Sheffield: Objections to demolition of historic house
A heritage group has objected to the proposed demolition of a Victorian house which is a symbol of an important benchmark in electoral history.The property in the Walkley area of Sheffield was built on a plot of land bought by a land society in an attempt to help more working-class men qualify for the right to vote.Developer Time Architects has been granted planning consent to remove the 19th Century house and replace it with three apartments.Hallamshire Historic Buildings member Robin Hughes said: "It isn't that nothing is ever allowed to change, but we need to make choices about what we'd like to keep and what keeps reminding us of who we are."
The house's origins came about from strict voting laws which did not change until 1918, when all men were granted the right to cast their ballot in elections.Before that, there were thresholds for eligibility based around land and property values. From 1832, a man had to own assets worth £2 a year to be enfranchised. The sum put voting beyond the reach of the working classes.This rule led to the formation of freehold land societies, which bought land and divided it into smaller plots which could be paid for in weekly instalments to enable the owner to qualify for voting rights.In Walkley the Freedom Hill Land Society was formed in 1851, but the house is an unusual survivor as most of the owners used their plots to create allotments rather than build on them.Mr Hughes said the building was a reminder for local residents of "where we came from"."It's a very Sheffield thing to do - this is a radical city with a DIY ethos, and it's had this for centuries; the 'pull yourself up' kind of approach."He said he hoped that the building could be saved and incorporated into the development."The ideal outcome isn't that no building can take place, but what I'd ask for is a bit of imagination to keep what's there now," he said.Time Architects have been contacted for comment.Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh is held back by can't do attitude. It should be like Glasgow
The despoilation of much of Victorian Glasgow in the 1960s illustrates how badly things can go if there is no restraint or respect for the past, and Edinburgh citizens should be forever grateful a halt was called before the Abercrombie plan to turn Princes Street into a two-deck super highway lined with brutal Stalinist blocks was executed. Potterrow and Bristo Square was just the beginning. Read more But at least Glasgow can summon a can-do attitude when necessary, and the India Street student skyscraper can't be as bad as the grim post-war government offices it will replace. Since Edinburgh University got away with the Appleton Tower in the 1960s, overlooking Bristo Square and the only half-wrecked George Square, tall buildings in Edinburgh are taboo. The last serious attempt was Tiger Developments' rejected 16- storey hotel at Haymarket, pitched as a 'gateway' to the city centre, stymied by fierce local opposition led by the late judge and West End resident, Lord McCluskey. Instead there is a black stump of offices in a half-built square flanked by the foundations for the International Conference Centre's hotel school, blocked by Edinburgh Council, its ranks of yellow-capped rusting metal rods from exposed reinforced concrete forlornly waiting for the first floor, a monument to the victory of personal animosity over vision. My overall impression from The Herald's magnifying glass on Edinburgh is the extent to which a 'can't do, unless…' attitude still dominates debate, in which nothing happens without a host of conditions and caveats, adding cost and time to the smallest project. Preserving the cityscape is well understood and accepted, but other adornments make Edinburgh a costly place to invest. New schools must be built to Scandinavian 'Passivhaus' standards of insulation, housing schemes must have district heating systems, car parking is limited but extensive bike storage is de rigueur, all for the sake of the unachievable goal of reaching net zero by 2030. Edinburgh's George Street looking west. Picture:Gordon Terris (Image: Gordon Terris) New policy means 35 per cent of homes in all but the smallest new developments must be 'affordable', which makes the rest more unaffordable. I remember sitting with astonishment on the Development Management (DM) sub-committee as my colleagues considered rejecting the redevelopment of the old Sick Kids hospital because there should be two more affordable three-bedroom flats, despite the housing charity involved insisting there was no market for them in that location. Speaking to a highly experienced development agent this week, he said that despite positive personnel changes on the DM sub-committee, building in Edinburgh was just getting harder. Policy-driven add-ons, like heat pumps and expensive insulation standards, mean obtaining planning permission is all very well, but getting companies to actually build is another when a diminishing number of construction contractors can prioritise simpler and more cost-effective schemes elsewhere. Too many councillors set policy on the basis of what they want the world to be, not as it is, usually underscored by pronouncements that as Edinburgh is a wealthy place individuals and businesses should be happy to stump up more for the privilege. In the city of Enlightenment, it's apparently incumbent on us all to set an example to mankind, and like penitents who should feel guilty about any comfort or indulgence accept the cost and inconvenience of councillors' whims. Concentrating so many arguments in the space of a week has, if anything, exposed the many contradictions which dog every argument about Edinburgh's future. We want it to be a good place to live and work, we want to attract more talent to boost the economy, but we'll make it harder to build the necessary homes and infrastructure. Of course we need more housing, especially with over 5,000 families currently in temporary accommodation, but we don't want tower blocks or urban sprawl. We want everyone to live and work in a '20 minute neighbourhood' where everything is within walking distance, but we're going to persuade businesses to move out to make way for housing. We love our bus company, but they shouldn't be driving down Princes Street. Read more Similarly with tourism. We want Edinburgh to be a welcoming and popular place for visitors, just not so many of them, and we don't want the city to be a Harry Potter or Braveheart theme park (as if it is…). We want tourists to spend money, but they shouldn't be sold junk. I marked my first trip to New York by buying a little yellow taxi, so I guess that makes me a tat-loving philistine. If they do come, they should be persuaded the Granton Gasholder is as worth seeing as the Castle and Holyroodhouse. We love the freedom and chaos of the Festival Fringe, but it needs to be brought under control. We need overseas students to sign up for expensive university courses because we can't afford places for all the qualified locals who must be funded by, guess who, the taxpayer. But we don't want to allow more places for them to stay. We want businesses to come and invest, but they have got to be the right kind of firms who must play their part in tackling poverty so that 'no one gets left behind'. As for high-tech skilled jobs at defence specialists like Lenovo, couldn't they make air fryers or bread makers instead? The good news is some in strong positions of influence get all this, but in a city which to outsiders must seem to have it all, the challenge is to persuade all those who make the rules that it can't. John McLellan is a former Edinburgh Evening News and Scotsman editor. He served as a City of Edinburgh councillor for five years. Brought up in Glasgow, McLellan has lived and worked in Edinburgh for 30 years.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Wales is recruiting ‘nowhere near enough' secondary teachers
Wales is recruiting 'nowhere near enough' secondary teachers Only a third of the number of secondary school teachers have been recruited Wales is only training around a third of the necessary secondary school teachers, with nowhere near enough recruits and no improvement in sight, an education chief warned. The Welsh Government aims to train about 1,000 teachers each year but the Education Workforce Council issued 369 certificates, according to the latest data from August 2024. A further 34 people trained through an Open University route. In August, 27 maths teachers got their certificates, but 130 is the target. In terms of Welsh teachers, the hope is for 80 to 90 but only 20 completed training in 2024. Education Workforce Council (EWC) chief executive Hayden Llewellyn, gave evidence to the Senedd education committee and said the trend for secondary schools has gotten worse over the past ten to 20 years, with improvements during the pandemic 'dropping back significantly'. He told Senedd members: "I'm sorry to say, having tracked recruitment and retention for many years – I can't really see secondary improving." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Recruitment in some subjects – such as PE, history and geography – is fine but maths, English, sciences, Welsh and modern foreign languages are particularly low, he said. EWC data showed 75% of those teaching maths are trained in the subject and, speaking more generally, he said the number is lower still for sciences. He warned: 'Given the picture with recruitment, we could see that picture deteriorating." In terms of primary school teachers, the Welsh Government aims for about 600 primary teachers to be trained each year, a number which overdelivered in August 2024. Article continues below Eithne Hughes, the EWC's chair, added that some in Wales are teaching not just their specialism 'but possibly a couple of others, adding to the workload pressure'. Ms Hughes said: 'That becomes an issue when you've got reduced funding and headteachers just having to have somebody in front of classes. It doesn't support standards.' Mr Llewellyn raised the example set by Scotland where teachers' registration is linked to a specific subject or phase. 'You cannot teach a subject you're not trained in,' he said. Mr Llewellyn said the number of Welsh-speaking teachers is 33% – higher than the census – but it has remained static despite initiatives, with a lower number among support staff. He told the committee the number of Welsh speakers currently completing training is about 20% for primaries and 18% for secondaries, against a target of 30%. "When you magnify that down into particular subjects, you see those figures dropping," he said, adding that only three of the 27 new maths teachers were Welsh speakers. Ms Hughes, a former headteacher in an English-medium school, told Senedd members she found recruiting Welsh teachers extremely difficult during her experience. Pressed about the key barriers and why Welsh Government targets are 'continually missed', Ms Hughes pointed to work-life balance, policy overload, pay, and behavioural problems. She suggested teachers are expected to be a social worker, police officer and medical expert, stressing: 'We have to allow the business of teaching… to be at the core'. Mr Llewellyn agreed: "What it means to be a teacher… in terms of workload, stress, bureaucracy, accountability, lack of autonomy, and pupil behaviour – it's a tough gig." He urged policymakers to treat the causes rather than the symptoms as he questioned 'flashy' promotional campaigns: "If what you're trying to promote isn't good, it won't work." Pointing out that the starting salary for some bus drivers is near to teachers' in Wales, he warned: "The reality is: to be convinced to be a teacher is increasingly unlikely." Asked about retention, he said around 2,400 teachers leave the EWC register every year, concluding:"We need to watch this really carefully because it's OK when you lose individuals from the profession and you're recruiting the number you need back. But… we are recruiting nowhere near the number of secondary and Welsh-medium teachers that we need. Attrition is OK if you're replacing but therein lies the problem." Article continues below
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
'Underrated' UK seaside town gets train to London for first time in 30 years
A beloved UK seaside town could finally be reconnected to the capital after decades of being cut off from direct rail links. For the first time since 1992, direct trains could soon be running from Cleethorpes to London, reconnecting the Lincolnshire seaside town to the capital after more than 30 years. The last time direct services were running between the two destinations, John Major was Prime Minister, Whitney Houston was topping the charts, and the first text messages were being sent. However, that could soon change as rail operator Grand Central submitted an application to reintroduce services back in March. It hopes to connect Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Habrough, and Scunthorpe with London King's Cross as early as December 2026. If approved, there would be four return services a day, creating more than 775,000 additional seats each year and potentially unlocking £30.1 million annually for the region. 'This isn't just about attracting future investment into our town, it's about addressing missed economic and social opportunities due to current poor connectivity,' said Melanie Onn, the MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes. After delays in getting plans underway, MPs met again in May to discuss the proposal, with Simon Lightwood, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport, saying the Department's view will be passed on 'in due course'. Paul Hutchings, managing director responsible for Grand Central, previously commented on the plans: 'If approved, these services will play a pivotal role in driving regional growth by linking underserved communities to key commercial opportunities, benefiting both local businesses and passengers.' Nothing is set in stone just yet, and there's no confirmation on how much tickets will cost if the direct service is approved. However, Grand Central said it hopes to have the trains running by December 2026. At the moment, getting to Cleethorpes from London requires multiple changes. Passengers typically have to take the train from Cleethorpes to Scunthorpe, to Scunthorpe to Doncaster and from there to King's Cross. The journey takes just under four hours in total, and that's assuming all trains run on time. It will set you back around £25 for a one-way ticket on Trainline. There's plenty to explore once you get to the seaside town, and, of course, the top activity is the beach. Expect arcades and fish and chip shops along the promenade and a Victorian-era pier to stroll along. The beach has a four-star rating on TripAdvisor, based on hundreds of reviews. One user, 'Roger B', said: 'Cleethorpes is so underrated. The promenade is clean with a lovely waterfall.' Others described it as a 'beautiful beach', boasting that the sand was 'soft' and 'clean'. Cleethorpes boating lake is another main attraction. Visitors can hire pedal boats, feed the ducks or enjoy a stroll around the water. There are also lots of independent shops, cafes and beachfront pubs to explore. And, if all goes to plan, it may be easier for Londoners to make a day trip there. More Trending If you're after visiting another underrated UK seaside town, why not take a trip to Treardurr Bay, which was named the UK's best coastal gem earlier this year. The beach lies just south of Holyhead in Wales and has been praised as one of the 'most prestigious beaches in Anglesey'. Not only does it have 'crystal clear waters,' but it's relatively quiet, so you won't find yourself competing with hundreds of other beachgoers for a spot. The research, conducted by Insure4Boats, analysed Met Office data, local attractions and social media comments across more than 250 coastal towns. It described the bay as the 'perfect playground for water sports enthusiasts with kayak and paddleboard rental available.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: SXSW London: Five live performances, film showcases and talks you must see MORE: Rock legend, 78, wheeled off stage in coffin during bizarre exit MORE: 'SXSW London will be a love letter to the city – we ought to be here'
