News: Manvers White Water Course project launched

A proposed new £14m water rescue training facility in Rotherham could also provide access to water sports and outdoor adventure.

Having been discussed for a number of years, an official launch recently took place for the White Water Course Project at Manvers Lake, where Sports Minister, Stephanie Peacock MP, got an update of the plans.

Manvers Lake is central to the massive Waterfront regeneration project which includes 450 homes, business parks, hotel, retail outlets and neighbourhood facilities. Operated by a trust, a boat club provides facilities for sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and other activities, while the lake also supports open water swimming, fishing, and cycling.

The Manvers White Water Course is planned to provide a world class training facility for fire and rescue services and other emergency services that will also offer international-standard paddling facilities due to the unique dual water channels.

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Proposals involve a pump fed Whitewater Channel at North Bay for the combined use of recreation and flood rescue and training. A pumphouse will lift water at a rate of up to 10 cubic metres every second, 3 metres [10 feet] from the lake into a start pool out of which the water will flow down the course back into the lake.

The water is designed to flow at a variety of volumes and speeds from still to a torrent such that training and coaching of the Olympic sports of Whitewater Canoe slalom and Extreme slalom competition, can take place.

John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, said: “This project will be a big boost for the Dearne Valley. It will create jobs, bring more visitors into our area and give our fire and rescue crews the proper training base they need. The Trust has worked hard to get to this stage, and there is real backing behind the plans. With the right support, we can get this built and delivering for our area.”

Ashley Metcalfe, CEO of Paddle UK, added: "It is a really exciting opportunity for white water paddling – from community paddling, to talent development and beyond. We have a fantastic opportunity to be part of the project and are very much looking forward to supporting Manvers Lake to fulfil our aspirations.”

Last year the trust secured £22,500 of feasibility funding for the project from The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Manvers Lake website

Images: Manvers Lake Trust / Paddle UK

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News: Expansion plans approved in same week Rotherham pub suffers fire

Plans that enable a pub to expand in Rotherham town centre were approved just days after the building suffered a fire attended by several fire crews.

The Rhinoceros pub on Bridgegate was one of 16 pubs put up for sale by J D Wetherspoons in 2019.

Known locally as "Rhinos," the pub has operated independently from Wetherspoon but was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The property twice went unsold at auction at the end of 2021 from a guide price of £495,000 and being let on a seven year lease from October 2019 at a rent of £104,000 per annum.

The pub is named after the Rhinoceros Vase, which was made in 1826 at the nearby Rockingham Pottery Works. At the time of its production the 1.15m high vase was the largest piece of porcelain to have been fired in one piece anywhere in the world.

Owners, Essex-based Cape Designs ltd, have been progressing plans to extend the pub into the adjoining unit that they also own.

The former retail unit and amusement arcade next door has been vacant since at least 2017 and is being incorporated into the pub with the opening up of an internal door. The redevelopment is set to double the size of the pub to almost 10,000 sq ft.

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Without going to planning board, Rotherham Council approved the plans on July 20, stating that: "It is considered that in this instance, as the proposal is to extend an existing public house, and as it would bring the premises back into use, the proposal is acceptable in principle."

On July 16, South Yorkshire Police confirmed that: "Several fire crews attended a derelict building fire at 10:35pm on Bridgegate in Rotherham Town Centre. The fire also spread to a gym next door. The fire is believed to have started accidentally. Crews left the scene at 2:05pm."

The Revolution Gym above the pub was reportedly found with a cannabis farm set up in 2021. Auction documents stated that the extensive upper floor accommodation could be converted to residential or other uses, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

Adjacent to the site, plans were approved in 2021 to convert empty retail premises into six flats. The former Walmsley furniture store is Grade II listed having been built in the mid 18th century as a townhouse. Most recently a Poundstretcher, it was bought prior to going to auction at the end of 2020 with a guide price of £110,000.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Another fire at Rotherham recycling site

A recycling site at Kilnhurst in Rotherham has suffered another fire - an annual event for the past three years.

Firefighters were called to the scene at Moulding Solutions Ltd and Universal Recycling on Wharf Road at just after 9:30am on Sunday morning.

Six fire crews were at a warehouse fire using hose reels to tackle the blaze which was put out a few hours later. The multi agency response included police, The Environment Agency and utilities attending.

Following an investigation into the cause of the fire, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) concluded yesterday that it was accidental due to a battery catching fire.

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The site is shared by Moulding Solutions Ltd, a major recycler servicing general industry, recycling end of life, scrap and redundant plastics, and The London Wiper Company Ltd which trades as Universal Recycling and specialises in recycling metals.

Reccomended reading: How Industrial Fires Affect Business Sustainability in Rotherham

In June 2018 12 fire engines and 60 firefighters tackled a large fire at the site. In May 8 2017 another fire destroyed part of the Universal Recycling's stock but Moulding Solutions Ltd was unaffected. An investigation indicated that the fire started accidentally due to machinery.

SYFR website

Images: Google

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News: Slow progress on Guest & Chrimes

Rotherham United chairman, Tony Stewart has admitted that progress has been on slow on the proposed redevelopment of the former Guest & Chrimes site where a recent fire led to part of the Grade II listed building being demolished.

Rothbiz reported on the fire at the former factory on the edge of Rotherham town centre in July. Following recent structural surveys, the historic frontage facing the River Don has been completely demolished.

Opened in 1857, the history of the works is of national and international significance due to the role of the Guest & Chrimes business in pioneering the design and manufacture of brass valves and screw-down taps across the world. The firm once employed thousands.

The large premises are on Don Street between Rotherham Council's Riverside House and Rotherham United's New York Stadium.

Empty since 1999, the site was purchased by Rotherham Council for £2.6m from developers, Evans in 2010 and is now controlled by the football club which has a very long lease from the Council.

The town centre masterplan outlined an aim for Guest & Chrimes to create a focus for recreation and sporting activity in the town. The club has been in ongoing talks with investors regarding a trampoline centre, as well as discussions with Historic England (formerly English Heritage) over the reuse of the site.

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Tony Stewart, chairman of Rotherham United (pictured), told a recent fan's forum: "We're monitoring it closely with English Heritage and the council. There have been two or three propositions that we've put forward. I think we've had 15 or so meetings with English Heritage, the progress is slow, but it's progress."

The masterplan stated that Historic England will be positive and flexible if the "right" conservation approach is taken.

Details such as the water tower, front range (now demolished), waterside entrance (now demolished) and general layout of the buildings are highlighted but the masterplan concluded: "As many of these features as possible should be retained or incorporated, but it is recognised by all that change and some demolition will be necessary to deliver a viable and deliverable scheme."

Consultants for the club, Gleeds, estimated that it would take an investment of £8.8m just to bring the current property up to a marketable condition and said that there had been little interest from developers in doing so.

Don Street, which passes between the building and the River Don, is used by fans accessing the family stand and away stand at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The section of the Trans Pennine Trail which runs along the river has recently been reopened.

Also at the fan's forum, Steve Coakley, commercial director at the Championship club was asked about the remaining units inside the £20m stadium that hosted its first game in 2012.

Coakley said: "Once something happens with Guest and Chrimes, I think the value of those corner units will be significantly more. It acts as a bit of a barrier to the town centre. There have been opportunities in the past but they haven't been right."

Current tenants include the club's own community sports trust and the Mears construction academy.

RUFC website

Images: Tom Austen / RUFC

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News: Fire at former Guest & Chrimes building

An investigation is underway into a fire that broke out over the weekend at the historic former factory used by Guest & Chrimes on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

Five fire engines from Rotherham, Elm Lane, Parkway, Maltby and Aston Park stations were called to the scene at 3:50am on Sunday morning, July 1.

Well alight when crews arrived, the large premises are on Don Street between Rotherham Council's Riverside House and Rotherham United's New York Stadium.

Firefighters used hose reels to tackle the blaze and there was a large amount of smoke in the area. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) took to social media to urge people in the area to keep doors and windows closed.

SYFR said that an investigation into the cause of the fire would take place once it is completely out and structural assessments of the Grade II listed building will have been undertaken.

Opened in 1857, the history of the works is of national and international significance due to the role of the Guest & Chrimes business in pioneering the design and manufacture of brass valves and screw-down taps across the world. The firm once employed thousands.

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Empty since 1999, the site was purchased by Rotherham Council for £2.6m from developers, Evans in 2010 and is now controlled by the football club which has a very long lease from the Council.

The club gave an update on the site in September last year after the town centre masterplan outlined an aim to create a focus for recreation and sporting activity in the town.

Talks had been ongoing with investors regarding a trampoline centre as well as discussions with Historic England over the reuse of the site.

The masterplan states that Historic England will be positive and flexible if the "right" conservation approach is taken.

Details such as the water tower, front range, waterside entrance and general layout of the buildings are highlighted but the masterplan concludes: "As many of these features as possible should be retained or incorporated, but it is recognised by all that change and some demolition will be necessary to deliver a viable and deliverable scheme."

Consultants for the club, Gleeds, estimated that it would take an investment of £8.8m just to bring the current property up to a marketable condition and said that there had been little interest from developers in doing so.

Images: Rotherham Central Neighbourhood Policing Team

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News: Plans passed for new fish & chip restaurant in former fire station

From fighting fires to filling fryers, from fireman's pole to lemon sole. Maltby's former fire station is set be converted into a fish & chip restaurant and takeaway after plans were approved by the planning board at Rotherham Council, despite a number of objections.

Rothbiz reported in April that proposals had been put forward to turn the 3,500 sq ft purpose built fire station on the High Street into a chip shop with the main area, which would have housed the fire engines, used as a restaurant with the roller shutter doors replaced by new windows.

Moving to a new joint operation at Maltby in 2017, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue closed its High Street site and put it up for sale at £250,000 through agents, Fernie Greaves.

The change of use plans, which would create 20 jobs, were discussed at a meeting of the planning board last week. A number of objections had been received, mainly based on the fact that the High Street already has a number of takeaways but also on noise and transport.

Only 51% of premises on the main frontage in Maltby are A1 retail uses, below the 65% target in the Council's policy. The application site is considered an edge of centre location and other potential sites around Maltby have been discounted as being too small.

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The site is allocated for community use but applicant, John Radford, explained to the board: "The application is for a quality restaurant with ancillary takeaway with off street parking - the takeaway is part of the restaurant and would close at 10pm and would not sell alcohol or offer a delivery service.

"The restaurant and takeaway will be both owned and run by a local man with many year's experience in the proposed use."

Radford confirmed that the accepted sealed bid for the property was £295,000, making potential community use unviable. He added that additional costs for demolition and leveling the site means that housing on the site would also be unviable.

Cllr. John Kirk raised Maltby Town Council's concerns at the meeting. He said: "We need new restaurants and new facilities in Maltby but we do object very strongly to another takeaway. The joke is that we've got more takeaways than doctors in Maltby."

A policy which stated that hot food takeaways will not be permitted where they are within 800 metres of a primary school, secondary school or college, was thrown out by the Government's planning inspector last year.

Cllr. John Williams, member of the planning board, lamented the loss of community buildings but supported the plans, stating: "This is a prominent, key building on the local High Street and I think what we've got in this application is a proposal to bring it back into use, based on a business model that we know that works."

Members of the planning board voted unanimously to approve the application.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Large fire at Rotherham recycling site

12 fire engines and 60 firefighters tackled a large fire at a recycling centre in Kilnhurst, Rotherham yesterday, just over a year after a previous fire on the site.

Firefighters were called to the scene at around 4:30pm on Sunday to Moulding Solutions Ltd and Universal Recycling on Wharf Road where plumes of thick smoke could be seen for miles around.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) called on specialist vehicles including detection and monitoring equipment, a high volume pump and a turntable ladder.

Fire officers urged people to avoid the area and for local residents, officers advised them to keep all windows and doors shut due to the smoke within the area.

Wharf Road was closed wit a cordon put in place while firefighters dealt with the blaze. The site is close to relatively new housing developments by Gleeson and Gladedale (now Avant Homes).

The fire service took to social media to keep people up to date on the incident stating that they expected residents would be able to travel as usual today. Two fire engines remained this morning, largely damping down the fire.

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SYFR confirmed that no-one was injured in the incident and said in a statement: "Officers would like to thank the local community for their understanding and patience while work is underway to deal with incident and ensure everyone's safety."

Moulding Solutions Ltd is a major recycler servicing general industry, recycling end of life, scrap and redundant plastics.

Investing in new shredders and granulators, the firm can process four tonnes per hour, taking in scrap and redundant stock from manufacturers and selling on polymers and compounds.

Moulding Solutions shares the Kilnhurst site with The London Wiper Company Ltd, trading as Universal Recycling.

Universal Recycling expanded in 2014 as it looked to grow. However, prices and market forces in the recycling have hit turnover which dropped by £10m between 2015 and 2016.

The company has targeted the WEEE recycling market, investing in a facility to recover various metal components from electric and electronic waste.

A fire at the premises on May 8 2017 destroyed part of the company's stock but Moulding Solutions Ltd was unaffected. An investigation indicated that the fire started accidentally due to machinery.

Moulding Solutions Ltd website
Universal Recycling website
SYFR website

Images: SYFR

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News: Manufacturer and garden centre both hit by fires

More than 40 firefighters were called to deal with a blaze at an industrial premises at Dinnington, while hours later, five fire engines attended a fire near to a popular garden centre at Thrybergh.

At the Hodge Clemco premises on Todwick Road, crews were called to the incident at around 5.20pm on Tuesday. Eight fire engines, plus a turntable ladder, were at the scene with a building around 40 metres by 50 metres in size containing plastic and other materials was well alight.

Leading the way in surface preparation since 1959, Hodge Clemco is a leading supplier and manufacturer of abrasive blast cleaning and surface treatment equipment. The customer base includes the MOD, Rolls-Royce and a large number of blue chip companies across a vast area of sectors. It is part of the historic Samuel Hodge group of companies.

In 2014, the Group acquired Dinnington-based Mac'Ants Abrasives, the supplier of abrasive material used in sandblasting and manufacturing taking employee numbers up to 180 and a combined turnover in excess of £25m.

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A large amount of smoke in the area meant that residents living nearby were advised to stay indoors and keep their windows and doors closed. A caution was placed on a railway line to the rear of the premises.

Aston Park, Birley Moor, Rotherham, Maltby, Parkway and Central fire stations all mobilised crews to the incident and left the scene around 2am.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) said that the early indications were that the fire started accidentally.

Recommended reading: A Guide to Claiming Compensation for Workplace Accidents

Crews were called to an incident close to Foster's Garden Centre shortly before 9pm on Tuesday.

A building around 40 metres by 20 metres in size was well alight and around 25 firefighters used hose reels to tackle the blaze. Again, residents were being advised to keep windows and doors closed.

Firefighters left the incident in Thrybergh at around 1am and SYFR said that an investigation into the cause of the fire is taking place this morning.

SYFR website

Images: SYFR

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News: Out of the chip pan and into the fire station

What could be batter? A former fire station in Rotherham could be the perfect plaice for a new fish and chip restaurant and takeaway, as new plans are served up.

Moving to a new joint operation at Maltby in 2017, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue closed its site on the High Street nearby and put it up for sale at £250,000 through agents, Fernie Greaves.

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Totalling 3,500 sq ft, the property comprises a purpose built fire station being principally single storey to the main appliance bay and associated offices, however linked to this is a two storey area providing ground floor amenity welfare facilities together with a first floor dormitory.

The site also benefits from ample car parking.

A recently submitted planning application for a change of use shows how the main area, which would have housed the fire engines, could be converted into a restaurant with the roller shutter doors replaced by new windows. The kitchens, takeaway area and a waiting room, complete with firefighter's pole, are also shown.

Applicant, John Radford, said in the plans that the cost of the property, and demolition and development costs, would make other uses unviable.

He added: "The building was put up for sale by the South Yorkshire Fire Authority in November 2017 and had it on the market for three months. It did not go to auction but interested parties had to submit sealed bids after the three months. Several bids were submitted but the one relating to this statement [planning application] was successful."

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Adjacent to the former fire station, Rotherham Council is using external funding to create new types of housing accommodation on the site of the former library.

The authority recently cancelled a planning application to determine whether prior approval is required of the method of demolition of the former fire station. However, its plans have progressed regarding the demolition of the former community library.

Images: Google Maps / Fernie Greaves

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News: Serious fire breaks out at proposed site for new Lidl

Just hours after a consultation event over proposals for a new Lidl store in Rotherham, the building on the identified site was destroyed by fire.

Rothbiz reported first on German global discount chain, Lidl, bringing forward plans for a new store that would create around 40 jobs.

Firefighters were called at 2:10am this morning to a large fire at the former Dalton Progressive Working Men's Club on Doncaster Road. The disused building was well alight when fire crews arrived. At the height of the fire there were six fire engines in attendance.

The building was vacated after the club fell into administration in 2016.

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South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said that firefighters worked hard to tackle the fire including putting in fire breaks to try and prevent the fire from spreading to other properties. At 8am the fire was under control with three fire engines still at the scene.

Firefighters will remain there damping down for most of the morning and once the fire is completely out then the investigation into the cause of it can begin.

Agents for Lidl, Walshingham Planning, held a consultation event at Dalton Parish Hall on Thursday.

Details submitted to the Council show that the store would be around 22,000 sq ft, providing 14,000 sq ft of sales floorspace. 80% of which would be used for convenience goods and 20% for seasonal non-food items. A 132 space car park is also being planned.

The incident comes just months after a large fire at a disused former council building on nearby Dalton Lane.

A planning application has recently been submitted in order to approve the demolition of the remaining structure, previously known as Millside. The plans state that the aim is to ready the site for future redevelopment as housing.

Lidl website

Images: SYFR / Walshingham Planning

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News: Large fire at former Rotherham training centre

Firefighters have spent several hours tackling a large fire at a disused former council building on Dalton Lane in Dalton, Rotherham.

At the height of the incident there were five fire crews from Rotherham, Maltby, Aston, Parkway and Dearne along with an Aerial Ladder Platform.

The former Millside Learning and Development Centre, which was sold off by Rotherham Council, was well alight when crews arrived at the scene just after 7pm on Thursday evening, with the front and roof area on fire.

Firefighters worked hard to bring the fire under control. Fire crews left the scene at around 2am on Friday morning.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will now take place.

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The freehold of the site, which includes former school buildings, went up for sale at auction in January 2017. Totaling 1.46 acres, the site includes buildings with a footprint of approximately 10,000 sq ft and comprised predominantly single storey brick buildings with interlocking pitched tiled roofs.

The lot details said that "the property has suffered as a result of vandalism and the interior is in a very poor state of repair and considered to be hazardous."

Auctioneers, Mark Jenkinson & Son, sold the lot for £175,000.

Currently zoned for community use, the site has been put forward for residential use in the forthcoming Local Plan. It has been assessed that it could have capaity for 38 dwellings.

In July, a planning application was submitted that would enable the partial demolition of buildings and restoration of the site, but it was never validated and therefore never approved. The applicant was Haris Automotives, the car sales business based in nearby Eastwood.

Rothbiz reported in September that discount retailer Lidl had opened discussions with Rotherham Council over a proposed new store on the nearby site of Dalton Progressive Working Men's Club.

Images: SY Fire & Rescue / Mark Jenkinson & Son

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News: Rotherham supermarket saved by sprinklers

Fire officers are repeating calls for businesses to fit sprinklers, after the devices saved a Rotherham supermarket from suffering a serious blaze.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) firefighters attended the incident at Asda Rotherham, Aldwarke Lane in July after a fryer caught fire in the cafe.

But the fire was already out when crews from Rotherham and Dearne stations arrived, there was virtually no fire or water damage and the store was quickly reopened - all thanks to sprinklers which had been fitted to suppress the fire.

Amy Jenkinson, business fire safety manager at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: "The fire suppression systems installed by Asda were sophisticated, worked effectively and completely extinguished the fire. There is no doubt that having sprinkler systems like this in place can save businesses massive amounts of time and money by limiting losses of stock and custom in the event that a fire does occur."

The fire service added that sprinklers are the most effective way of ensuring that fires are suppressed or even extinguished before the fire service can arrive. They save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters who attend incidents and reduce the amount of damage to both property and the environment from fire.

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Currently, only commercial premises greater than 20,000 sq m (215,000 sq ft) must have sprinkler systems installed. SYFR adopted a position statement last year which specifically advocated the use of sprinklers and other fire suppression systems in non-domestic premises and high-risk residential settings.

SYFR offers a number of services aimed at businesses. Part of that includes promoting better understanding of the benefits of sprinklers, encouraging building owners, developers, architects and designers to incorporate sprinkler systems where there is a risk-based case for doing so, particularly where the risks to people are unacceptable high, or where there is a clear business case in terms of cost and benefit.

The position statement added: "Irrespective of size, there is a compelling case to be made for sprinklers in any commercial premises, on the basis of loss of production or interruption to business as a result of fire. Approximately 85% of small and medium businesses suffering a serious fire either never recover or cease trading within 18 months.

"The installation of sprinklers in these types of premises will aid growth in the economy as fewer businesses will cease to trade, losses from fire will reduce and fewer businesses will be forced to relocate. The impact of the loss of trade and jobs to the economy of South Yorkshire can be minimised by the installation of sprinklers."

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue website

Images: SYFR

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News: Fire at historic Rotherham building

The Howard Building, the derelict former college building in Rotherham town centre, has suffered a large fire which could mean that redevelopment plans have also gone up in smoke.

One person was rescued using a ladder as at least four fire engines attended the scene on Howard Street after being called at 8:40 this morning. The ambulance service and South Yorkshire Police also attended the scene.

Now suffering from vandalism and damaged even before today's fire, the prominent four storey building opened in the 1930's. It previously operated as part of the college and also housed the council's environmental health teams and a day nursery before being sold prior to going to auction in 2014.

Revised plans to convert the historic building into self-contained studios and apartments were approved by the planning board at Rotherham Council in 2015.

With little evidence of the conversion into twelve, one bed apartments and 60 studio apartments at "Howard Residencies", applicants, AVRO Developments headed into insolvency, with Rotherham Council leading the petition in 2015 to have the company wound up - likely to be for non-payment of business rates.

Cllr. Emma Hoddinott, cabinet member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety at Rotherham Council, tweeted how she was "angry about how private owner has let this happen" adding that the "council has already taken enforcement action against them."

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Crown Union Ltd and DS7 Ltd submitted plans earlier this year to amend the scheme but they have not yet been approved. A company called 2380 REVERSIONS LTD is now responsible for paying rates on the building.

AVRO, Crown Union Ltd, DS7 Ltd and 2380 REVERSIONS LTD all share directors and links to previous "dubious" property investment schemes.

Rothbiz reported last year how the Rotherham scheme is linked to Absolute Living Developments, Fresh Start Living and Empirical Property, all highlighted in the media as leaving buy-to-let investors out of pocket.

Howard Residencies is currently being offered as an investment opportunity by Crown Union. It is offered as an "Ideal purchase for investors looking at UK Buy To Let's as a way of getting onto the first rung of the property investment ladder. From dynamic apartment layouts to classic period façade and stonework surrounds, this redevelopment brings together Rotherham past and present to create a truly unique place to live for post-graduates, young professionals & key workers."

Starter pads and 1 bed apartments are being offered at £51,449 and £72,049 with an 8% ROI per annum.

Although not listed, the Howard Building is however highlighted in Rotherham Civic Society's local list of buildings which are considered to be of definite quality and character. It reads: "Built at a cost of £87,000, of which £9,000 was contributed by the Miners Welfare Committee, it was designed by Messrs Scott & Sons of Norwich. Although built primarily of red brick it incorporates probably the most extensive use of Portland Stone of any building in the Town Centre."

Images: Tom Austen / SYFR

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News: Construction starts on Rotherham shared station

Kier Construction has begun work on the project to create a new joint police and fire station in Rotherham.

The project at Maltby won Government Transformation Funding of £560,000 last year and will help save both South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue money by sharing building running costs. It will also improve services by making it easier for police and firefighters to share knowledge, skills and expertise when tackling common issues, like anti-social behaviour and road traffic collisions. In a similar way, it will also help both organisations to reach the most vulnerable members of the community.

Maltby fire station will close and Maltby police station will be modified to accommodate fire service vehicles and staff, under the plans approved by Rotherham Council last year.

Chief Fire Officer James Courtney, Police & Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police Superintendent Sarah Poolman and Fire Authority member Cllr Pat Haith attended an event to formally begin work on the site.

James Courtney, Chief Fire Officer at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: "This move makes perfect sense for us, for the police and for the taxpayer. Instead of having two public buildings, and all the running costs associated with them, we will be able to combine our resources into one facility to provide a more efficient frontline service.

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

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Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "The move to accommodate both South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue staff under one roof is a huge step in our commitment to the public to reduce costs and work more collaboratively.

"The diminishing government grants for both organisations are requiring all of us to be most cost effective, whilst still providing the same levels of service. I hope that the police and fire station will prove to be a successful pilot and we can identify further opportunities for blue light services to work together."

Superintendent Sarah Poolman of South Yorkshire Police, added: "The layout of this purpose-built facility will assist internal information and intelligence sharing among police staff, as it's better designed to help meet the demands of modern policing, demands that have changed substantially since the existing station was constructed many years ago on Main Street.

"We envisage that sharing the building with our partners at the Fire and Rescue Service will improve both parties input into collaborative projects too, delivering a better coordinated service to the public."

The new facility is expected to open in spring 2017.

The third high profile public sector project in the borough, Kier is also the lead contractor on the Urgent Care Centre at Rotherham Hospital and the redevelopment of Oakwood School.

Kier Construction website

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News: Good year at Magna dampened by fire

A fire at the former Sterecycle plant at the weekend, which led to Magna being evacuated and two Christmas party nights for a total of 1,400 people being cancelled, was a dampener on what had been a positive 12 months for the Rotherham corporate venue and visitor attraction.

About 2,000 tonnes of plastic was involved in the incident which saw six fire engines called to the blaze at around 1.30pm on Saturday.

John Silker, chief executive at Magna, said: "We really felt for all the people who had their Christmas parties cancelled at such short notice, but we had no choice because of the smoke in the building. We have been working hard to sort out refunds for everyone as quickly as we can.

"We took advice from South Yorkshire Fire Service who worked so professionally in difficult circumstances and sadly had to cancel the parties and close the centre on Sunday, but Magna is just about back to normal now."

Magna is the UK's first science adventure centre and is set in the former Templeborough steelworks. It is a family attraction with more than 100 hands-on exhibits. It also hosts regular school trips and has event space that can cater for anything from 30 people up to 3,000.

Six other party nights in December had gone ahead as planned, with more than 4,000 party-goers attending in total. Bookings secured within this financial year have put Magna well on target to achieve over a £1m turnover by the end of 2014-2015.

Events in 2014 have included conferences for blue chip companies such as Mercedes Benz, Honda, HSBC and the Royal Mail; an exhibition by an industrial tool distributor; a pool tournament; a jobs fair; Weston Park Hospital's annual charity dinner, and a tattoo convention. Magna’s first Winter Wonderland weekend earlier this month also attracted more than 4,500 visitors.

In May Magna played host to the prestigious Yorkshire International Business Convention for the first time, with speakers including John Prescott, Michael Portillo and Robert Peston. Organisers were so impressed they have booked to bring the convention back to Magna in 2015.

Silker added: "We are thrilled to have massively increased the value of corporate bookings at Magna and to have had such a busy 2014. Word is spreading about what a great venue this is and we look forward to attracting further growth in 2015. This year we have attracted substantially more large national events and next year we hope to increase this further to secure international business."

Sterecycle, once valued at £56m, operated the Sheffield Road site since August 2008. The world's first commercial scale autoclave plant grew in terms of capacity and job numbers. It had impressed royals, government ministers and investors. Last month, Sterecycle (Rotherham) Limited was found guilty of corporate manslaughter following the fatality at the Rotherham facility in 2011. The firm called in administrators in 2012 following delays in raising finance on the Canadian stock exchange and "a significant downturn in trading results following a substantial fall in global recyclate prices."

Magna website

Images: Magna

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News: Dearne Fire Station official opening

Councillor Roger Stone OBE, leader of the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, will officially open South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue's new Dearne Community Fire Station at the event on October 1.

The new £5.5 million station, which has the capacity to house four fire engines, was built by North Midland Building Ltd. The 3.5 acre site will also be home to a state-of-the-art training facility for the fire service's Technical Rescue Unit and a community room for local residents to use for meetings and events.

The training facility has been specially designed to be set on fire several times a day and create realistic conditions likely to be encountered in many types of real fire situations.

It is also designed to be environmentally sustainable and incorporates the use of 100m deep ground source heat pumps linked to the underfloor heating, rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic panels.

The centre was designed by Bond Bryan who worked with project managers Turner & Townsend.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue's Chief Fire Officer Mark Smitherman said: "We are delighted with our new purpose designed building here in Dearne.

"The facilities offer an excellent base for the firefighters who provide the community with a first-class emergency response service.

"It not only offers considerable operational benefits and community facilities but its environmental features will greatly increase the sustainability of this important building for decades to come."

North Midland Building's managing director Mike Catlin added: "All our staff involved in this project can be proud of their achievements in delivering a high quality and attractive building in a cost effective and timely manner.

"With the facility offering services and use to the local community as well as fire protection, it is even more pleasing that local residents will also benefit from and enjoy the use of the development.

"Not only has NMB delivered a state of the art fire station, but the green features within the building means that as well as having a reduced carbon footprint, it will also cost less to operate."

SY Fire website

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News: Dearne fire station sets on fire several times a day

The recently opened £5.5m Dearne community fire station sets on fire several times a day.

National architectural practice Bond Bryan describes the fire training facility on the site as the most technologically advanced in the UK.

It has been specially designed to be set on fire several times a day and create realistic conditions likely to be encountered in many types of real fire situations.

Stephen Mitchell, associate director at Bond Bryan admits the building was an unusual brief: "Designing a building which has to be frequently, and safely, set on fire demands an alternative design approach from our standard practice of ensuring buildings don't catch fire.

"For the training building we had to provide a range of realistic scenarios that fire-fighters may experience in real emergencies, such as live carbonaceous burns, working at height and flash-over training. Sophisticated specialist computer controlled equipment ensures scenarios can be created and accurately reproduced on demand."

Constructed by North Midland Building Ltd, the facility is built of reinforced concrete, robust engineering bricks and dense block work and is designed to last much longer.

It is also designed to be environmentally sustainable and incorporates the use of 100m deep ground source heat pumps linked to the underfloor heating, rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic panels.

Additionally, a wild flower meadow has been planted to increase biodiversity and provide habitats for new species of insects and wildlife. Bond Bryan worked with project managers Turner & Townsend on the building.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue website
Bond Bryan website

Images: South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue

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News: £5.5m fire station opens in Dearne

The new £5.5m Dearne community fire station has become operational at Manvers Way in Rotherham.

Designed by Bond Bryan Architects, the facility has been under construction since May 2009. It has been built by North Midland Building Ltd, based in Sutton-In-Ashfield.

As well as having the capacity to house four fire engines it will also be home to a state-of-the-art training facility for the fire service's Technical Rescue Unit and house a community room for local residents to use for meetings and events.

Dearne station will replace the stations at Mexborough and Brampton, although Brampton will remain open until the new Cudworth station in the east of Barnsley is fully operational in the spring.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue's Chief Fire Officer Mark Smitherman said: "The location of our new station means we can maintain our target emergency response times to the Brampton and Mexborough areas, and vastly improve our response to the area around Thurnscoe.

It has also created new jobs for part-time firefighters in the local area and it gives us the scope to further improve the specialist training we give to our firefighters."

North Midland Building's Managing Director Mike Catlin said: "All our staff involved in this project can be proud of their achievements in delivering to the client a high quality and attractive building in a cost effective and timely manner. With the facility offering services and use to the local community as well as fire protection it is even more pleasing that local residents will also benefit from and enjoy the use of the development.

"Not only have NMB delivered a state of the art fire station, the green features within the building mean that as well as having a reduced carbon footprint it will also cost less to operate."

South Yprkshire Fire & Rescue website
Rotherham

Images: syfire.gov.uk

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News: New fire station for Dearne approved

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has been granted approval for a new £5.5million community fire station and training centre in the Dearne Valley. SYFR has taken ownership of the 3.5 acre site on Manvers Way which will have the capacity to house four fire appliances and will feature a bespoke training facility for the Service's Technical Rescue Unit (TRU), which will move from its current base at Rotherham Fire Station. The station will also have a community room for members of the local community to use for meetings and events. Building work is due to start in April this year, with the station set for completion by March 2010 and the TRU training facility due to be ready by May 2010. Plans were drawn up by Bond Bryan Architects and gainined planning approval last November. It will be constructed by North Midland Building Ltd, based in Sutton-In-Ashfield. SYFR's Chief Fire Officer Mark Smitherman said: "The new Dearne Fire Station will enable us to provide an excellent emergency response to the main residential areas in the Dearne Valley. In addition to this, we will also have a state-of-the-art training facility, which allows us to further improve the level of training we give to all of our firefighters."
SYFR website
Rotherham

Image: Bond Bryan

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