Agenda item

7.1

Amanda Holmes, Communications Officer, gave a presentation to the Committee.

7.2

It was explained that Stocksbridge Town Fund were a £24.1m investment delivering 10 projects across Stocksbridge. The three key priorities of the fund were: -

1.    Regenerating and better connecting the Town Centre

2.    Developing skills and education for the future

3.    Focusing on improving health and wellbeing

7.3

Amanda Holmes explained that although Stocksbridge were identified as a town in 2019, funding was only received in December 2022.

7.4

As part of regenerating the Town Centre, the following 4 projects were identified: -

1.    Library and Community Hub Building - a new landmark building in the Centre of the town offering a range of commercial and community uses (included Adult Education Hub).

2.    Placemaking and shop front grant scheme - creating opportunities for businesses to improve their properties and investing in paving and landscaping.

3.    Better connections and signposting the Town Centre - improving car parks and signposting and creating better connections to different parts of the Town.

4.    Community Transport - a new local hopper bus service for the community, connecting residential areas with Town Centre facilities.

Amanda Holmes highlighted the next steps of these Town Centre projects.

7.5

As part of the Health and Wellbeing priority, the following 5 projects were identified: -

1.    New Skatepark and improvements to Oxley Park in Stocksbridge – phase 2 of the Oxley Park investment.

2.    Walking and cycling trails: an investment in upgrading walking and cycling trails in the town and improving access to the countryside.

3.    Rivers Project: improvements to the Little Don including weir improvements and flood alleviation work.

4.    Sports Hub: a package of improvements to sporting facilities in the town, including a new multi sports pavilion, all weather pitch and improvements to Rugby and Football club facilities.

5.    Hydrotherapy pool: a new facility at the Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre to deliver a new hydrotherapy pool.

7.6

It was explained the Town Fund Board were comprised of the following people: -

•       Co-Chair - Miriam Cates MP, Penistone and Stocksbridge

•       Co-Chair • Yuri Matischen – Community Representative

•       Kate Martin, Sheffield City Council – Executive Director

•       John Crawshaw, Crawshaws Butchers (Local Business)

•       Cllr Julie Grocutt, Sheffield City Council and Stocksbridge Town Council (Local Councillor)

•       Graham Silverwood, The Venue Trust and Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre (Community Representative)

•       Dave Cates, Redemption Media (Local Business)

•       Ian Sanderson, SLR Outlets (Local Business)

•       Colin Blackburn, Sheffield City Region (Mayoral Combined Authority)

•       Neil Curtis – Community Representative

•       Shared role, Town Centre reps : Katheryn Giles Bowman and Gail Larking

7.7

Amanda Holmes explained that she were unable to provide an exact end date for these projects mentioned, although she would be happy to feed that information back into the LAC once known.

7.8

Councillor Lewis Chinchen mentioned that he was pleased with how forward looking the Town Centre projects were and how he hoped this would make the area more attractive and increase footfall.

7.9

A member of the public stated how difficult it was to access the Town Centre for people who walked and cycled. She mentioned there was information relating to improving public transport but not much information relating to improving walking and cycling access.

Amanda Holmes explained that there were a trails project which is currently overbudget and was due to undergo a review. Amanda Holmes stated that she was happy to take the member of public’s details and update her of any more information when known.