Service charges – new rights
Service charge demands will shortly fall due for many flat and maisonette owners across the country.
With bills sometimes adding up to four figures, it always makes sense to check service charge demands and know what to do if there is something awry. However, some understanding of what the law says is required for a challenge to be successful.
Even after paying the bill, it can still be challenged so long as it hasn’t been specifically admitted or agreed that the charges are payable.
According to The Leasehold Advisory Service, the government’s free legal advice service for leaseholders and landlords, the first thing to do is read and understand the lease.
Liability to pay for a particular service usually depends on what the lease says. However, if the demand is unreasonably high or the standard of work unacceptable, then the law can be used to challenge the charge. Read more…
Submit your questions!
The next Northern Community Assembly Meeting is on Wednesday 17th March at Grenoside Primary School, Norfolk Hill.
Starting at 6.30pm, this is a chance to see the 4th business meeting of the Northern Community Assembly in action.
There is an opportunity for to submit any public questions prior to the meeting by emailing communityassemblynorthern@sheffield.gov.uk or calling Community Assembly Managers Angela or Marika on 203 7153.
Stannington fag fire
A devastating fire in a Stannington house was probably caused by a cigarette left smouldering, according to firefighters.
On National No Smoking Day, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue warned residents to follow crucial safety tips and revealed that more fire deaths are caused by smoking related incidents than any other type of fire.
In this incident, on Monday evening, the back bedroom and loft of a terraced house on Woodfarm Drive were fire damaged, with the rest of the house smoke logged.
Firefighters were called at 8.55pm and spent most of the evening putting the fire out and ensuring it didn’t spread through the roof void to a neighbouring property.
Fortunately the female resident was not injured.
Spider pick-up sessions
If anyone fancies getting involved with the Spider Park Clean Up in Wisewood over the next two Saturdays their help would be greatly appreciated.
The team will be down at the Park again on 13th and 20th March and helpers are welcome to call in for an hour or two any time between 10am and 3pm. There will be plenty of litter pickers and black bags at the ready!
Email spiderpark1@hotmail.co.uk for more information.
- Also, a reminder that there’s a meeting about the “masterplan” for the park in Wisewood Sports Centre at 6.30pm on Monday 22nd March.
Loxley walking event
A Spring Walk guided by West Team Rangers takes place on Saturday 13th March.
It’s a 10.30am start from Loxley Recreation Ground. Join the Rangers on a walk of approximately 6 miles to celebrate Spring and to explore the wild places of Loxley Valley.
Loxley Recreation Ground is at the junction of Long Lane and Loxley Road.
Contact the West Team Rangers 0114 268 6196 for more information.
Capped fares on safer buses?
Bus travel in England will be safer, more efficient and easier to use under new Government proposals.
The plans – published today in a consultation paper – outline a range of measures to improve services including a ban on the consumption of alcohol on buses and a requirement for operators to provide more advanced warning of changes to services.
Also included in the consultation are proposals to allow local authorities to set maximum ticket prices for all, or certain categories, of passengers at a level less than the existing commercial fares.
The proposals are part of the Government’s strategy to increase bus travel in order to tackle congestion.
Yorkshire Brass Band Championships to come to Sheffield?
Andrew Platts, Bass Trombonist with Stannington Band and Editor of the Mercury Newspaper, is one of many people unhappy with facilities at St. George’s Hall in Bradford – current home to the Yorkshire Brass Band Championship contest.
It is true that St. George’s Hall is a reasonably ok acoustic to play in. But its cramped conditions for players backstage and a distinct lack of other facilities – such as no bar or food catering provision – make it an unattractive proposition for bandpersons having to spend any length of time there. Add that public transport provision to the city is not very good, only making matters worse.
But Sheffield City Hall boasts fantastic facilities both within the building and across the nearby city-centre. It also has a history of of hosting major brass contests in the past, such as the mineworkers’ CISWO finals.
Sheffield City Hall - no stranger to hosting major brass band contests ...
Andrew has today emailed the Yorkshire Area Committee (who administer the annual competition) with the following offer, suggesting Sheffield City Hall as a better venue and offering sponsorship from the Mercury Newspaper:
This weekend demonstrated that Bradford St Georges Hall is not suitable for the Yorkshire Area Championship. We propose to bring it to the the vastly superior venue that is Sheffield City Hall. It has better facilities all round.The Mercury Newspaper will offer to sponsor and finance the event if agreement could be reached to transfer it to Sheffield City Hall. We would also pay for, and host, rehearsal facilities and we would make a warm up room available. We will also offer to arrange discount vouchers for refreshments in local hotels and restaurants.
We would also promote and host a Gala concert.
We will keep you updated with any response received. Meanwhile, this is the Facebook page for the campaign to bring brass to Sheffield – Sign up to show support!
How to return faulty goods bought online
A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) survey reveals that almost two-thirds of consumers are less likely to return goods bought online, compared to items purchased on the high street.
UK consumers are now ranked as the biggest online shoppers in Europe, having spent £38bn online in 2009 which accounts for 10% of total UK retail sales.
The survey for the ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign reveals:
- more than 60% of shoppers are less likely to return goods purchased online, compared to goods purchased on the high street;
- three quarters (77%) of UK consumers don’t know there are differences between online and high street consumer rights;
- more than one in 10 (13%) admit to not being sure of their consumer rights with online purchases.
The survey also reveals that consumers are just as confused when shopping on the high street:
- two fifths think that retailers always have a right to refuse a refund if they don’t have a receipt and;
- one in ten believe goods can’t be returned once they’ve left the store.
Top Tips: Read more…
Toddler fine after fire
A 15-month-old boy was taken to hospital after a fire at his Sheffield home.
The toddler appeared to be fine despite the minor fire in Whitehouse Lane, Kelvin, just before 6am on Tuesday morning, but paramedics advised the precautionary check-up due to the acrid black smoke in the property.
The boy had been sleeping in the front room with his mum when an electrical heater, which had been keeping them warm, set a rug on fire. Although the blaze was small, and was already out when firefighters arrived, the plastic heater gave off the thick smoke when it caught fire.
NW Sheffield News wishes mum and son well. Well done SYFR and paramedics involved.
Water waste!
From 2010, Yorkshire Water will take control and ownership of all private and public sewers.
This obviously has implications for home-owners and private landlords. And, naturally, it will mean an increase in costs to the consumer.
Take Yorkshire Water’s short quiz on the subject and find out all you need to know by clicking on the logo below.
New arrivals at Our Cow Molly!
Workers on the Our Cow Molly farm at Dungworth are putting in late hours this lambing season.
Twins born just a couple of hours ago!
“When we get a bit more organised, the lambing shed will be open to the public. We had 20 people watch a live birth last year.”
The farm welcomes visitors, including families with children, and more information on opening times, etc, is available here.
Phoney callers alert!
Police are asking the public to be vigilant after a number of reports have been made involving companies cold calling via the telephone.
Tricksters are trying to sell alarms under the assertion that it is ‘Crime Prevention Week’ and that they work for South Yorkshire Police, both of which are false.
Although it is believed these companies are legitimate, there are a number who call residents and use high-pressure sales techniques and lies in order to force a sale.
Chris Squires of Crime Reduction said: “If you are not entirely satisfied with the legitimacy of the caller, ask for their contact details and tell them you will call them back in an hour once you have had time to do some research. The Crime Reduction department of the police are always more than happy to advise on such a situation.”
Green Fingers at the ready for competition time!
Hillsborough Forum has now launched the Hillsborough in Bloom Competition for local people as part of neighbourhood-wide activities taking place over the next six months.
Entries can be for any of the categories and there are prizes, to be given out at a gala awards ceremony to be held in October at the Garrison Hotel.
Categories are:
- Best Small Garden – This can be front or back
- Best container planting – be it hanging basket, tub, window box or even an unusual planter made from something different (such as an old boot)
- Best retail business display
- Best Public House/restaurant/hotel
- Greenest place of worship
- Schools / nurseries – show those little green fingers
- The bloom photo competition – The theme for this is ‘community’ so email a picture representing community in Hillsborough
Entry forms can be found in Ruby’s Cafe, the Transport Interchange and Teddybear Maker. Alternatively, contestants can email their entry to hillsboroughforum@live.co.uk. Include name, address, contact number and the category entered.
Judging will commence in late July and there will be an invite to the awards gala in October.
A bit of musical fun …
Click on the image below for your own online piano!
Hillsborough Gearing up for a Blooming Spring
Volunteers braved the weather last weekend to plant spring flowers as they get ready for a season of in bloom activities.
Hillsborough Forum had purchased four large planters to brighten up Hillsborough Corner which were given a face-lift whilst on Holme Lane the team busied themselves at the Holme Lane Community Garden.
Wendy Wells (Environmental Projects Officer- Hillsborough Forum said, “It is really great to see so many local people giving up their spare time to get stuck in and enjoying working on our local green spaces, the community garden is now in it’s third year and is going from strength to strength and is cherished by local people as an oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle.”
Hillsborough has again entered the Yorkshire in Bloom competition as an urban community, building on the success of a silver rose award in 2009. For more information about Hillsborough in Bloom visit the website at www.hillsboroughinbloom.btik.com
Service charges – new rights
New rights for leaseholders come into force later this year. Here's some advice for now, just as many service charge bills will be arriving on people's doorsteps. Find out more about him by clicking on the pic below.
Brass for Sheffield?
There's a campaign brewing to get the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships hosted in Sheffield.
Read more by clicking the image below:
Counting the cost of credit cards
Use of cards is on the rise, so it makes sense to know what you're buying into ...
(Click on the pic!)
Who We Are – Reader Profile
Classy charity Gig 3rd April
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Sheffield Weather
- SheffWeather: Tomorrow: sunny intervals, Max 9°C, Min 2°C, Wind Direction: NW, Wind Speed: 6mph, Visibility: moderate, Pressure: 1026mb, Humidity: 55% March 10, 2010
- SheffWeather: Today: sunny intervals, Max 6°C, Min -1°C, Wind Direction: NE, Wind Speed: 7mph, Visibility: moderate, Pressure: 1032mb, Humidity: 71% March 10, 2010
BBC SY News
- BBCSY: The results of a serious case review into how a man could father nine children by raping his daughters are being... http://dlvr.it/94sl March 10, 2010
- BBCSY: Three men are questioned by police after a man aged in his 20s is stabbed during an attempted robbery in Sheffield. http://dlvr.it/921w March 10, 2010
- BBCSY: A second man is arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a car crash in Sheffield. http://dlvr.it/8NfY March 9, 2010
the Sheffield Blog
- Sheffield blogs March 7, 2010
- Art Sheffield 2010 – Life: a user’s manual March 4, 2010
- The return of Gatecrasher March 3, 2010
Sheffield Star Headlines
- Man stabbed on Bramall Lane March 10, 2010
- 'Stupid' gun blast student is spared jail March 10, 2010
- Sheffield United head to court claiming council Owls bias March 10, 2010
Sheffield Telegraph Headlines
- Ten Top things to do - Wed Mar 10 2010 March 10, 2010
- On the map: 27 jams that drive city motorists crazy February 25, 2010
- Over-45s in city ignoring 'safe sex' message February 25, 2010
City of Sheffield Band Club
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