News: A further £275,000 for Rotherham as Children's Capital of Culture

Rotherham Council's cabinet has agreed a further £275,000 for Rotherham as Children's Capital of Culture as the next phase is set out by some of the borough's young people.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 that a bid to the Government's Community Renewal Fund was successful based around the Children's Capital of Culture idea.

Rotherham is planning to brand itself as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025. The move is part of a cultural strategy with an action that is described as highlighting Rotherham as "a place people want to visit, where everyone can enjoy Rotherham through the eyes, ears and actions of children and young people."

£1.84m was offered from the Community Renewal Fund to help establish a "Creative & Cultural Skills Embassy" linked to the Children's Capital of Culture idea. It added to funding already secured from Arts Council England.

Now Rotherham Council has approved the use of £275,000 from its allocation of the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund to be used on the next phase of the project in 2023.

A cabinet paper explains that the money "will take forward the next phase of Children’s Capital of Culture (CCoC), with the CCoC team partnering with three cultural providers and working with young people to deliver a programme of creative and cultural events, festivals, experiences and opportunities across Rotherham."

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Over 150 guests recently gathered at Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham to hear young people from Rotherham set out the roadmap to 2025 and a manifesto to ensure a lasting legacy for the borough.

Local artists including hip hop and breakdance act Rationale Arts, rapper Kid Blu3e, theatre students, skaters and BMXers took over the popular children’s theme park with impressive performances on the night.

Rotherham resident Christopher Badger, 25, who was one of the Children’s Capital of Culture trainees in 2022, explains: “The turnout was beyond our expectations and the reaction from everyone was overwhelmingly positive. We celebrated everything that’s happened so far and the amazing impact it’s had on people like me, and looked ahead to what’s next. We’ve made so much progress since launching the journey, and now we need everyone to get behind it and really make 2025 an epic year for Rotherham.”

The Children’s Capital of Culture team announced the commission of two new Young Artists in Residence, who will work with them for six months this year. Four local young people will also have a golden opportunity to work alongside Rotherham Music to deliver partnership projects with Children’s Capital of Culture, including a genre-busting programme of music events during February half-term. And a partnership has been agreed with Flux Rotherham and Wentworth Woodhouse to offer paid traineeships to fifteen local young people, which will equip them with life-changing skills and experience.

In addition, after the huge success of the Children’s Capital of Culture launch programme in 2022, it was revealed that sell-out cultural events will return to Rotherham in 2023. This includes UPLIFT: Rotherham Skate and Arts Festival, which will take place from 5–7 April, with a town takeover of skate and BMX demos, pop-up skate parks, a roller disco, bands, DJs, food stalls, a young makers’ market, creative workshops, and more. WoW Rotherham will also return on 9-10 June, with an accompanying WoWsers programme that will support Rotherham’s young people to plan and create their own events and activities at the festival.

Children’s Capital of Culture Programme Manager, Sarah Christie, said: “The ultimate goal of Children’s Capital of Culture is to support more children and young people across the borough to create a bolder, more ambitious and creative future for themselves, increasing overall pride and aspiration in our borough and nurturing a skilled young workforce that can make a real difference to Rotherham’s future.

“Last year’s launch programme was a huge success. As we move into the next phase in 2023, we are building it further, introducing more skills programmes for more young people, and working with more communities to come up with cultural event ideas that celebrate the talent and diversity of Rotherham.

“It was great to see so many local businesses, organisations, individuals and schools in the region show up for Rotherham, and pledge their support for our young people.”

South Yorkshire was allocated £38.9m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022. Managed by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), notional allocations for the four South Yorkshire local authority districts saw £7.08m for Rotherham.

Rotherham Council has set out that the rest of the £859,647 for the first year will be used to continue existing schemes including its repsonse to the cost of living crisis, and business support provided through the Council’s business centres and advisors in RiDO.

The £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds the old EU structural funds and aims to invest in three local priorities; communities and place, support for local businesses and people and skills.

Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture facebook page

Images: Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture / twitter

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News: Lloyds to close Rotherham branch

Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed plans to close its branch in a Rotherham village as part of plans to close 40 branches under the Lloyds and Halifax names.

The bank said that the Wickersley branch will close on May 15 2023.

A review of the Bawtry Road branch showed that 142 customers used it regularly in the 12 months to July 2022.

Customers are already banking in other ways with 75% of customers using the Wickersley branch in the review also using other Lloyds Bank branches, internet banking or PhoneBank (Lloyds Bank telephone banking service).

A spokesperson for Lloyds said: "Like many other high street businesses, we’ve seen people using our branches less frequently in recent years as more customers choose to do most of their everyday banking online. We’re responding to the way our customers use our branches. We’ll continue to invest in our branch network, but we have to make sure our branches are where customers need and use them most. As a result, we've made the difficult decision to close this branch because customers are using it less often. In addition the majority of customers are also using alternative ways to bank.

"You can use any of our branches and our nearest alternative is the Rotherham branch. You can also use a Post Office for your everyday banking. We’re still here to support you, and there’s a number of ways you can bank with us."

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Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said: "This is a bitter blow to Rother Valley, and residents will know that I have raised the issue of access to cash before now. For many vulnerable and/or elderly residents and businesses alike, access to cash is essential and I am very concerned that we are to lose the Wickersley branch.

"I appreciate that people are increasingly switching to online banking - whether this is because they have been forced to due to bank closures or through choice, is a separate debate. However, I believe banks play a key role in high streets and should do more to support local retail and hospitality businesses.

"I will be meeting representatives of Lloyds in due course to discuss the rationale for this appalling decision and to get some clarity on what they will be doing to support customers who will be hardest hit by this closure.

"On the wider issue, I would like to see shared banking hubs, which are being piloted currently, rolled out eventually across the high streets of Rother Valley. I will be reaching out to banks to learn more about the current pilots."

Lloyds branches nearby include those on Wellgate in Rotherham town centre, in Mexborough, Doncaster and in Woodhouse in Sheffield.

Lloyds Bank website

Images: Google Maps

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News: £6m plans to replace burnt out buildings in Rotherham town centre

Details have been revealed for what is set to replace the burnt out buildings on Corporation Street, if and when they come under council control.

A viability report shows how redevelopment doesn't stack up in economic terms without the council using external grant funding.

Rothbiz reported last week that negotiations had so far failed so the authority was again preparing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for 3-7 Corporation Street - the former Envy nightclub building, which suffered a malicious fire in 2007, and Muskaan restaurant, which was closed after a fire in 2011.

Now a planning application has been submitted showing how the key gateway site could be regenerated. Planning permission is a key condition that the council believes gives them a high level of confidence that the use of compulsory purchase powers is justified.

Designed by AHR Architects, the proposals show that the current buildings would be demolished and replaced by a mixed use building, between two and four storeys in height, comprising 19 residential flats and three units totalling 1,238 sq ft of commercial floorspace, plus access, external landscaping and car parking.

Plans are for a mix of 1-bed (7) and 2-bed (12) flats with either garden space on the ground floor or juliet balconies on the upper floors. Access is retained through the site to service the buildings on Bridgegate to the rear and plans include seven parking spaces and space for 40 cycles.

The site is within the town centre conservation area which means that views, especially of Rotherham Minster, are to be respected and so the height of any new buildings are restricted. From the North, the building would step down towards the Chapel on the Bridge.

With contemporary elevations, design elements include red brick and pre-coated steel cladding.

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The plans state: "The burnt-out buildings site at 3-7 Corporation Street have been a long-standing problem within Rotherham town centre. The dilapidated condition of the buildings has impacted on the character of this part of the town centre, which is within a conservation area and to where significant regeneration and investment is being directed. As a result, the site needs to be redeveloped.

"The proposed development would introduce commercial floor space into the town centre which will enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre, as well as providing high-quality new homes in a sustainable location, resulting in the regeneration of this long-term derelict and underutlised site.

"The proposed development will positively enhance the appearance of the site and its surrounding area, providing an improved "address" to Corporation Street, making use of and benefitting from the central town centre location. The proposals present an opportunity to provide a statement of regeneration for the area and to make a positive contribution to the appearance of the area to draw in new residents, and further regeneration and development."

Commercial property firm, Eddisons, has provided a viability report for Rotherham Council. It concludes that the development costs associated with the project comes in at £5.94m with the completed properties worth around £2.12m, a gap of £3.8m showing that the development would be unviable. However, the redevelopment is included in the council's plans for using £31.6m it secured from the Towns Fund.

With the external funding available to support the project, the Council has said that it intends to select and work with a private sector developer to bring about delivery upon acquisition. Target dates are for a start on site in January 2025 and completion in March 2026 - two years after the scheduled completion of Forge Island nearby.

Images: AHR / RMBC

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News: Borough's bid for levelling up funding turned down again

The government has not selected a bid from Rotherham Council of almost £20m for money from the Levelling Up Fund for a further two projects in the borough.

Rothbiz reported in August that the authority had ressubmitted a bid to the second round of the Government's £4.8 billion competitive fund that is being invested in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

The money would have been used to create a new mixed-use development in Wath town centre, as well as delivering significant improvements to Dinnington High Street and market.

The Council had two of its three bids for funding from the Levelling Up Fund approved by the government in round 1, with almost £40m agreed to help improve the Leisure Economy and Skills in the borough and Rotherham Town Centre. The Dinnington and Wath bid was not selected.

Work earmarked for Dinnington includes; clearing the burnt out buildings, investment in the outdoor market and the creation of a new commercial square which aims to enhance the retail and food and beverage offer in the town and improve public realm and connectivity.

The Wath project involves the existing Library being demolished and replaced with a mixed-use building with a greater offer to include; library and exhibition space, sensory provision, collaboration space, café and commercial units. The public realm around the building will also be improved including new ‘play on the way’ equipment.

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Also not selected was another bid from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) for £50m that was focused on improving the passenger journey experience on public transport in South Yorkshire.

Cllr. Chris Read, the leader of Rotherham Council, took to Twitter to say that his: "Gut reaction to the Levelling Up round 2 announcement this morning is that the Tories aren’t even bothering to pretend they’re interested in our part of the world any more. Nothing for Dinnington and Wath - despite Rishi Sunak visiting to see the site himself.

"Nothing for South Yorkshire’s beleaguered bus services which are in desperate need of investment and modernisation - and that decision will hit more rural communities hardest."

Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said of the bid not being successful: "There are many questions regarding this and unfortunately, at this stage, I do not have the answers as to why the bid failed. What I do know is that, for some reason, RMBC decided to link up the Dinnington regeneration project with plans to rebuild the library in Wath. I have serious doubts about whether a library contributes to levelling up, but the combination of bids meant that if one element failed, so did the other. I was always very sceptical as to why these such different plans were lumped together. We also know there wasn't a full public consultation with the public to ascertain what the public wanted or needed.

"I do not know yet if these are the reasons for failure, but we do know that it failed previously due to RMBC’s lack of clarity in the bid on match funding. We will get full feedback in due course.

"My view remains that Rotherham council does not have a vision or plan for Rother Valley. Their regeneration, development and transport improvement plans have concentrated on Rotherham centre, Parkgate and the Parkway corridor. The main focus of the council has been and remains the redevelopment of Rotherham centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods such as Eastwood. Outside of these areas there is a vacuum of ideas and planning coming from Rotherham Council."

Images: RMBC

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News: £3.6m grant for Rotherham cycle scheme

A council cycle scheme in Rotherham has been granted £3.6m even though it is expected to make queues longer at a roundabout on the edge of the town centre, and has a poor benefit–cost ratio.

Funding is being sought via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) for improvements on Wellgate, Broom Road and Broom Valley Road to provide better conditions for cyclists, and pedestrians, travelling between the south east of the town and central Rotherham (including its onward rail and bus services).

This week, the SYMCA board approved a grant of £3.6m from various government pots to fund 660 metres of unidirectional cycleways on Wellgate and Broom Road. The rationale for the scheme is to encourage a mode shift away from private car use and to enable cycling in an area identified as a priority in the Rotherham Cycling Strategy. The work on Broom Valley Road does not yet have funding.

The proposals, which went out for consultation in 2021, are considered to be the most deliverable and acceptable means of achieving safe conditions for cycling and meeting key strategic policy objectives.

The consultation showed new one-way cycle tracks on each side of Wellgate between Hollowgate and Clifton Roundabout and some parking spaces and a redundant loading bay would be removed.

Clifton Roundabout, along with its approaches, will be narrowed to a single lane to control vehicle speeds, provide space for cycle tracks, separate from traffic and pedestrians, all the way around, and improve the refuge areas for pedestrians and cyclists crossing each arm of the roundabout.

The proposals mean that the current bus lane on Broom Road would end before the roundabout where two lanes will merge into one (at around Broom Terrace), with the cycle track alongside. The existing westbound bus lane will be kept, and goods vehicles will be newly allowed to use the bus lane.

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A report to the SYMCA board states: "There are disbenefits to car users specifically at the Clifton Roundabout caused by increased congestion due to reduced carriageway available for general traffic. Modelling has been undertaken to consider the potential impact, which was a requirement of the outline business case (OBC) approval. It has been concluded that additional journey time (a mean delay of 17.3 seconds to a driver’s overall journey time) and increased vehicle operating costs (PV of these over 60 years = £0.679m) will be imposed on the road users, as well as environmental costs on adjacent residents.

"It is noted that the impacts are expected and part of the Strategic approach and policy decision to enhance opportunities for cycling, and that the bus priority improvements on the A631 corridor proposed under Transforming Cities is expected to bring about a modal shift from car to bus, which may have impact on demand at this point. It is also noted that the forecast uplift in cycling will have a negligible, although positive impact on network performance."

The benefit–cost ratio (BCR), which assesses a project's value for money, was deemed as being "poor even if highway disbenefits are ignored" but the grant was approved as: "arguably (with evidence), some “sticks” as well as “carrots” are necessary to encourage more active travel."

In addition £2.3m has been set aside from Transforming Cities Fund Programme for the A631 Rotherham to Maltby bus corridor and more cycleways are proposed for the Broom area using another £1.5m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS).

The council said that there had been over 100 responses received during the consultation covering Clifton roundabout and the predominant view was in favour of the scheme. Approximately 16,000 people travel in or out of Rotherham town centre via Wellgate in a typical weekday, per the SYPTE annual cordon count for 2019. Of these, around 17% arrive by non-motorised means (i.e. walking or cycling). In 2019 the number of cyclists was low, making up around 0.5% of passenger traffic.

Opponents had called for the use of cycleways through Herringthorpe playing fields instead of on the highway.

Cllr. Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment at Rotherham Council, said: "The Council has been keen over the last few years, where Government funding has come along, to create safe spaces for cyclists, particularly in and around the town centre. This Council has wanted to embrace those opportunities, and this was the case for Broom Road. The Council did understand residents’ viewpoints and they have purposefully sought to take onboard the views of all residents as the work has been undertaken."

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Meanwhile, a scheme to connect the cycle route created through Templeborough to the town centre is under review.

Phase three of the scheme went out for consultation last year and included new traffic management measures to deter people driving through the town centre.

An update to the council states that "scheme design was revised following feedback from the public consultation. The revised approach has been discussed with Active Travel England (ATE), the recently introduced advisory body for active travel, and received positive endorsement. The Council is engaging local residents and businesses on the revised proposals in late 2022 with a view to submitting a revised scheme to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) in early 2023 for completion in early 2024."

Images: Google Maps

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News: Rotherham-based entrepreneur to revolutionise visual communication

A former headteacher who spent more than 26 years in education has turned her passion for visual communication into a successful business venture.

Rotherham-based Visual Futures was founded by entrepreneur and PhD student Liz Churton after she spotted a gap in the market to use her skills and expertise to help companies to better communicate with their audiences using a visual representation of their product or service.

Working with a range of businesses spanning a myriad of sectors, the business allows clients to combine words with pictures that can then be used in presentations, pitch documents, and sales and marketing literature. As well as for use in business strategy documents, customer workshops, and even training sessions.

Established in September 2022, with the help of funding from UKSE – a business that invests in steel areas across the UK – just two months after its launch, Liz enlisted the help of freelance animator Tasha Poland to help her cater for the increasing demand for her services.

The business also hopes to expand and employ more scribers in the near future to keep up with growing demand, and to accommodate more clients from across the region and further afield.

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Commenting on the success of the business to date, Liz, who also works as an educator with Affinity – a local community interest company that believes every care experienced young person deserves equality of opportunity and is also studying for her PhD in visual communication, said: “I’m delighted that the concept of using visual means to help businesses better communicate with their audiences has been so well received.

“It is important to remember that 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and images are processed 60,000X faster in the brain than text.

“After spending a lot of my time meeting with business owners in the region, I have learnt a great deal about the need for communication support within the community.

“I am excited to embark on this new career journey and show people that gone are the days of presentations led by dialogue.

“The funding from UKSE was essential for establishing our logo, name and website. In the future I aim to use the rest of the funding for publicity and joining the Rotherham Pioneers Group.”

Steve Lyon, Regional Manager at UKSE, said: “Visual Futures offers something completely unique to the region, thanks to the hard work and expertise of Liz, the company has hit the ground running.

“We are delighted to have helped her with the funding that has allowed her that head start, and we wish her the best of luck moving forward.”

Visual Futures website
UKSE website

Images: UKSE

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News: Rotherham Council acquires former Wilkos store

Another large empty retail store in the town centre is in the ownership of Rotherham Council and is set to be demolished.

Rothbiz revealed last month that the authority had applied to knock down the former Wilkinson's Store on Corporation Street and that the site had been earmarked as the potential location for a new theatre.

The move mirrors that on High Street when the council acquired the empty former Primark store in 2020 so that it could be demolished to make way for a temporary pocket park before a potential longer term use for new housing. The delayed park remains unfinished.

Regeneration plans are coming together for the Corporation Street area of town where the Council wants to see the Leisure & Cultural Quarter extended from the Forge Island scheme where work recently got underway.

The 20,423 sq ft property was vacated by the value general merchandise retailer at the start of 2022. It sits alongside the former Riverside Precinct and Chantry Buildings - again acquired and demolished by the council as part of regerenation works - and the former Mecca Bingo, another authority acquisition "that will contribute to the further regeneration of the Leisure & Cultural Quarter."

The price paid by the authority has not been disclosed. The lot was sold prior to going to auction in September 2022 where it was given a guide price of £350,000+.

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For the former Wilkos, council planners have now approved the method of demolition and restoration of the site.

A planning report confirms that the property is in the Council’s ownership and states: "The application proposes the demolition of the building to facilitate the future redevelopment of the site as part of the Council’s Town Centre Regeneration aspirations. It is envisaged that the demolition of the building will enhance the Cultural & Leisure Quarter, which is currently being built at Forge Island and this site has been earmarked as the preferred option for a new theatre.

"The demolition of the building and remediation of the site is viewed as enabling works for this future redevelopment. In the short term it would allow the site to be used as a compound for the main construction works in this locality coming forward in 2023/24.

"The current proposed restoration of the site is considered acceptable as it will allow for the site to be used in the future for development to meet the Council’s Town Centre Regeneration aspirations."

Early draft plans for the wider Corporation Street area produced for the Council and illustrative only, appear to show a single building on the site, hinting at the Grade II listed former bingo hall and cinema being extended along Corporation Street.

This potential sizeable new theatre building would extend to the new open area called "Millgate Place" being created as part of the Forge Island development which includes a new footbridge and 1,500 sq ft café.

Rothbiz has previously reported on the council's considerations for a new theatre and arts space in Rotherham town centre.

The draft plans also show a separate smaller building on the bingo hall's car park.

Images: Google Maps / RMBC

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News: Solar ‘tree’ project takes root at AMRC

The first commercial prototype of an innovative solar ‘tree’ capable of powering homes and charging electric vehicles is being developed by experts at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

SolarBotanic Trees Ltd, a London-based renewable energy startup, is working with the AMRC to develop a field prototype for the integrated, scalable and sustainable power generation system. The project aims to build an integrated battery power storage system using the solar trees in locations where a renewable but ‘aesthetically attractive’ solution is required, such as for urban residential and commercial settings.

The ‘tree’, which has a dome made up of nano photovoltaic (PV) ‘leaves’, can harness enough solar energy to power individual homes, and charge electric vehicles; while its sleek aesthetic means it is not only easy on the eye but on the environment too - providing a clean and green energy solution to accelerate the UK’s Net Zero journey.

The AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network of research centres, is providing the product development and design support to help build a functional prototype for testing.

John Spencer, senior project manager at the AMRC said: “We are delighted to be working with the fantastic team at SolarBotanic Trees on the development of its energy-generating solar tree. The business has a great product which will play an important role in developing the infrastructure necessary to support the shift to zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs), a core part of the UK government’s net zero strategy.

“The AMRC will provide design and prototyping support to advance the product through a rapid development cycle, enabling the company to launch the first solar tree, fulfil its pre-orders, and gain traction in the EV charging market. SolarBotanic Trees’ vision to create carbon-reducing technologies aligns with the AMRC’s drive to support the high-value manufacturing sector on the journey to net zero."

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Chris Shelley, CEO of SolarBotanic Trees said: “With the AMRC bringing its design and prototyping expertise to the table it will help us accelerate commercialisation. The team at the AMRC is a great partner for SolarBotanic Trees to deliver the prototype at speed using its world-class facilities and talent which will enable us to rapidly move to commercial production in the near future, starting with our launch order for 200 trees for RAW Charging Group, a high growth UK and EU focussed EV charging service provider.”

Other project partners include the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry (MTC) and the Advanced Forming Research Centre in Scotland, both part of the HVM Catapult, along with Brunel University in London and Unipart Technologies Group (UTG) part of Unipart Group.

The latest project is rooted in a five-day design assist previously undertaken for SolarBotanic Trees, which saw the AMRC deliver a range of design concepts for the trunk, branch and petal structure of the solar tree, as well as investigating a range of monitoring and sensing methods to test, assess and select various PV cell options.

AMRC website
SolarBotanic Trees website

Images: SolarBotanic Trees

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News: Reaction to redundancies at Rotherham steelworks

The Government has come in for criticism following the announcement from Liberty Steel of a restructuring programme that will affect 440 roles - including 185 roles at its Rotherham sites.

The move has been described as a "body blow" that could have been prevented.

Part of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, Liberty Steel said that some products had become unviable in the short term due to high energy costs and imports from countries without the same environmental standards.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said: “I am sickened and beyond angry that a decade of failure from the Conservative Government on steel has led us to the point where 185 Rotherham and Sheffield steel workers face losing their livelihoods.

"It is not just 185 jobs, it is 185 families, the businesses in the supply chain and the economic identity of our town.

"Rotherham steel workers have been abandoned to their fate by a Government that has never understood the importance of our steel industry or made any effort to develop its enormous potential.

"There are simple steps the Government could have taken to prevent this; buy British steel for Government projects, provide competitive energy costs and address punitive business rates. Europe supports its steel industry – why won’t this Government?

"For ten years I’ve told the Government what needed to happen to ensure our steel industry could thrive. They have done nothing, and it is Rotherham families who will pay the price for their negligence."

Describing the UK steel industry as being on life support, Jeffrey Kabel, Chief Transformation Officer for Liberty Steel Group, said that "prices in the UK for steel makers stubbornly remain between 40% and 60% higher than our competitors in Europe."

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Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey, said the announcement was "a big blow to Rotherham’s steel-making future, and a bitter disappointment for the loyal Liberty workforce.

"They’ve seen the company through really tough recent years with Covid, the collapse of its funder and sky-high energy costs. Now Liberty have pulled the plug on their plans to ramp up production in Rotherham, and it’s hard to have confidence in the future with such a savage cut in jobs and most steel-making mothballed.

"UK steel firms have been on the brink for the last decade, while Government has done too little to help keep our UK industry internationally competitive, especially on energy costs."

Director General of UK Steel, Gareth Stace, said that the restructuring announcement "highlights the significant challenges UK steel companies face navigating the current harsh market conditions. There will naturally be concern regarding the 440 jobs potentially impacted, but this is unfortunately an ongoing risk that accompanies a persistently uncompetitive business environment here in the UK, further exacerbated by global supply chain difficulties.

“High energy prices have played an important role in the decisions, with long-standing uncompetitive electricity prices having constrained UK investment and steel production for some time. This highlights again the need for government to fully address the UK’s structurally high industrial energy prices, looking beyond the important announcements made regarding the Energy Bills Discount Scheme earlier this week. It is crucial we also now see the development of a long-term decarbonisation plan for the sector, ultimately ensuring that the UK can be seen as an attractive place to invest in steel production.”

Primary production through Rotherham’s lower carbon electric arc furnaces (EAFs) will be temporarily reduced while uncompetitive operating conditions prevail but Liberty said that it was still committed to its longer-term aim of growing Rotherham into a 2 million tonnes per year green steel facility.

Looking ahead, Kabel, writing for The Mirror, added: "Many UK steel producers, Liberty included, have been funding losses during the past decade to maintain operations and employment. In the past two years alone, Liberty has invested £200m to keep the plants ticking over and workers livelihoods protected. Whilst this may be noble it has massively constrained our ability to invest in the future.

"Liberty runs electric arc furnaces at Rotherham that recycle scrap steel and emit just a tenth of the emissions compared to blast furnace operations. These units are scalable and could, indeed should, be the foundation for green steel production in our domestic market. To lose them would make a mockery of the UK’s net zero ambitions."

Liberty Steel website

Images: Liberty House

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News: Another Rotherham school in line for multi million pound rebuild

Another secondary school in Rotherham has been successful in the next phase of the Government's School Rebuilding Programme.

Last year, Rothbiz reported that Wales High School had become the first school in Rotherham to be awarded funding.

Now Swinton Academy in the north of the borough has been announced in the latest round and will recieve capital funding from the Government, more than a decade on from a similar investment being axed.

239 more schools and sixth forms are set to benefit from renovation projects. And the good news for Rotherham is that Kilnhurst Primary School becomes the first primary school from the borough to be awarded funds.

400 schools and sixth forms have now been selected for rebuilds through the ten-year School Rebuilding Programme but Brinsworth Academy has missed out.

The new buildings will be more energy efficient for future winter resilience and net-zero in operation, with old facilities replaced by modern education environments including new classrooms, sports halls and dining rooms.

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Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, said: "Education is a top priority for this Government. That is why, despite facing challenging economic circumstances, we are investing a record amount in our schools and colleges.

"The additional funding, alongside fantastic new facilities, will mean our brilliant teachers can get on with what they do best – and inspire the next generation."

Swinton is part of Aston Community Education Trust (ACET) and converted to an academy in 2019.

£98m worth of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects at Abbey SEN, Aston, Hilltop SEN, Milton, Oakwood, St Pius and Swinton (then known as Swinton Community School) in Rotherham were stopped by the coalition government in 2010. Maltby Academy progressed a major revamp in 2012 and later, Oakwood High School made it onto the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), carrying out a £12.2m refurbishment in 2016.

Data shows that a number of Rotherham schools were nominated but have not been selected in any of the previous rounds of the new School Rebuilding Programme. These include Brinsworth Academy, Brinsworth Whitehill Primary School, Maltby Manor Academy, Milton School and Newman School.

At Newman Special School, a project got underway in 2022 on a new £4.5m state-of-the-art facility to replace the Upper School buildings. It is backed by Rotherham Council.

At Brinsworth, Rotherham Council's cabinet met in February 2022 and approved £1.7m capital funding from the Department for Education allocated Basic Need funding to increase capacity by 150 places. In 2017, a £2.6m Sports Centre opened on the site providing a new multi-use sports hall, dance studio, fully accessible changing rooms and classrooms for GSCE and A-level PE.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Latest Liberty restructure again affects Rotherham

Liberty Steel has announced a restructuring programme that will affect 440 roles - including 185 roles at its Rotherham sites. The company said it was as a result of "severe competitiveness issues" in the UK steel industry.

Part of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, Liberty Steel employs hundreds of staff in South Yorkshire, including in Rotherham. Gupta completed a £100m deal to acquire the Speciality Steels division of Tata Steel UK in 2017.

Hit by the collapse of Greensill, a specialist in invoice financing that operated with less regulation than the traditional banks, Liberty put in place a specialist committe to accelerate a restructuring and refinancing project which has seen investment and focus on the electric arc furnace at Aldwarke in Rotherham.

Despite the injection of £200m of shareholder capital over the last two years, Liberty said that the production of some commodity grade products at Rotherham and downstream mills has become unviable in the short term due to high energy costs and imports from countries without the same environmental standards.

Primary production through Rotherham’s lower carbon electric arc furnaces (EAFs) will be temporarily reduced while uncompetitive operating conditions prevail. The output is to be replaced by imported billet and slabs to feed rolling and finishing lines at Rotherham, Scunthorpe, and Dalzell as an interim measure to mitigate the impact of uncompetitive energy costs.

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In a statement, Liberty added that: "With the support of major customers, LSUK will focus on high value alloy steel production at Speciality Steel UK (SSUK) sites in Rotherham, Stocksbridge and Brinsworth serving strategic aerospace, energy and engineering supply chains. SSUK will ramp up high value production at specialist plants through the year with a view to breaking even in September, laying the ground for further upside potential. LSUK has halted the sale process for the Stocksbridge and Brinsworth plants."

Liberty also said that it was still committed to its longer-term aim of growing Rotherham into a 2 million tonnes per year green steel facility.

The statement added: "These actions together with the idling of Liberty Performance Steels in West Bromwich and the reconfiguration of LIBERTY Steel Newport into a storage, distribution and trading hub, may potentially impact up to 440 roles across the business. The company will consult with employee representatives, Trade Unions and UK Government throughout the process.

"Liberty will offer an alternative to redundancy through its unique Workforce Solutions programme, which aims to retain, redeploy and reskill affected colleagues. Under the programme employees will be offered a level of guaranteed salary and outplacement opportunities, with the intention of being redeployed within LIBERTY Steel UK on previous employment terms when market conditions allow.

"The steps laid out by LIBERTY will forge a viable way forward for the business, provide a safety net to affected employees and help safeguard jobs in Liberty’s wider workforce of 1,900 permanent employees, and up to 5,000 including contractors."

Jeffrey Kabel, Chief Transformation Officer for Liberty Steel Group, said: “Refocusing our operations will set the right platform for LIBERTY Steel UK’s high-quality manufacturing businesses to adapt quickly to challenging market realities. The support of our marquee customers will enable us to produce high value, differentiated products through 2023 and beyond for strategic sectors such as aerospace, defence and energy. We remain committed to our longer-term growth plans in the UK including our plan to grow Rotherham into a 2 million tonne green steel hub.

“While our action is expected to regrettably impact the roles of some of our workforce we will provide a level of guaranteed salary and out placement opportunities through our unique Workforce Solutions programme as an alternative to redundancy. LIBERTY’s shareholder Sanjeev Gupta has supported the business through a very difficult period and remains committed to the workforce here in the UK and ensuring our lower carbon operations help deliver a sustainable, decarbonised UK steel industry.”

Liberty Steel website

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News: Plans approved for new artwork in Rotherham town centre

Planners at Rotherham Council have approved plans for an eight metre high sculpture in Rotherham town centre but admit that it "may not be to everyone’s taste."

Camellia is a ground-breaking new artwork developed by internationally acclaimed sculptor James Capper. Commissioned by Gallery Town and jointly funded by Arts Council England and local businesses, Camellia is a moving sculpture which will feature petals that react to the movement of light.

The work was inspired by the camellia flowers brought to Wentworth Woodhouse in the eighteenth century, some of the oldest varieties known to exist in the UK.

Permission has been secured for the pedestrianised area of the town centre on College Street immediately adjacent to All Saint’s Square. Temporary permission is granted for three years and it is intended to site the sculpture permanently on the nearby Forge Island leisure development which is currently under construction.

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A planner's report approving the application, reads: "It is considered that the sculpture raises no issues with regards to the amenity of neighbouring occupiers or highway safety, the only material planning consideration would be visual impact.

"The location is highly sensitive in conservation terms being immediately adjacent to the Grade I Listed Rotherham Minster. However, the sculpture will clearly be read as a piece of public art and would be sited in this location on a temporary basis.

"The appearance of the artwork is subjective and may not be to every one’s taste. However, it is not a building, or a permanent structure and it is considered that it is acceptable in design terms to be sited in this location on a temporary basis. It is therefore considered that the sculpture would not harm the setting of the Grade I Listed Rotherham Minster or the Town Centre Conservation Area and would help to add visual interest to this part of the town centre."

Launched in 2011, Gallery Town’s mission is to rejuvenate and celebrate Rotherham’s cultural history by using art to encourage, inspire and offer opportunities to explore our local community. Since its inception, the project has successfully displayed more than 100 works of art, which can be found in more than 60 locations across Rotherham’s town centre.

Gallery Town website

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News: PPS expand Dinnington base

Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd (PPS) has expanded its South Yorkshire branch to help it source parts faster, and better service its customers.

The branch at Dinnington in Rotherham has undergone renovations, with a new 8,500 sq ft mezzanine recently being added. This creates more space for the firm's large stock, including air compressors, compressor spares and pneumatic parts – items that have recently seen a large increase in lead times due to global supply issues.

Alan Kerr, General Manager at PPS Sheffield, said: "Manufacturers in South Yorkshire have been feeling the pain of long lead times. The addition of the mezzanine floor and 1.2 tonne lift has enabled us to hold a massive amount of stock that is central, and crucial to our operation and client network – helping us to alleviate some of that pain.

“Having the stock here in South Yorkshire, ready to ship means manufacturers can hire or buy a compressor quickly should the worst happen, and they have a system failure. It also means we have the right compressor spares available for our engineers to be able to make first time fixes on site and maintain the correct service intervals on machines.

“Response, customer uptime and energy efficiency are paramount to the PPS ethos, which is why we have made this significant investment in the new mezzanine. As a distributor for market leading brands including Atlas Copco, we are proud to carry stock of energy efficient products.”

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In 2015, the compressor division at Simm Engineering Group was acquired by PPS, heralding a new era of expansion which was boosted by a move to a larger unit built on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery.

Alan added: “At PPS we do not stand still, we are always looking to make improvements. Moving into our new Sheffield premises back in 2020 was a massive step for PPS but we knew it was exactly the right thing to do in, let’s be honest, quite uncertain times through the Covid peak. We knew, however, that this was just the start of our venture to develop and grow our infrastructure to better support our customers across South Yorkshire and beyond.”

PPS website

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News: International Stones UK set for growth following purchase of Rotherham site

International Stones UK, a privately-owned importer and wholesale supplier of granite, quartz, marble, limestone, travertine and slate, is set for growth following the purchase of four industrial units in Rotherham.

Plans have been submitted to convert the units at at The Ickles, Templeborough into a brand-new warehouse, head office and customer showroom for the company which is an importer and wholesale supplier of quality stone slabs.

The company, which was established in 2009, currently employs 11 people. Following the move to the new site, International Stones has plans to create further jobs and introduce new lifting technology to the warehouse to aid efficiency.

Sheffield property law specialist Mason Thomas Law assisted international Stones UK with the acquisition of the new units, which follows a four-year search by the business for larger premises.

Mat Bacon, Managing Director of International Stones UK, said: “The super site at The Ickles will give us an additional 50,000 sq ft of space which will enable us to move all areas of the business to one location which is more accessible for both staff and customers.

“Additionally, the site is just 70 metres from a freight terminal which is ideal for the products we import. The new site at The Ickles gives us an ideal platform to grow the business significantly as well as enable us to operate more efficiently.”

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Currently the business operates from two sites – Beeley Wood in Sheffield and a single unit at The Ickles which was purchased in 2020. The acquisition of the additional units will now enable International Stones to consolidate the business and relocate it from multiple locations to a single purpose-built site which benefits from close proximity to junctions 33 and 34 of the M1 which will enable easy access for customers.

Mason Thomas Law also assisted with the purchase of the first unit at The Ickles in 2020.

Mat added: “Purchasing the new units was a complicated and drawn-out process but Mason Thomas Law really kept things moving and helped us navigate various obstacles we encountered. We’re now ready to go and looking forward to having more space and being able to develop the business further as well as welcome customers to the site. It’s an exciting time for International Stones UK.”

International Stones is one of a very few independent and privately owned British wholesalers of stone slabs. It supplies the most diverse range of granite, composite quartz and porcelain in the UK to retailers, individuals and property developers.

International Stones UK website

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News: Sky-House back in at Waverley

Sky-House Co., the Sheffield-based housebuilder, has secured another parcel of land at the Waverley site in Rotherham.

It is the company's third deal with Harworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, and should lead to the development of 106 new homes off Mitchell Way at Harworth's flagship site.

Previous phases feature a 21st Century take on the traditional back-to-back house.

The latest planned development will comprise a mixture of two to four-bedroom houses and apartments designed by CODA Architecture. Close to the Olive Lane part of the site, the units will again be a re-imagining of Victorian terraced homes for modern day living, providing well-designed energy-efficient homes with roof gardens, all of which will have a rating of EPC B+ or above and EV charging points.

Sky-House’s development will follow the adopted design code for Waverley, with a masterplan aimed at hiding cars and creating strong street frontages, while integrating high quality street furniture and tree-lined roads. It will also improve pedestrian links to Harworth’s planned mixed-use ‘heart of the community’ development, Olive Lane, the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), and other existing community assets and green spaces.

Ed Cathhpole, Regional Director – Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group plc, said: “Sky-House is a valued partner of Harworth, delivering a unique housing product at Waverley which emphasises good-quality design and sustainability. We are pleased that we have been able to extend our partnership further with this latest land sale. These new homes will enhance the vibrancy of the Waverley community and benefit from a wealth of green space and community amenities, including our planned Olive Lane development.”

"Building our third phase of new homes at Waverley is a significant milestone as we continue our productive relationship with Harworth to deliver what buyers really want from their new homes in the North of England."

The sale rounds off an active year for Harworth at its 740-acre Waverley development, which saw land sales made to Avant and Barratt and David Wilson Homes for the construction of over 590 homes, work begin on a 150-bedroom Marriott Courtyard hotel and plans approved for a new health centre. Plans for this year include the delivery of new single-family build-to-rent homes and further community amenities at the site.

Forge New Homes is expected to bring forward 32 homes alongside the Olive Lane development. The Sheffield company is a partnership between five leading housing providers – Great Places Housing Group, Yorkshire Housing, Together Housing, South Yorkshire Housing and the Guinness Partnership.

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As a new developer the company initially struggled to secure the finance from the private sector that it needed to bring forward its concept. But Homes England was attracted to the strong place-making ethos of the scheme, its aim to reduce carbon output, and the targeted ownership group of first-time buyers and lower income families and provided £3.2m in development finance.

The completed scheme was an undeniable success. Sales demand exceeded expectations, and it was well received by the design and development community, with several award nominations.

Importantly, Homes England was able to help Sky-House to utilise the equity and profit released from Waverley to fund the land acquisition of Oughtibridge Mill nearby. Alongside this, it provided £3.7m of additional development funding and the company went on to secure £12.5m funding from the St Bride’s White Rose Residential Partnership.

David Cross, Founder & Director, Sky-House Co,, said: "It is no understatement to say that without Homes England’s support we wouldn’t have been able to start even our first development.

"From Waverley Phase 1 to Oughtibridge Mill, we will complete 84 homes alongside commercial space, and we now have close to 400 homes and commercial space on the drawing board and a secure pipeline of funding and sites for the next 3-5 years.

"By accessing Homes England’s support, we have shifted from developer to housebuilder and now, more importantly, to place maker with close to 40 full and part time staff across the business alongside a growing cabinet of awards. All the team at Homes England have been amazing and we cannot thank them enough- all we can do is keep delivering great homes."

On the next phase at Waverley, Cross added: "As the largest Sky-House development to date, it heralds our transition to a regional housebuilder of choice, meeting head-on the challenges of quality design, energy efficient homes, liveable streets and at a price point within the reach of people across South Yorkshire in these challenging times.”

Sky House Co. website
Harworth Group website

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News: Burnt out buildings CPO to be discussed again

Rotherham Council is again considering a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to finally deal with two large burnt out buildings in Rotherham town centre - nearly six years after it previously discussed using the same powers.

Negotiations have so far failed with the council stating that there is a "wide gulf between the landowner’s expectations on price and realistic values for the properties."

On the key route through town, the former Envy nightclub building, which suffered a malicious fire in 2007, and Muskaan restaurant, which was closed after a fire in 2011, have been left empty ever since, and whilst not structurally unsafe, the buildings are widely acknowledged to be an eyesore.

Council officers are hoping to gain Cabinet approval to acquire 3-7 Corporation Street using powers provided to enable acquiring authorities to compulsorily purchase land to carry out a function which Parliament has decided is in the public interest.

In this instance the buildings would be demolished and a private sector developer would be brought in to build a residential-led, mixed-use development, comprising of apartments with commercial space on the ground floor. The council has already secured funding to address the viability gap through the Town Deal and Levelling Up Funding.

The move would also address the existing issues of dereliction, create a significantly more attractive gateway into the town centre, support the masterplan aim to see more housing in the town centre, and support the Council's ambitions for the Leisure and Cultural Quarter to continue across the river from Forge Island to include sites on Corporation Street.

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The issue was discussed back in 2017 when the Council said that a CPO was a "last resort." Since then, plans from owners for a 69 room hotel development to be built on the site have lapsed. The latest council report adds that "there have been no credible attempts to progress the plans with the owner recently advising that the scheme is not financially viable."

A report to the Council's cabinet states: "Attempts to engage with the landowner and bring schemes forward have been unsuccessful and there is no realistic prospect of coming to agreement in the foreseeable future. It is considered the Council needs to secure control of the site to deliver a scheme, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve economic growth and priorities to drive regeneration across the town.

"Attempts to assemble the necessary land by agreement are continuing, but timescales relating to the funding and the prior non-cooperation of the landowner mean that it is necessary to run the compulsory purchase process and continue negotiations with the affected landowner in parallel.

"Numerous attempts have been made to negotiate with the owner and agree a purchase price. A wide gulf between the landowner’s expectations on price and realistic values for the properties has meant agreement cannot be reached."

The CPO is described as the option that provides greatest certainty that the site will be redeveloped.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: “These burnt-out buildings are situated in a prominent position in Rotherham town centre with the poor appearance of the site detracting from the appearance and vitality of the town, and this is having significant negative impact on the surrounding area.

“By looking to enact a Compulsory Purchase Order, we aim to redevelop the site for the benefit of residents and visitors to the town centre as part of our Town Centre Masterplan.”

Rotherham Council has been actively acquiring properties on Corporation Street, including the former Mecca bingo hall and the former Wilko's store, which has been earmarked as the site for a potential new theatre.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Early £2 fare cap "surpasses all expectations" in South Yorkshire

Introducing a £2 fare in South Yorkshire two months ahead of a national fare cap on bus journeys has "surpassed all expectations" with over 1.25 million journeys benefiting from the scheme.

The take up was in excess of forecast and has resulted in a £400,000 budget pressure at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Rothbiz reported at the end of 2022 that the government was providing up to £60m across the country but the MCA had set aside £600k as part of bold plans to combat the cost-of-living crisis.

The national scheme began on January 1 but South Yorkshire bus and tram fares have been capped at £2 since November 1. This is set to continue until the end of March 2023.

The average single fare for a 3-mile journey is estimated at over £2.80 with some passengers able to save 50% on some single trips. Bus and Supertram journeys which already cost under £2 have not been affected, including 80p Zoom Beyond fares for young people. £2 adult fares are available on any bus or tram service which starts and ends in South Yorkshire.

A budget report to the MCA board states: "Uptake on the £2 fare cap, launched in November to support the cost-of-living pressures faced by many in South Yorkshire, has been considerably in excess of forecast with over 1.25 million journeys benefiting from the scheme, and with over 51% of journeys being undertaken from communities within the three most deprived bandings. This is leading to forecast overspend against the budget by c. £0.40m. This pressure will be accommodated within the balance of funding set-aside for cost-of-living mitigations.

"Further work is being undertaken to assess the performance of this scheme and consider what lessons may be learnt that could support future pricing policies."

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£700,000 was the revised figure for the £2 fare scheme, with the figure now at £1.1m.

When the number of journeys went past the 1 million mark in December, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “As the cost of living crisis continues to affect us all and we brace for further challenges, I am determined to do all I can help our community get through this winter with the power and resources I have.

“I know cutting public transport costs is a big part of the solution for the thousands of people in our region who rely on our buses and tram network. That’s why we introduced the £2 fare cap early here in South Yorkshire, where it’s needed now - ahead of the government’s planned national scheme - and extended it to include trams.

“Because while we all recognise there’s a lot of work to do to fix our broken public transport system, bit by bit we’re trying to make things better for the travelling public and this is the start of that journey.”

Images: SYMCA

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News: Thirst for Beatson Clark's British designed and manufactured glass products

Leading glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark continues to be the clear choice for a range of producers who focus on sustainability, suitability and style.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Wiltshire-based artisan food manufacturer Tracklements has moved more of its products into Beatson Clark’s glass jars to ensure sustainability and security of supply. Some jars previously manufactured in Europe will now be made in the UK.

Ben Read, Operations Director at Tracklements, said: “We’ve been a Beatson Clark customer for a long time – over 30 years. We’ve taken their standard jars and bottles for a long time but in the last four or five years we’ve also had Beatson Clark manufacture bespoke jars for us.

“Our other glass containers came from Europe – but in 2020 and 2021 there was a major move away from plastic and quite a few European furnaces were being rebuilt, which meant that glass supply was quite tight.

“We decided we wanted to secure the most local supply we could to try to be as sustainable as possible. Beatson Clark is one of very few glass manufacturers in the UK so it made sense to put more of our requirements with them.

“They were very good during the glass supply shortages, doing their utmost to maintain a constant supply of glass to us, and we felt they should be rewarded. We also want to secure that sustainability and security of supply."

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The move is the latest in a long line of contract wins for the Rotherham firm. Funkin Cocktails, the UK’s number one ready-to-drink cocktail brand, has switched to a British designed and manufactured bottle, having previously used standard glass bottles imported from overseas.

Lynn Sidebottom, Sales and Marketing Director at Beatson Clark, said: “We are seeing more and more customers coming to us who were previously buying their glass packaging from overseas.

“Sustainability and reliability in supply lines is increasingly important these days; if you buy British you support British manufacturing, you get a high-quality product, you minimise risk and you lower your impact on the environment."

Other recent wins for Beatson Clark include creating a 250ml bottle for the launch of Aupale Grapefruit Seltzer based on the Canadian spirit brand’s unique 750ml vodka bottle, and BOL Foods, makers of Power Shakes, switching to a new bespoke glass bottle.

Beatson Clark website

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News: Work starts on £12m Rotherham link road

Work is underway on a £12m transport scheme that aims to improve the area around Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard and Leader of Rotherham Council, Cllr. Chris Read joined contractors, Tilbury Douglas, at the Parkgate link road and Park & Ride scheme.

Planning permission was secured last year for a proposed new 800 metre road between Aldwarke Lane and both Stonerow Way and Stadium Way which is set to provide a second access route to Parkgate Shopping, via a roundabout between the two railway bridges. It is designed to relieve existing congestion on the A633 around Parkgate Shopping and improve traffic flow and bus journey times on the corridor and wider road network.

In addition to improving the vehicular, walking and cycling infrastructure, also included in the scheme is a new 300-space Park & Ride facility for the Parkgate Tram Train terminus, including electric vehicle bays.

£11.52m is required from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Transforming Cities Fund towards project costs of £12.86m. £7m is for the new access route and £3.4m for a new Park & Ride facility. £1.7m is needed for upgrades to Taylor's Lane roundabout nearby - a separate part of the scheme.

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South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: “Fixing our public transport system means making sure we’re building the network South Yorkshire needs and deserves.

“This is the beginning of an exciting scheme improving transport links around Rotherham – and will help us create the faster, smarter, greener public transport system we need. We need our trams, our buses and our trains to work together to create a fully integrated system which gets you where you need to be.

“An integrated, 21st century transport network will make our air cleaner, our bodies healthier, our roads safer, and we’ll have more money in our pockets given the high price of fuel right now. That’s why fixing our public transport network is central to my vision of a greener, fairer and healthier South Yorkshire.”

Leader of Rotherham Council, Cllr Chris Read, said: “The Parkgate park and ride scheme is the latest major investment in the borough that we’ve secured and residents will start to see more visible works taking place in the coming weeks. As well as improving access to the country’s first tram-train, the new access road will provide some welcome relief on the congested local road network. Close working between the Council and the South Yorkshire Mayor's office has been key to unlocking this important transport scheme and we're really pleased to have works on site."

Images: SYMCA

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News: Rotherham-based Parseq grows through acquisition

Rotherham-based business process outsourcer Parseq has announced the acquisition of the TALL Group, a UK leader in the provision of secure print and payment solutions.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq is a trusted business services partner, with a global client base including leading telecoms operators, major utility providers and FTSE 100 financial services companies.

The TALL Group’s secure document and payment processing solutions will be incorporated into Parseq’s own established systems, allowing clients to benefit from the operational synergies and economies of scale offered by the integration.

The acquisition establishes Parseq as one of the largest independent providers of specialist document and payment processing services in the UK, increasing its headcount to more than 520 staff based in 12 offices across the UK, Bulgaria and India. The TALL Group’s secure document and payment processing solutions will be incorporated into Parseq’s own established systems, allowing clients to benefit from the operational synergies and economies of scale offered by the integration.

The TALL Group will be transferring across to Parseq in its entirety, including TALL Security Print, Checkprint and DLRT which combine to form the TALL Group of Companies. It operates from three sites in Runcorn, Hinckley and Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and counts major UK banks and blue-chip companies among its clients. These will be incorporated into Parseq’s existing global client base including leading telecoms operators, major utility providers and FTSE 100 financial services companies.

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The TALL Group’s managing director, Martin Ruda, will work with Parseq’s CEO, Craig Naylor-Smith to help set a strategy for the combined business. Parseq is a portfolio company of Parabellum Investments, a family office operating as a global private equity firm. Led by founder and CEO Rami Cassis, Parabellum Investments is a hands-on, highly active investor. It uses its own capital to grow companies both organically and through acquisition, leveraging its principal’s first-hand management experience and pan-sector track record.

Craig Naylor-Smith, CEO, Parseq, said: “This is an important milestone for our business. Bringing the TALL Group into the fold will give us the offering we need to continue our international expansion and deepen the existing relationships we have with some of the biggest businesses in the UK. The acquisition of the TALL Group, together with other exciting opportunities in the pipeline, means we are entering 2023 on a very firm footing for further growth.”

Martin Ruda, Managing Director, the TALL Group, added: “We have worked in partnership with Parseq many times, and offer complimentary, technology-led services, which makes us joining forces a natural evolution of our relationship that will make it easier to accelerate growth and expand the services we offer as a part of a bigger organisation. We also share the same vision and values and are committed to helping our clients run more efficient, secure businesses, all to the ultimate benefit of their customers.”

The TALL Group directors William Lamb and Peter Andrew are retiring after more than 30 years with the business.

Parseq website

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News: New retailer revealed for former Rotherham M&S

The former Marks & Spencer unit at Parkgate looks set to go the same way as its former Rotherham town centre counterpart - taken on by a discount retailer.

Rothbiz reported in 2019 that the national retailer was closing its large Parkgate store when it confirmed plans to close over 100 stores in total by 2022 in order to "radically reshape M&S's Clothing & Home space" alongside relocations, conversions, downsizes and the introduction of concessions.

Marketed by agents, Savills, and empty throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the 32,185 sq ft unit is now under offer.

A new planning application shows that national retalier, Poundland, is eyeing up the space for expansion. The new Rotherham store would become one of the brand's largest stores.

Already on the popular Parkgate Shopping Park since 2014, Poundland continues to undergo an expansion push. The end of 2022 saw a "super Saturday" with the brand opening a number of relocated, expanded and new stores.

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A recent move has seen Poundland open new "supersize" stores, often out of town, which offer a selection of everyday essentials such as groceries, drinks and snacks that shoppers love, as well as revamped health and beauty, entertainment, stationery and craft ranges, so customers can do more of their shopping in one trip.

There are also wider ranges of chilled and frozen food and PEP&CO clothing and homewares, with the larger stores providing the choice and shopping experience customers would expect from the big grocers.

The planning application is for new signage at the prominent unit which is alongside Primark. The move across the park would see Poundland more than triple its space from its current 9,900 sq ft unit.

M&S made the decision to relocate its store on College Street in Rotherham town centre to Parkgate Shopping in the early 2000's. The historic building is now home to discount retailer, OneBelow. Since M&S left town, the unit was Hitchens before becoming Discount UK, a brand operated by Poundworld.

Poundland website

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