News: Rotherham asylum seeker hotel for sale on Rightmove

A hotel in Rotherham that was used to accommodate asylum seekers has been put up for sale for £4m.

The Home Office has used hotels as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers as a short-term measure as the number of people entering the UK illegally or claiming asylum hit record levels. The previous government had plans to move people to parts of the UK’s asylum estate, including the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that the former Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford had stated that the use of the Ibis at Bramley for asylum seekers was to end.

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, is now advertising the Ibis as being for sale.

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The listing states: "This purpose-built hotel has 86 en-suite bedrooms spread over four floors. On the ground floor there is an open plan multi-functional space, which includes the reception area and a combined dining area for breakfast and dinner with a bar, featuring a pool table and a large screen TV (capacity approximately 50). There are also four well-equipped meeting rooms with a capacity of six up to 20 guests."

With a guide price of £4m, the particulars explain that the hotel is currently let to Accor UK Economy Hotels Limited for a term of 25 years from August 2000 with less than a year remaining. The current passing rent is £364,370 per annum.

Across the borough, the Home Office has confirmed this week that it will be terminating its asylum accommodation contract for the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers and will not be using the hotel for this purpose going forward.

Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey has previously raised the issue over the use of the hotel which he said was "utterly unsuited as accomodation for 130 asylum seekers."

Writing to Mr Healey this week, Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, Minister for Border Security & Asylum, said: "We have carefully considered the representations and views from a range of stakeholders, and I am pleased to inform you that the Home Office will be terminating the contract with the Holiday Inn Express, Rotherham, and will not therefore be re-occupying the hotel."

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News: Plans drafted for new banking hub in Rotherham

Plans are progressing to reintroduce community banking services in the Rotherham town of Dinnington.

Rothbiz reported in February that LINK, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, announced the addition of a new banking hub in the town. The announcement followed a request from former MP, Alexander Stafford.

The hubs are dedicated places where communities can access everyday personal and business banking services, such as withdrawing and depositing cash easily, or paying in cheques, over the counter. Owned by Cash Access UK, funded by the banks, and run by the Post Office, they're a way of bringing back banking to the people and areas that need it.

Dinnington has been left without a major High Street bank since the closure of HSBC and NatWest.

A planning application has now been submitted by Cash Access UK Limited for new signage at 31-33 Laughton Road.

The former Lloyds Pharmacy is sitauted opposite to the Aldi supermarket and markets area that is due to undergo an £11m regeneration project.

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To date, LINK has recommended over 100 banking hubs, including ones in Wath, Rossington and Thorne. There are currently 34 banking hubs up and running across the UK, with dozens more set to open in the coming months.

Each Banking Hub has a counter operated by the Post Office where customers can access services such as paying in cash and cheques, withdrawing cash and paying bills.

Representatives, called community bankers, from the major banks, inlcuding NatWest and HSBC, are available on different days but availability will vary for each hub based on local demand.

Building work is underway on the 23,500 sq ft unit but no opening date has been given.

In Wath, a temporary banking hub has been created at Montgomery Hall on Church Street.

Cash Access website

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News: Dinnington recommended for new banking hub

LINK, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, has announced that residents and businesses in Dinnington, Rotherham could soon find it easier to access banking services thanks to the addition of a new banking hub in the town. The announcement follows a request from local MP, Alexander Stafford.

The hubs are dedicated places where communities can access everyday personal and business banking services, such as withdrawing and depositing cash easily, or paying in cheques, over the counter. Owned by Cash Access UK, funded by the banks, and run by the Post Office, they're a way of bringing back banking to the people and areas that need it.

Dinnington has been left without a major High Street bank since the closure of HSBC and NatWest.

Rothbiz reported last year that Wath is set to get a new banking hub after it too suffered a similar fate.

Banking hubs can be recommended by LINK through a community request or following the announcement of the closure of the bank branch in a location. Successful recommendations are determined by several factors including the number of shops in the area, demographics, and proximity to other banking services.

To date, LINK has recommended over 100 banking hubs, including ones in Rossington and Thorne. There are currently 34 banking hubs up and running across the UK, with dozens more set to open in the coming months.

Representatives form the major banks, inlcuding NatWest and HSBC, are available on different days but availability will vary for each hub based on local demand.

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Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said: “I am delighted that banking services will return to Dinnington though the banking hub. I have been working with LINK and Cash Access UK to make sure that customers, businesses and all residents can have access to the banking services they need. I will never stop fighting for those in my area to be able to access the services they need, when they need it. This banking hub, alongside the £12m to rejuvenate the high street given to us by the Government, will do a world of good towards that goal.”

Cllr. Julz Hall, who represents the Dinnington ward, said: "As a local business owner, I am thrilled that we have secured a banking hub for our area. This will give people a reason to visit our high street and I really hope it will encourage them to buy coffee from an independent café and visit some of our shops while they are here. We also have huge potential for new businesses to set up here when the new units are completed, and access to cash will be a big positive for them. I am really excited about this new development."

Over the next few weeks, Cash Access UK will begin to engage with the local community and will start to look for potential sites. The hub will likely open in 12 months’ time.

Nick Quin, Head of Financial Inclusion LINK, said: “We’re very pleased to recommend a new hub in Dinnington. There are millions of people in the UK who are not ready to go cashless and prefer to conduct their banking face-to-face. If a community believes that it needs additional cash services, they can contact LINK directly and we can assess whether we can recommend new services such as a cash machine or banking hub.”

Cash Access UK website
LINK website

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News: Small business minister visits Rotherham

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister for Small Business, Enterprise and Markets, was in Rotherham recently for a roundtable with hospitality businesses.

The MP for Thirsk and Malton was invited to the borough by Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, who is a keen supporter of local businesses.

As a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade. Hollinrake, who studied at Sheffield Hallam University, has responsibilities that include small business and enterprise, hospitality, retail and levelling up and regional growth.

The roundtable event took place at The Cafe At The Corner in Swallownest recently.

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Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said: "It is important that those in power hear first hand from local businesses about the issues and challenges they face, and have opportunity to put forward what solutions they would like to see. These kind of meetings are crucial for ministers to understand what is really happening in the economy.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy and I will always ensure they are heard at the top table."

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News: Safeguarding lifted on some axed HS2 routes, but Rotherham waits

Land in Rotherham outlined for high speed rail is still being safeguarded despite being "in the wrong place for any future routes."

The Government has announced that safeguarding of land and property across the majority of Phase 2a of HS2 (West Midlands to Crewe) has been removed, but safeguarding for Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester and West Midlands to Leeds) will not be amended until summer 2024. This will allow for safeguarding that is needed for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Local leaders in Rotherham say that land and property owners have had a "long shadow" of HS2 over them since the route was changed in 2016. The now scrapped M18 route east of Rotherham affected Wales, Aston, Ulley, Brampton-en-le–Morthen, Thurcroft, Bramley, Ravenfield and Hooton Roberts.

An update from HS2 Ltd said: "The Government has announced Phase 2b safeguarding will be amended by summer 2024, to allow for any safeguarding required for Northern Powerhouse Rail. It is expected that some areas in Phase 2b will continue to be safeguarded for other rail schemes, and safeguarding will be removed in the other areas."

The government announced in November 2021 that the HS2 Phase 2b Eastern leg would terminate at East Midlands Parkway and no longer reach Leeds through the communities in the east of Rotherham. A study into how best to take HS2 services to Leeds was announced but never really got underway before the Government launched its "Network North" document in October 2023.

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Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council said at the end of last year: “Communities like Bramley, Wales Bar and Aston are simply in the wrong place for any future routes between Sheffield and Leeds and it cannot be right that residents in those places are left in limbo.”

In September, Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley raised the issue in the House of Commons, saying: "I know that the Government still want high-speed trains through the area, but the only financially viable way of HS2 getting to Leeds is by using existing track. Why is it taking so long to release the land when everyone knows and accepts that we will not be building a new track through Rother Valley to Leeds? Will the Minister release the safeguarding and release people’s homes?"

Writing to the Transport Secretary last week, Wentworth & Dearne MP, John Healey raised the issue of the threat of compulsory HS2 purchase, blight on property prices and a freeze on any other developments, adding that there was no reason to not lift safeguarding land restrictions for HS2 on large areas of land in Rotherham.

Healey said: "It was last summer when we were told by your Rail Minister that the Government's study of IRP (Integrated Rail Plan) links to Leeds meant that safeguarding restrictions would not be lifted because you were still looking to complete the HS2 Eastern Leg as had been "previously scoped" and you were looking to upgrade lines between Sheffield and Leeds.

"With HS2 now being scrapped beyond Birmingham the first part of the argument no longer holds firm and the second line of reasoning can be clearly dismissed by looking at a map to see that the community of Bramley, in my constituency, and those further afield in Rotherham, like Aston and Wales Bar, are nowhere near a new Sheffield-Leeds rail route.

"I would appreciate it if you could please provide me with the latest reasoning as to why the decision to lift blight in Rotherham has not been made.

"People deserve to live their lives without the worry of HS2 hanging over them and I would urge you again to lift the HS2 blight on our area and let people live their lives without this fear."

HS2 website

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News: Latest on Rotherham hotels used for asylum seekers

The Government has announced that more than 50 hotels accommodating asylum seekers will be exited in the coming months.

The first 50 hotels across the UK will stop housing asylum seekers by the end of January the Immigration Minister has confirmed.

The Home Office has already notified local authorities, MPs and the accommodation providers, informing them that the first 50 hotels temporarily accommodating asylum seekers will be exited as part of the move to return hotels to their proper use by communities.

Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford stated that the use of the Ibis at Bramley for asylum seekers is to end.

The government said that initial efforts will focus on hotels that can be exited quickly. This announcement will help to relieve pressures on local services in the areas where exits are taking place, and provide a boost to the local economy.

These hotels will be gradually handed back to hoteliers by the end of January 2024, with the first of these expected to be exited in the coming days.

Asylum seekers currently accommodated in these hotels will be moving to other parts of the UK’s asylum estate, including the Bibby Stockholm barge.

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Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey has raised the issue over the use of the Holiday Inn at Manvers which he said is "utterly unsuited as accomodation for 130 asylum seekers."

Speaking after the latest announcement, Healey said: "Our Manvers hotel has been used by the Home Office as an asylum hotel for over 18 months now, despite repeated objections from Rotherham Council, local residents and me as their local MP.

"The hotel and the Manvers area are totally unsuited to house asylum seekers and I wrote again last month to the Home Secretary asking for clarification on whether or not the contract would be extended beyond October 2023. As I have still not had a reply, I am writing today to ask you to release our Manvers hotel in line with the previous commitments I’ve been given by Ministers that its use as an asylum hotel would be a on a “temporary basis”.

"I am also set to meet with the owners of the hotel next week to make clear to them that I remain determined to see the hotel back open operating as a hotel."

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News: Print out. Daily Mail owner to close £60m Rotherham facility

The owner of The Daily Mail has announced plans to close its state-of-the-art printing facility in Rotherham.

DMG Media only acquired the site at Dinnington in 2020.

The facility was created by Johnston Press at a cost of £60m on the site of the former colliery and it includes one of the most modern and fastest presses in the world. It has the capacity to print 192 pages in full colour, 120,000 newspapers an hour in full colour and 75 titles per week.

DMG Media and News UK have now proposed a joint venture which would combine their printing operations.

The proposal would retain three current sites in Broxbourne (Hertfordshire), Knowsley (Merseyside) and Eurocentral (Glasgow), and would potentially mean the closure of DMG Media sites in Thurrock and Dinnington.

A new company would be created to run the combined print operations and proponents say that it would "help improve the efficiency of News UK and DMG Media’s print operations and establish a sustainable business model for the future of national newspaper printing in the UK."

Over the years, the Dinnington site, which is also known as Associated Print Holdings, has printed everything from the Daily Express, Daily Star and The Sun to the Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star. Other major customers included regional publications and many niche publications.

Last month, it was reported that National World, the company behind The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, and new owner of the Rotherham Advertiser, had signed a deal with Newsquest that would see production end in Dinnington.

As well as The Mail, DMG Media is the holding company that owns the Metro and i newspapers and websites.

News UK, formerly News International, is the current publisher of The Times, The Sunday Times, and The Sun newspapers.

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National print newspaper circulation has declined by more than 60% in the past ten years and the challenging economic climate, combined with rising inflationary costs, and accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has put significant additional pressures on the media industry.

Julia Palmer-Poucher, production director at DMG Media Group, said: “The news industry has transformed and continues to change rapidly. DMG Media is at the forefront of this transformation and also remains committed to its print titles, its workforce and its readers.

“The decade-long decline in print circulation has not been matched with changes to print capacity and we must find ways to keep physical newspapers, which have an important future, commercially viable. This proposed combination would provide a long-term solution for the Mail print titles and a sustainable future for the newspaper printing industry.

“We are aware this will be an uncertain time for those potentially impacted and our priority is to provide staff with the support they need throughout this process.”

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) may want to look at the proposed deal in more detail and until the regulatory processes are complete, "the DMG Media printing business and Newsprinters UK remain separate and independent and will continue to operate as such."

Local MP, Alexander Stafford said that he was very concerned about the DMG Media plans for the Dinnington plant, adding that he would contact the company and regulators for more information.

DMG Media website

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News: Budget brings surprise £20m for Rotherham regeneration

The government has announced that Rotherham will receive £20m for regeneration in The Budget. It comes after earlier bids for funding for the schemes were turned down twice.

Rotherham Council has previously been successful in securing almost £40m from the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) to help improve the Leisure Economy and Skills in the borough and Rotherham Town Centre but its Dinnington and Wath bid was not selected in either pervious rounds of the Government's £4.8 billion competitive fund that is being invested in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

But now Budget documents explain: "The Budget also announces over £200 million for 16 regeneration projects in England. These projects have been assessed as high quality and will commence delivery later this year. Investment has been targeted towards the left-behind places in the Levelling Up White Paper or projects that are under £10 million to ensure quick delivery and a good spread of funding across England."

£19,990,111.00 is being awarded for the "Principal Areas of Growth" bid with the Government saying that they would focus only on bids from England and from the ‘regeneration and town centre’ theme because funding is coming from DLUHC budgets rather than cross-departmental LUF budgets.

The Rotherham bid was around creating a new mixed-use development in Wath town centre, as well as delivering significant improvements to Dinnington High Street and market.

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Alex Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said that £12m would be heading to Dinnington and that provisional work will include clearing the burnt-out buildings, investment in the outdoor market and the creation of a new commercial square with the aim to enhance the shop and food offer in the town and improve public realm and connectivity.

The MP said: "I have been campaigning to revitalise Dinnington High Street since before I was elected, and it is great to see that after decades of neglect, Dinnington will get the money it needs and deserves.

"Following the failure of the Levelling Up Fund bid, I made it my mission to go directly to those who control the levers of power and make the case, and I am so pleased that this campaign has worked.

"I have raised the rejuvenation of Dinnington High Street over 40 times in Parliament, organised a parliamentary petition signed by more than 2,000 residents, and even held a dedicated debate in Parliament to fight the case for our town. I have even brought the Prime Minister himself to Rother Valley.

"Special thanks to all those who made this possible including the Dinnington St John's Town Council, the Dinnington Land Trust and Dinnington Ward Councillors who have also been working tirelessly for our area.

"This announcement today proves that funding is available for "shovel-ready" projects across Rother Valley and South Yorkshire. Rotherham council must ensure that a vision and plans are in place for all our communities so that they can take advantage of the opportunities to receive the funding needed to revitalise their areas."

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council said: "The surprise announcement in the budget today that the government has decided to fully fund our Levelling Up Fund bid for Wath and Dinnington is great news. It means that we have been successful with all three of the bids that the Council put forward, and it is a welcome change of plan after the recent announcement that the Government would not consider it.

"I’m glad that suggestions the bid was somehow faulty have been corrected today, recognising the huge amount of effort and expertise that went into their preparation. Residents in both communities will rightly be looking forward to seeing these investments realised; improvements to Dinnington markets and the surrounding area as well as a new library in Wath.”

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne confirmed funding for Wath. He said: "This makes good on the mistake Ministers made before when they ruled out good bids like ours because Rotherham had a successful round one bid before.

"The application process has been massively frustrating for the public and local businesses that were involved in the consultation on the bids and Rotherham Council’s team who worked so hard to prepare it.

"For the last 13 years the Conservatives have stripped money from our local services and left us to battle it out for the scraps with other areas.We need an end to this type of contest where communities are made to bid to Ministers in Whitehall."

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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: Rotherham levelling up bid submitted

Rotherham Council has submitted a bid in the delayed second round of the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Last year, Rotherham Council submitted three bids to the Government's £4.8 billion competitive fund that is being invested in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

Whilst the bids based on the town centre and the leisure economy were successful, and secured £40m for the borough, a bid based on Wath and Dinnington being designated as areas of growth in terms of new housing and employment, was knocked back.

Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, has confirmed that a bid has been resubmitted. He said: "This is our second bite of the cherry in Dinnington and, after a concerted effort from Dinnington borough and town councillors and me, it reflects the needs of the community. It is an ambitious plan to overhaul our high street and markets and breathe life back into our town centre."

In Dinnington the borough council's first bid sought to secure £9.2m to carry out interventions that have a total cost of £14m.

The bid included new residential and retail with space for an indoor market. The outdoor market would be upgraded and sited within event space and upgraded public realm.

Feedback from Round 1 related to match funding and work has continued with the private sector.

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The second bid is also to support £14m "to improve the markets, deal with blight and encourage business growth within our local economy."

In a letter to Sharon Kemp, the chief executive of Rotherham Council to formally endorse the bid, Stafford recognised that "robust discussions" had taken place with local leaders during the preparation of the bid but added: "I am confident that the bid put forward, after much work and collaboration, would provide a solid foundation on which to drive further improvement and redevelopment in the coming years and meet some of the objectives of the local plan."

Wentworth and Dearne MP has been critical of the government as its website for applications only become available some six weeks after it was supposed to launch.

Greg Clark, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "I am determined to press full steam ahead with levelling up communities across the United Kingdom.

"The Levelling Up Fund can provide the investment needed to make a project that communities have been dreaming of for years a reality.

"So I’m delighted to open applications for the second round of the Levelling Up Fund and I’m looking forward to seeing proposals that will make a positive impact on people’s lives."

In a change to the application process, MPs in Great Britain will now be able to provide support to two bids that benefit their constituencies in this round, rather than a single one. This recognises the fact that many MPs’ constituencies cover more than one council area.

The second round will look to build on the success of the round one, which saw £1.7 billion awarded to 105 successful projects across the UK.

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News: Sunak surveys Dinnington and its case for Levelling Up

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, visited the Rotherham town of Dinnington last week as a bid is prepared to secure much needed Government cash for regeneration.

Last year, Rotherham Council submitted three bids to the Government's £4 billion competitive Levelling Up Fund that is being invested in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

Whilst the bids based on the town centre and the leisure economy were successful, and secured £40m for the borough, a bid based on Wath and Dinnington being designated as areas of growth in terms of new housing and employment, was knocked back.

The authority has said that the bid will be put back in to the next round of the fund.

Sunak is the second Chancellor to be invited to visit Dinnington by Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, after previous Chancellor Sajid Javid came in 2019.

Stafford has campaigned for the bid to focus on Dinnington High Street, notably the outdoor market indoor market and further retail premises nearby that are not fit for purpose, some without running water and toilet facilities and some which have been burnt out and derelict for several years.

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In Dinnington the borough council sought to secure £9.2m to carry out interventions that have a total cost of £14m.

The bid included new residential and retail with space for an indoor market. The outdoor market will be upgraded and sited within event space and upgraded public realm.

Paul Woodcock, Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council, recently updated councillors on the Dinnington bid. He said: "The feedback from Round 1 had related to match funding and the scale of the process and programme that had been put forward under the first round of bidding.

"Work had been done in terms of private sector options, private sector match, the marketplace linked to commercial, residential and more retail led schemes. The revised scheme was still based on the principles of the original submission as the feedback was that it was a strong bid.

"However, it was important to make it affordable. Since the first bid was put in, cost increases had been seen in the construction market and as such it was vital that any scheme put forward was deliverable."

Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said: "As promised when I was elected, I will ensure Rother Valley’s voice is heard by the most powerful people in our country, so I was delighted to be able to show the Chancellor around Dinnington high street and talk to him about our bid for the Levelling Up Fund. The Government has committed to delivering significant investment for areas like Rother Valley, where our small towns have been neglected for decades.

"This is just the beginning, and I will continue to press for greater investment across the whole of Rother Valley, to benefit all our towns and ensure that they are strong enough to meet the challenges of a changing economy."

Images: Alexander Stafford / Facebook

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News: Secretary of State throws out Rotherham fracking plans

A long-awaited Government decision has been made on proposals for a test drilling well on a Greenbelt site in Rotherham.

INEOS' Woodsetts plans were recommended for approval, having previously been refused on ecological grounds and on highway safety. The planning board went against officer's recommendations and refused the plans based on highway grounds and noise and general disturbance. Having been successful at the inquiry over its nearby Harthill application, INEOS appealed against the Woodsetts decision.

A public local inquiry took place in 2019 where the Inspector recommended that the appeal be allowed and planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

However, the plans were not given the go ahead as the appeal was recovered for the Secretary of State's determination.

After a long wait, the decision was published this week. It concluded: "The Secretary of State [Michael Gove] disagrees with the Inspector’s recommendation. He has decided to dismiss the appeal and refuse planning permission."

The test well was considered acceptable in the Greenbelt but the main issue for refusal appears to centre on an acoustic barrier that was proposed to address noise levels to protect the amenity of affected residents.

A 3 metre high acoustic barrier would make the noise acceccptable but "the erection of the fence would create a sense of enclosure in the gardens of Berne Square."

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The planning inspector believed that it would be perverse to refuse planning permission for the whole proposal, only because the temporary fence was considered to be inappropriate development. The Secretary of State disagreed. Likewise he disagreed with the Inspector’s assessment that the harmful impacts of the development would be outweighed by the policy support.

The government ended support for fracking in November 2019 on the basis of a report by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), which found that it is not currently possible to accurately predict the probability or magnitude of earthquakes linked to fracking operations.

Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said after the decision was published: "This is fantastic news for Woodsetts and for Rother Valley, and I thank all the residents and especially Woodsetts Against Fracking, Anston & Woodsetts Councillors and all who worked together to protect our beautiful village and countryside. I know there will be many happy residents in Woodsetts tonight who will share my feelings of joy."

INEOS website

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News: Convenience foods manufacturer seeks 300 new recruits as part of Rotherham expansion

Convenience foods manufacturer Greencore is looking to grow from 650 colleagues to nearly 1,000 people by this summer, as part of a multi-million pound expansion at its Rotherham site to produce chilled ready meals for a major supermarket chain.

Rothbiz reported last year on expansion plans at the Kiveton site - a turnaround from when part of the site was mothballed in 2019.

The plans were for a 21,000 sq ft extension to one of three main buildings at the site at Waleswood, known as "Kiveton Kitchens."

Headquartered in Dublin, Greencore supplies foodservice, grocery and other retailers, including all of the major UK supermarkets. Strong market positions are held in a range of categories including sandwiches, salads, sushi, chilled ready meals, chilled soups and sauces, chilled quiche, ambient sauces and pickles, and frozen Yorkshire Puddings.

The Greencore site at Waleswood has produced food for nearly 100 years, having initially opened as Sutherlands in 1927, before transitioning to Hazlewood Foods and Greencore since 2002.

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The employer has recently attended a local recruitment fair and hosted an open day for potential new starters. Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford also visited to see how the construction work was coming along.

The MP said: "The site is one of the largest quiche bakeries in the UK and a leading supplier of chilled soup for supermarkets. As the company embarks on bringing the production of chilled ready meals on board, I am delighted that this signals the confidence and trust that the retailer has in Greencore, which in turn provides long term job opportunities for people in the local community."

Darren Haywood, Site General Manager at Greencore, added: "Alexander has been incredibly helpful and supportive of what we do here. Most recently, he sponsored the Gulliver’s Valley Jobs Fair last month, which gave us the opportunity to showcase the fantastic variety of roles on offer at Greencore. It was my pleasure to have the opportunity to share our exciting plans with Alexander, and to show him around what will be our new state-of-the art food manufacturing site, which is due to open at the end of June. We are grateful for the support that he has given us, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Kiveton later in the year."

Greencore website

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News: MP's call to cancel HS2

Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, continues to call for the national High Speed Two (HS2) project to be scrapped, branding it "a disaster" that "takes money and resources away from levelling up."

There is opposition to the HS2 scheme from within Rotherham since a 2b route realignment was recommended in 2016. The local authority set out that it doesn't want to see the project reach Yorkshire and the Rother Valley MP wants the project scrapped.

The region continues to wait for the Government to publish the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) which is seen as key to large scale transport interventions in the the North.

Speaking in a parliamentary debate, Alexander Stafford said: "I stand here in Westminster Hall today to oppose HS2, as I have opposed it ever since being elected.

"In Rother Valley, a northern seat and a seat that the Government want to level up, we say that we do not want HS2.

"I want to challenge this fallacy that HS2 is involved with levelling up. It is quite the opposite: HS2 takes money and resources away from levelling up. I say that HS2—I am particularly talking about the 2b arm that runs roughshod through my constituency, destroying 400 homes—damages the levelling-up process. Why is that? First of all, we have heard about £150 billion. What my constituency could do with £15 million would be transformative. Give us some of that; do not give us a rail line that we cannot get on to. That money is what we need.

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"On top of that, we have talked about the trans-Pennine route here today; that is what we need. But what I hear from suppliers and construction companies is that there are not enough resources. There is not enough concrete; there are not enough tradesmen at the moment actually to build anything else. That is because HS2 is this gaping maw that is sucking in resources, sucking in money and sucking in everything, but not actually delivering anything. That undermines the whole concept of levelling up, so I say to the Government: we need to stop HS2 and the 2b arm.

"If newspaper reports are to be believed, the 2b arm will be scrapped. I welcome that and I hope the Minister will confirm that. Hundreds of my constituents, whose homes are being destroyed or compulsorily purchased, are being left in limbo. They do not know what is going on. We cannot just mothball it. We need to cancel it so that they can get on with their lives.

"I have one more point: we are destroying 400 homes in the Rother Valley. At the same time, Rotherham council is building new homes on the green belt, which is ridiculous. We are destroying the homes that we have and building on the green belt to make up for the loss. The HS2 project is a disaster, and 2b needs to be fully cancelled."

Phase 2b, which also includes a spur to Sheffield, shows the fast route to Leeds going through the East of Rotherham, affecting Wales, Aston, Ulley, Brampton-en-le–Morthen, Thurcroft, Bramley, Ravenfield and Hooton Roberts.

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News: North / South combine in Levelling Up Fund bid

The towns of Wath in the north of Rotherham, and Dinnington, in the south, are at the heart of a bid to secure £20m from the Government's Levelling Up Fund.

Rotherham Council has submitted three bids to the Government's £4 billion competitive fund that will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

Wath and Dinnington have been designated as areas of growth in terms of new housing and employment and the bid seeks to support and develop these towns and ensure the local community benefits from this growth.

A short masterplanning and design exercise was undertaken in consultation with local stakeholders and Ward Members. From this a first phase of projects has been developed and proposed to Government.

In Wath, the council aims to secure £10.7m to carry out interventions that have a total cost of £12.9m.

The authority said that Wath Library’s age and condition creates an improvement opportunity for a major new focal point and attractor, if re-oriented and set within an attractive space. If the bid is successful, the library will be demolished and replaced with a modern and attractive library with a community hub.

The opportunity to make better use of the car parking also enables full redevelopment of the area surrounding the library and community hub to bring in high-quality public realm and event space. New retail and residential units will then connect the library block to the town centre.

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In Dinnington the council aims to secure £9.2m to carry out interventions that have a total cost of £14m.

Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford has campaigned for the bid to focus on Dinnington High Street, notably the outdoor market indoor market and further retail premises nearby that are not fit for purpose, some without running water and toilet facilities and some which have been burnt out and derelict for several years.

If the bid is successful, the area will be transformed to create new residential and retail with space for an indoor market. The outdoor market will be upgraded and sited within event space and upgraded public realm.

The Council said that it will seek to engage with the private sector to deliver the new retail and residential in both towns.

Alexander Stafford said: "I welcome that RMBC have pulled together a bid for Rother Valley and that our communities have a fair chance of winning their slice of this funding.

“Having lobbied very hard for our high streets and having been a strong advocate for using this money to rejuvenate them, I am pleased that they will form a central part of our bid here in Rother Valley and I look forward to hearing the outcome."

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News: MP sets out his stall on Levelling Up Fund

Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford is campaigning to encourage Rotherham Council to submit a strong bid for the government’s £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund and, if successful, to use these funds to rejuvenate local high streets.

The competitive fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

Rotherham is in the highest priority list and will receive some initial money to work on bids. The council can submit two bids - one bid for every MP whose constituency lies wholly within their boundary (Rotherham & Rother Valley). For Wentworth & Dearne, either Rotherham or Barnsley Council should take responsibility as the lead bidder.

MP's are being asked to back one bid that they see as a priority and Alexander Stafford has accused Rotherham Council of previously neglecting areas in Rother Valley, notably with the Towns Fund application process, in favour of focussing on Rotherham central.

Stafford says that Rother Valley's bid should focus on high streets and shopping areas which "are in a state of unacceptable decline."

Dinnington High Street (pictured) is seen as an ideal candidate for the fund where up to £20m could be used to upgrade eyesore buildings and dated infrastructure, invest in secure community infrastructure and crime prevention, bringing public services and safe community space into the town centre.

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Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said: "It is crucial that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council submits a strong bid to secure the £20m available in grant funding for local projects here in Rother Valley as part of the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

"I believe that our bid should focus on improving our high streets and shopping areas across Rother Valley, making them fit for the future by making them an attractive place to visit and shop."

Conservative Party Chairman and Cabinet Member, Amanda Milling MP, visited Dinnington recently to back the local MP's campaign and hear from Dinnington Community Land Trust who have ambitious but deliverable plans to transform Dinnington High Street.

Milling said: "It was a pleasure to meet with local leaders in Dinnington to discuss plans for local rejuvenation projects as part of the government’s levelling up promise.

"Alexander Stafford MP is running a fantastic campaign to submit a bid for the £20m funding available from the levelling up fund.

"Alexander is leading the charge for levelling up across Rother Valley, from better bus services in Maltby to the rejuvenation of High Street’s across Rother Valley, and I wish him every success in his campaigns."

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News: Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber appointed as Kickstart gateway organisation

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber is helping employers from across the Sheffield City Region to inspire the next generation to take the first step on their career ladders after being appointed as an intermediary to the Government-backed Kickstart programme.

Launched at the beginning of September by the Department of Work and Pensions, Kickstart aims to connect young people with businesses, by providing paid work experience opportunities which are funded by the government.

Designed to help improve the life chances of young people who have been unemployed for more than six months, the scheme is designed to help business owners overcome skills shortages within the workplace with the long term aim of job creation.

Since its appointment, the Chamber has received high levels of demand from business owners working across the Sheffield City Region and within less than a month, it has helped businesses to offer over 120 work placement opportunities.

Developed to help improve the life chances of young people aged 16-24 who have been unable to secure permanent employment, the scheme provides paid work experience for up to six months and aims to help youngsters to become work ready, as well as going on to participate in apprenticeships or future training opportunities.

As part of the Kickstarter scheme, the Chamber acts as a Gateway Organisation between employers and local job centres, who will match suitable candidates with work experience opportunities. Each work placement is advertised through local job centres, and wages are funded by the Government for up to 25 hours per week. Businesses can also claim up to £1500 towards the costs of equipment and training.

The scheme is open to all businesses based in the Sheffield City Region and businesses do not need to be a member of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber to take part in the programme.

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Joada Allen, President, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber said: “The impact of Covid-19, Brexit and an uncertain economic climate has meant many businesses have placed recruitment decisions on hold. The Kickstart programme is a win-win for all involved.

“As a Gateway Organisation, we will be able to help South Yorkshire’s SME community to help young people benefit from a valuable chance to play their part in helping to shape the workforce of the future. We’ve seen high levels of interest in the scheme, illustrating how many employers recognise the importance of inspiring and encouraging the next generation.

“The scheme offers a chance for young people to find out more about the many varied career opportunities on their doorstep and will hopefully act as a stepping stone to realising their potential.”

Kickstart is a £2 billion fund, created by the Department of Work and Pensions aimed at young people aged 16-24 who are in receipt of universal credit and deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment.

Alexander Stafford MP for Rother Valley has called on businesses to get involved. He said: "“We cannot allow young people to be left behind as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Schemes like this will be vital for creating jobs and giving young people the skills needed to access them.”

“I’m delighted that this Conservative Government is putting young people are the heart of its plans to build back stronger after the pandemic, and hope as many as possible in Rother Valley are able to take part.”

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News: MP joins “Levelling Up Taskforce”

Local Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, recently helped to launch the "Levelling Up Taskforce", an initiative spearheaded by Conservative MPs.

The Levelling Up Taskforce will champion ideas to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to make the best of their talents, no matter where they are from. It will work with the thinktank Onward, whose major programme of research on Levelling Up launched in March.

Onward also published the group's first report, titled: "​Measuring up for levelling up."

The report looks at the strengths and weaknesses of different possible measures of progress on levelling up. It recommends that the government carry out geographical analysis of all budgets and fiscal events, setting out the different impacts that specific tax and spending changes will have on different areas. It further recommends that the Treasury's Labour Markets and Distributional Analysis Unit should have geographical analysis added to its remit.

Left behind neighbourhoods are communities that suffer from a combination of social and economic deprivation, poor connectivity, lack of infrastructure and low levels of community engagement.

The Local Trust and APPG "Communities at risk" research report identified 225 "left behind" neighbourhoods across England, up from 206 last year. 28 of these left behind wards are found across Yorkshire and the Humber, which with already pre-existing socio-economic deprivation prior to the pandemic, are suffering more from the economic, social and health impacts of COVID than other areas.

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Alexander Stafford MP is dedicated to championing hyper-local initiatives within his constituency to level-up socio-economic outcomes across Rother Valley.

The Levelling Up Taskforce will be producing a regular newsletter charting progress on levelling up and producing further publications on ways to spread opportunity and boost growth in poorer areas.

Alexander Stafford MP said: "When I was elected last December, I promised that Rother Valley would not be forgotten and have its voice heard at the highest level.

"The levelling up agenda has very strong support in constituencies like mine and I am keen to push forward this message as part of this vital group to help drive forward progress.

"The coronavirus crisis has only made the case for levelling up stronger so we can get the economy moving in areas that are less well off. There is a lot of untapped potential in parts of our country that have felt left behind for a long time. Now is the time to really hammer forward with the levelling up agenda."

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News: Possible restoration for Rotherham rail routes

A number of underutilised rail routes passing through the Rotherham borough could be brought back to life as the Government looks to reopen lines and stations closed during the Beeching cuts.

The Department for Transport launched a £500m Restoring Your Railway Fund and invited MPs, local councils and community groups across England and Wales to propose how they could use funding to reinstate axed local services and restore closed stations.

Of the more than 50 proposals submitted, three involve underused lines in Rotherham.

The South Yorkshire Joint Railway, championed by Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, runs from Worksop through to Doncaster, and was created to serve collieries on the way. Stations include Anston, Dinnington and Laughton, Maltby and Tickhill and Wadworth. It opened to freight on in 1909, and to passengers in 1910. It is now only used for freight services.

Stafford, who has raised the issue in Parliament, said: "Improving connectivity is a critical part of Boris's levelling up agenda and I will continue pushing to see our buses and trains improved."

Another submission is based around a new station at Waverley, one of the UK's most important brownfield regeneration projects which includes a new community of up to 3,890 homes alongside the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

The potential station was one of a number of proposals for improving rail services in Rotherham that featured in a new strategic plan launched last year by the Sheffield city region (SCR).

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The bid centres on a new Waverley Station on the Sheffield-Lincoln Line (which skirts the Southern edge of the Waverley site and also serves Kiveton) and is linked to the third bid, which is further developed, for the restoration of passenger services on the Barrow Hill line between Sheffield and Chesterfield.

Whilst the South Yorkshire Joint Railway and Waverley bids have only recently been submitted, the Barrow Hill bid was successful in this first round of the Ideas Fund.

Sheffield City Region Combined Authority papers explain: "The restoration proposal for the Barrow Hill Line is to allow passenger services to use the current freight route between the Sheffield-Worksop-Lincoln Line and the Midland Main Line and as an alternative means of connecting Sheffield and Chesterfield. This will provide an opportunity to link existing communities with limited public transport to these employment hubs. The line reinstatement would also support existing strategic housing allocations at Waverley in Rotherham and a number of potential future allocations within the Sheffield Local Plan."

Services would run between Sheffield Victoria or Sheffield Midland, along the existing Sheffield-Worksop-Lincoln line as far as Beighton before transferring to the restored route as far as Tapton Junction where they would join the Midland Mainline for a short stretch into Chesterfield.

The Combined Authority is already working up wider plans to improve the infrastructure around Waverley and is also looking at how it can expand the success of the AMP into a wider innovation corridor.

Absent from the recent authority or government documents is an update on a potential new Rotherham Mainline Station.

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News: New MP uses debut to focus on fracking

Alexander Stafford, the new Rother Valley MP, has used his debut appearance in the House of Commons to call for the current fracking ban to be made permanent.

The government ended support for fracking in November on the basis of a report by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), which found that it is not currently possible to accurately predict the probability or magnitude of earthquakes linked to fracking operations.

Exploratory work to determine whether shale could be a new domestic energy source, delivering benefits for our economy and energy security, has now been paused - unless and until further evidence is provided that it can be carried out safely here.

Rotherham has seen two planning applications from oil and gas exploration and production business, INEOS, for similar test drilling wells. It was successful at a public inquiry over its Harthill application and appealed against a refusal for a site at Woodsetts.

A decision on the Woodsetts application is expected in April.

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During a debate on climate change, Stafford asked the Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng: "Will my right hon. Friend agree with the residents of Woodsetts and Harthill in Rother Valley that the best way his Department can tackle climate change is to make the moratorium on fracking permanent?"

In reply, the minister said: "On fracking, the moratorium is what it says: we are stopping it. The only way it can be resumed is by compelling evidence, which so far is not forthcoming. So the moratorium stays and fracking, for the time being, is over."

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