club used to be waste land that used to be used for tipping. The site on Herries Road used to be a Texaco Garage and the one on Bellhouse Road near Concord Park (for over 55s only!)used to be a pub.

Cannot think of any other private housing that has gone up in the area recently. Previous ones before that are the one on the old Waterworks site off Moonshine Lane (again no housing on there) and, of course, Shirecliffe College.

It just doesn't make sense to me my GF lives in Parsons cross a unmodernised house no CH or Double glazing it has been promised by 2008, but further down the road there knocking down modernised houses with double glazing upstairs toilet CH. I just don't understand what is happening I thought there was a housing problem so why knock em down.

Quite right, mobileB. These are private developments built on formerly private brownland sites. No problem there for those who can afford to buy them.

What concerns me is the renter's problem. As Sheffield Homes' houses for rent stock decreases no replacements are being built. Add to that the debacle of the housing priority system and it becomes clear that soon there will be a whole new class of people who find it impossible to be housed or rehoused. So, unless you are earning well above the national average wage or can convince the council that you're destitute you stand no chance in the bidding war. Unless, of course, you get the missus pregnant. What a way to get a house. "Daddy, did you and mummy have me because you wanted me?" "No, darling. We had you because we wanted a house."

I genuinely dont know where they are going with them. Our business is based in this area so we get the Area Development minutes through to browse through. The inklings I heard were that they needed a certain amount of land with the plan to build new houses on there in a joint council/private development. This will allow people to rent at an affordable price but at the same time keep out shall we say the undesirables.

Originally posted by royjames
The council do indeed house asylum seekers and immigrants before the rest.....Those who have played by the rules will find they are going to be overlooked for a very long time,the best thing to do is to go to the housing and claim you are a pregnant asylum seeker,you will be housed inside of a week.


What a load of rubbish royjames. Are you trying to set a record for spreading urban myths? Let me set the record straight.

I recently attended the council's Neighbourhood Scrutiny Board which examined the current housing allocation policy.

In general, the choiced-based lettings service is allocated on a 50-50% basis. Empty properties are advertised, and approx 50% are allocated to those people in priority need, (homeless, medical needs, demolition sites, etc.) and 50% are allocated to those on waiting time. If there is no take-up by people with priority need, properties are offered to those with waiting time.

Anyone claiming to be homeless is assessed, and given advice. Some homeless applicants are offered temporary accommodation where assessment is complicated. There are government time targets set on how long assessment procedures should take. Anyone not fulfilling statutory definitions of homelessness and priority need, is refused accommodation.

Let me dispel another myth that is frequently propagated by a minority political party which royjames supports: immigrants are not entitled to council accommodation. That's right royjames, immigrants are NOT entitled to council accommodation.

Some asylum seekers will receive assistance with permanent accommodation if their status is confirmed.

Sheffield participates in the government's refugee dispersal programme. A number of bone fide Burmese refugees have recently arrived in Sheffield. Not one refugee is being housed in council property - all are being found accommodation in the private sector.

So now you've got the facts royjames, you can stop peddling untruths.

Now, can we please keep this thread to the topic: destruction in Shirecliffe and Parsons Cross.

I wonder if they are planning to build mixed tenure, like they've done at Norfolk Park?

If that is the case then it's likely they'll be building fully owned, partly owned, and rented accomodation mixed together.

The idea behind this good - although whether it works in practice is something I can't comment on.

Originally posted by ThePiglit
... (the houses not the chavs) are demolished.

Oh! :(

Illuminating, RedRobbo. But this account of Sheffield Homes' official stance might only reinforce the fears and frustrations of those on the housing register who don't have priority status. After all, 50% means that half of Sheffield Homes' declining stock is earmarked for priority applicants. So, non-priority have only a 50/50 chance of that house. In practise though, as my observations suggest, they have no chance because there are always more priority than there are homes for them.

As I argued in my last post, if the priority system is not to lose its credibility in the same way as our once celebrated asylum system then more exhaustive proof of circumstances, with thought given to points being deducted if personal responsibility has brought about the circumstances, is necessary.

The majority of times this is quite rightly justified but there are a significant number of people who abuse the system - often with the help of prefessionals - to take what they believe is theirs by 'right'.

This is not just immigrants though - from my experience this group only make up a small number in sheffield - it is the single parents who will not work, those who use their illness / feigned illness or even worse, exaggerate the illness of their children to obtain housing and benefits who are bleeding the rest of us dry and clogging up the system so that regular, hard working people cannot get the help they need.

I know how unpopular it is amongst the 'professionals' to acknowledge this but it is a fact.

Thanks, Observer. Several of the replies to my original assertion misinterpreted my argument as an attack against ethnic minorities and asylum seekers. It seems that in today's reader and listener the section of the brain that processes information does this automatically. Perhaps it's the result of much media attention on the subject. My original argument tried to prove that the priority system of gaining housing points is wide open to fraud and abuse - by anybody.

RedRobbo's posting was particularly interesting as it presented Sheffield Homes' policy in a factual and well-presented statement - his comments on Royjames' posting aside. As I said in my last post, RedRobbo's statement and figures only further the frustrations of those who do not wish to dishonour themselves by claiming false priority status. He has proved (if his figures are correct) that the priority system is impacting drastically on council housing availability. RedRobbo's figures suggest that now there might be as many claiming priority as those who are not.

As a worker in housing and homelessness, your authority to speak is acknowledged. Your confirmation of the inadequate priority system, therefore, adds to my argument. Furthermore, my observation of many who take up the priority housing I have applied for agrees with your assertion that many are unemployed single parents who are not actually single at all. However, the other methods they might use: illness of themselves or/and their children, false accusations of brutality by step-parents, husbands or partners (who move back in with them after the 'heat cools') etc, I cannot testify to as I do not have access (quite rightly) to confidential files.

In conclusion therefore, once more I argue that unless the priority housing system is overhauled, and conclusive proof is obtained of one's legal and moral right to be awarded priority (and in this day falling pregnant should not qualify for automatically entitlement) the public will lose faith in both the system and those who apply it.

Originally posted by rinty
If that is the case then it's likely they'll be building fully owned, partly owned, and rented accomodation mixed together.

The idea behind this good - although whether it works in practice is something I can't comment on.

It can work if the properties are mixed up. When Middlewood Hospital was redeveloped the developers built some affordable housing for rent, but they 'segregated' it in one corner. The Norfolk Park development is more mixed.

--
JGH

Originally posted by observer
Having worked in housing and homelessness for a long time I can sadly confim that it is far too easy to obtain priorty need status for rehousing.

The majority of times this is quite rightly justified but there are a significant number of people who abuse the system - often with the help of prefessionals - to take what they believe is theirs by 'right'.

This is not just immigrants though - from my experience this group only make up a small number in sheffield - it is the single parents who will not work, those who use their illness / feigned illness or even worse, exaggerate the illness of their children to obtain housing and benefits who are bleeding the rest of us dry and clogging up the system so that regular, hard working people cannot get the help they need.

I know how unpopular it is amongst the 'professionals' to acknowledge this but it is a fact.

If observer had genuinely "worked in housing and homelessness for a long time", then observer would know that immigrants are not entitled to council accommodation - a point I made in my earlier post.

Inflammatory phrases like "bleeding the rest of us dry" and
"clogging up the system" from an alleged experienced housing worker, (and with just 5 posts), makes me a little suspicious of observer's bone fides. Indeed, guess which fascist, minority political party regularly spouts these phrases? No prizes though - this was too easy to spot.

rubbish redrobbo! I am not supporter of the BNP and have indeed worked in the area for many years.

Your response is exactly the sort of thing I expected. People try to pretend there isnt a problem but its very clear that a minority of people take advantage of the system to their own benefit. If these things are brought to light accusations of fascism / racism / sexism as the usual reply from people who are too caught up in the politics to understand what is actually happening in the real world.

I did not make an issue out of immigrants getting housing in my post - the concern I have is that anybody, regardless of their background, can falsly claim to be fleeing violence, have had a relationship breakdown, have mental health problems, be caring for dependants etc and qualify as priority need.

The provisions of the Housing Act Part VII and the code of guidance make a great safety net - unfortunately this also open to abuse which, as much a you may not like to admit, happens too often.

So immigrants dont get council housing? Maybe you ought to live around netherthorpe and open your eyes red.
So all these folks I see in their council properties who can hardly speek a word of english are not immigrants then??
It beggars beleif that you are so blind to the reality.

Originally posted by royjames
So all these folks I see in their council properties who can hardly speek a word of english are not immigrants then??
It beggars beleif that you are so blind to the reality.

Excellent!!:P :thumbsup: I beleif they aren't the only ones who cant speek English.

immigrants dont get council housing?
says redrobbo!

They certainly do where i live,its full of them as well as in private housing from private landlords who by law have to provide new Cookers, free TV licence, free Telephone, new carpets etc, nothing wrong with that, if it was given to 'all' homeless people.

When these Asylum (Giro)seekers arrive here with tales of woe(often tall stories)
Under European law we have to give them housing of some sort straight away, shame we cannot do the same for our own homeless.
Maybe redrobbo could fit a few immigrants in his house if he is so concerned about them.

Originally posted by ThePiglit
Er this is because of the councils redevelopment of the area. Houses not deemed worthy of refurbishment are first citex screened so that Chavs can vandalise them, then they (the houses not the chavs) are demolished. Any new building appears to be done by private developers, as on the site opposite Southey Green social club.
Also, the council housing department is now a quango called "sheffield homes", and the whole ugly business has been better and more comprihensively protested about etc, than I can here.
This is not just happening in Parson Cross.
The result? Well, I moved into an estate on the edge of teh Cross 3 and a half years ago and had the choice of three flats. Now there is a waiting list hundreds long.
Plus, the rise in property prices in Sheffield to unaffordable levels for many people must be connected.
This is the action rememeber of a LABOUR council
"The revolution has been privatised!"
(With apologies to Gil Scott Heron, writer of the song "The revolution will not be televised.") Sheffield Homes is an ALMO which is an Arms Length Management Organisation. A quango is an unelected group of people. Sheffield Homes has elected members on it's board.

Spot on mr Robbo! Lissen I'm not Mista pinko fluffy politically corect but this stuff about asylum seekers etc etc, is not only deeply unpleasant, but provably wrong.
And if it wasn't I'd be the first to have a grunt about it. The housing association place where I live has only one asylum seeker that I've met, a pleasant bloke who waited ages to get asylum, and has got a job now (which is more than I have).
As for single parents, well I am on a returners to work course and have met some! Nobody seems to be queing up to give them evrything they want or do them favours. I was surprised how little benefit they get and they are obvioulsy struggling.
And shouldn't people with needs, whether it's their fault or not have some kind of priority.#
But enough woffle......remember who is knocking down these houses and not building any more.
The bosses and sell out labour councillors!!

Oh maybe I am mista pinko fluffy politically correct....