whatkatydid

Thank you for that Tony. I'm sorry you think I am mis-using the subject of access. I have made issue public because I think its important and needs doing. We all bring our own life experiences to a campaign

Well I'll try to cover some points. I am as I said a member of the Labour Party, thought I'd mentioned that I'd been selected to stand in Walkley sorry if I didn't make it clear. The lady concerned approached me via Walkley Forum of which I am a member, having raised the issue herself directly with the council (no I could not say who exactly she spoke to as I do not know). She was concerned that the issue was not been seriously considered. The lady is not in a position to always attend meetings etc so asked me to bring the issue to the Community Assembly and encourage local support. Which I have done in a number of ways including a petition on paper which I have stood outsided Netto and collected signatures on, there are also paper petitions in local shops. The petition has also gone on here and facebook to let people know about the it and take part if they wish, but also understand any disruption shoud we be sucessful. Its up to them if they sign or not. I have also presented her case and gained the support of the Labour Party locally whose resourses I use, Walkley Forum and Transport4All. It looks as though we are having some success and I would really like to thank officers who have worked with Katya on this. Of course this isn't just an issue about scooters, better pavements are a frequent request made by older people and people who have small children, push prams and anyone with a visual impairment. Accessibility would really help some people shop locally, helping to keep local shops open - which surely is a good thing for everyone. Some shops really try but this is lost if your pavement is unusable by some potential customers. I accepted the challenge of being a candidate to try and do some good in the community. This has so far involved helping people with housing, heating, insulation. Problems with a local bus route, another lady who needed a ramp to her house and a request for railings on the path at Bamforth St. I have been involved in litter, picks, tree planting and community festivals I have continued my work with RASC and T4All, Forge Valley liason group. I have become a trustee of the Burton Street Foundation and helped to press the case for more recycling in Sheffield It is not lost on me that there is a lot of comment on the forum that polititians do not do what people what, I am therefore puzzled that people really agree with the issue but won't support it because it is being brought by a politition. I am using the word fairly loosley I do not get paid for the work I do (not even expenses for duck islands). I really recommend getting involved in the community and there are many ways to do so not just this way its just really good when you help someone overcome a problem. So totally up to you really I'm doing my thing you do yours. You can vote or not - your choice, that is the joy of democracy. You can sit at home and snipe at me all you like guess I've put myself up for that. What you might consider is that I rarely have time to catch up on my posts (door knocking cancelled due to snow today) and every time you snipe you actually bump the petition back into peoples awareness, helping my cause. The one thing I refuse to do is spend my year with access to contacts and resources staring angerily at dog poo or graphitti for my photo op. I prefer just to ring the problem in to Streetforce (as can anyone). But if that kind of thing floats your boat, your choice. The grinning photo was at my brother's wedding sorry if it upsets some people

Well if any of you would like to invent a mobility scooter that can climb curbs I could be delighted. Equally if one of you who has no political affiliations that need to be declared want to bring a completely neutral petition and stand in shopping centres on a Saturday morning talking to people about it then good for you

Lobbying is exactly what I did by presenting the case the community assembly. The Lib Dems have now put out a survey. My point is that as Labour is in the minority on the CA and the Lib Dems in the majority I do indeed have to canvass the councillors and campaign on an issue brought ot me by a resident

Sorry not been on in several days job to do house to run live to live etc. Campaign going well thanks, a lot of people seem to think its an important issue. The lady concerned is not a party member and she did come to me for my help to campaign on an issue which I have previous knowledge and experience.

Sorry its sounds so political, I am not allowed to do a petition without telling you my affiliations - it would be misleading

The problem is that many of the sections of South Road and Howard Road have no dropped curb at all so the pavement is a solid block in front of the wheel. Better clearance would not make any difference to this. In one or two instances the curbs have broken up. On I beleive may be a collapsing drain and another is cars parking on it regularly, what ever the cause people are unable to get to the shops etc

They do seem fairly keen on checking tickets on this route so probably not so many during the day. Think there may be more in the late evening when you see fewer conductors. This is just my speculation on what I've seen though

Had a couple from Wilkinsons

Hels I'm absolutley with you on the fayre dodging its not right and its not fair on fayre paying passengers. I just feel that until EMT really look at checking tickets on trains, maybe even randomly on platforms, and get enough machines it becomes unjustifyable to close the bridge. I think Northern have massively improved on this in the last few months. There are however so many feeder stations with no facilities such as Kirkgate, if no conductor appears I just can't see how they can be blamed, told off and then given penalty fares

I am very serious and a formal compalint was made to the company - I do not joke about such things

Its awfully good for the biceps - maybe the lack of curbs is a cunning plan to make us stronger and fitter

South Road and its continuation Howard Road do indeed share the problem that Woodseats Road has basically they are the original roads with a bit of tarting up. No major road renovation means no pavement renovation. The shop keepers are on the whole pretty good and have done what they can to be accesable but often there are complete sections you cant get on to. The hazards are things like lamp posts, poles and grit bins which could be moved to the edge. The road is due for a resurface soon but not the pavements. It shoudl be redone of course with the PFI but that is probably a few years of and with a bit of joined up thinking and a definate financial commitment a lot could be done now to make life easier. Enforcing the traffic restrictions to stop people parking on the existing dropped curbs and breaking them up might help - but yes I think we may be in for a long hard slog

People who have every right to use the bridge have been stopped. People in wheel chairs have been physically manhandled away from the lifts that allow access to the bridge. Although there are no designated ticket only areas on the station No tickets or passes have ever been issued for residents to use the bridge. When asked how the system would be impletemented (questions put in written form ) EMT refused to answer. I would urge you to do a little more research maybe.

Labour is not in favour of barriers. Lord Adonis himself has asked the company to find another way and offered money to find a solution. All MPs are against the barriers and Labour Councillors and unpaid activists like myself handed out petitions and demonstrated in all weathers. The Labour Candidate Paul Blomfield attends the RASC meetings as do I. In fact the injustice of EMTs proposals made me a party activist for the Labour Party

Meridian if you are a regular user of the station and have a genuine interest in this area I would be only to happy to meet you in the station for a walk through to demonstrate the depth of difficulty and distress these proposals caused for disabled passengers and station users

A few months ago a lady who lives in Walkley and uses a mobility scooter came to ask for my help. She had moved to Walkley expecting to be able to use its marvelous amenities but she found that the the condition of the pavements, broken curbs lack of dropped curbs objects on the pavement narrowing its width, meant she found it very difficult to get out. Being a very smart lady she put together a superb piece of work showing the problems she had faced. Problems which people who use scooters, push prams or pull shopping trolleys face every day, and which stop many local people being able to shop in Walkley. She found the Council officers keen to do something but found that she could not get any firm commitment that money would be spent and the job actually done from teh Council. On her behalf I presented her case to the Central Community Assembly who were vaguely supportive but again gave no real commitment. Labour have no real power on the Assembly we only have one Coucillor Janet Bragg who is very much in favour as are the greens. The area is Lib Dem dominated as was the Area Panel before it. I am asking for your help to press the Council to get the work done, now when its needed not put it off until after the election and then blame whoever is in Government for stopping them. People in Walkley want to shop local and the shops need the business please sign the petition and ask your friends to as well thanks Catherine http://www.gopetition.com/online/33466.html Pls ignore the stupid adverts on the petition it costs a fortune to take them off

No they only have the francise to run the station.

Meridian this issue is not about snugness dispite what EMT have obviously told you. It is about a facility across Sheffield Station built by the people of Sheffield for the people of Sheffield and their visitors with the full approval and consent of the Company that ran it at that time. They were saw it as a great asset, its design, the way it opened the station up so that business could set up there with a wider market and they were proud of the ease of access it gave to disabled people. (I if you are if doubt about this you should see the promosional film they made) I can see that you are obviously linked to the station in some way. However as you do appear to be more of a driver than a user of public transport so you would not perhaps understand the need for our properly integrated system. No-one wants to deprive any of the rail providers of the fayre which is due to them. However you might use your position to press for an increase in ticketing facilities in Sheffield Station because personally I think having people queing across the foyer past the cafe is pretty poor Customer Care. Maybe while they are at it they could run a few disability awareness courses for all staff, after all you are all providing that vital public service

Thank you especially love the wooden stars, not sure where to get dogwood though any thoughts

Hopefully a lovely outdoor event that will encourage people into Walkley next Saturday morning in a celebration of Winter and a way of making the brown and leafless trees of the green more decorative. Also a way of lots of local people coming together and enjoying each others company. Will you be joining us, you would be very welcome?

Walkely Forum are hosting a "Wonderful Winter Happening" next Saturday on Walkley Green opposite Netto, with freegle recycling, carol singing, mince pies and other treats. The aim is to brighten the Green up for Christmas and I am looking for some nice low cost ideas for DIY craft type outdoor decorations. Does anyone have any ideas, skills , or items which could be useful.

Maybe a shop selling cheap good quality shoes also a Thorntons (with an ice cream kiosk). Quite fancy a Mexican Resaurant or something different to usual Curry,Italian Chinese. People won't travel far to any of those because they have them on their own door step. Places like Thyme and the Milestone people are willing to travel to. Helps to have nice pubs nearby. The Rawaon Spring is pretty good and people will travel to have a drink there but the other pubs in the centre of Hillsborough are offputting.

Tried most of the DIY places nothing very suitable. Will look into car spares