Comments on the Parliamentary Boundary Review covering Sheffield
J.G.Harston, 02-Oct-2005

Overview

I recommend that Burngreave ward should be in Sheffield Central contituency, Stannington ward should be in Sheffield Hillsborough & Brightside constituency, and Broomhill ward should be in Sheffield Hallam constituency, as shown in the map at fig 1.

Fig 1 - Swap around Burngreave, Stannington and Broomhill

Burngreave

At the Local Enquiry held in March many repondants recommended that Burngreave ward should be in the Sheffield Central constituency.

Viv Nicholson, former councillor for Park ward (now Arbourthorne) for 16 years, pointed out that many of the residents of Bungreave consider themselves to be part of the city centre, and consider the city centre shops and markets as almost their local shops [minutes 2, p30].

Mr Cook, representing the Labour Party, also recommended that Burngreave be in the Central Constituency [minutes 1, p15]. Mr Pratt, representing the Conservative Party, also noted that including Burngreave in Central would be a viable solution, and would invlove the fewest electors ending up in a different constituency [minutes 2, p79]. Andrew Wong also recommended that Burngreave should be in Central, stating that the Burngreave population has a similarly high ethnic diversity as the other city centre wards [minutes 2, p19].

Many respondants said that a city centre constituency should contain the wards around the city centre; these would include Brungreave. There was also a great desire expressed from respondants for minimal change. Burngreave ward, in various shapes, has been in a Sheffield city-centre constituency, under various names, since 1952. As Mr Pratt pointed out, including Burngreave in Sheffield Central would be a minimal change.

Stannington

The commissioner's report claims that Hillsborough ward does not look towards the west towards Stannington ward [report 15.12]. This is incorrect.

Hillsborough Golf Course is in Stannington ward, on Worral Road, just outside Hillsborough ward.

Wadsley is in Hillsborough ward, but Wadsley Common is in Stannington ward. A great number of residents in Hillsborough ward, particularly around Wadsley, consider Wadsley Common to be 'their' common, and that it is part of Hillsborough. There is a local support group called the Wadsley Commoners. Many of their members actually live in the Hillsborough ward. In recent conversation a Hillsborough councillor expressed surprise that Wadsley Common was not in Hillsborough ward.

Wisewood is in Hillsborough ward, but Wisewood Cemetary and Wisewood Forge are in Stannington ward in the Loxley valley.

The built-up area of Wisewood runs into Loxley with little sign on the ground. Similarly, there is little on the ground to show the transistion from Stannington to Lower Stannington.

Even if Hillsborough ward does not look west towards Stanninton ward, Stannington ward certainly looks east towards Hillsborough ward.

90% of the population of Stannington ward clusters around the edge of Hillsborough ward in Stannington/Lower Stannington and Loxley.

The Commissioner acknowledges that the communication routes from Stannington north towards Stocksbridge are slight [report 15.9], but the routes south towards Hallam and Crookes are just as slight, as emphasised by Mr Stevens and others [minutes 2, p44].

The only communication links between Stannington and the rest of the proposed Hallam are via Lodge Lane at Rivelin Bridge and Hagg Hill in the lower Rivelin Valley.

Lodge Lane is a narrow, steep road with hairpin turns. It is frequently impassible in winter. Hagg Hill is similarly steep and joins Rivelin Valley Road halfway between its two ends. To get to Hagg Hill requires travelling to Malin Bridge and back out again, or crossing Hollins Bridge, which is bearly six feet wide.

To travel from Stannington ward southwards on roads of any significance requires travelling in to Malin Bridge or Hillsborough Corner and back out again. To travel by public transport requires a jouney into Sheffield and out again.

All communication routes of any significace fron Stannington ward run to Hillsborough corner in Hillsborough ward.

From Bradfield and Loxley you travel along Loxley Road, the B6077; and from Stannington you travel via Stannington Road, the B6076. Any use of Manchester Road, the A57, between Rivelin bridge and Crosspool requires travelling all the way in to Malin Bridge and then out along Rivelin Valley Road to Rivelin Bridge.

Since at least 1934, and probably since its creation, Sheffield Hallam constituency, and the Sheffield Ecclesall constituency that it was merged with in 1952, has comprised all or most of the Civil Parishes of Upper Hallam, Nether Hallam and Ecclesall Bierlow. These are the area between the Rivers Rivelin and Sheaf. Sheffield Hallam has never extended northwards across the Rivelin or eastwards across the Sheaf, other than a small part of Low Edges.

In contrast, the Rivelin Valley and Lower Stannington have been in the same Parliamentary constituency since at least 1934.

Mr Cook, when presening the Labour Party's proposal, mentioned the ties between Stannington ward and Hillsborough ward and also recommended that Stannington not be included in Hallam [minutes 1, p15].

Helen Jackson, the former MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, also commented how Stannington ward had strong links with Hillsborough ward [minutes 1, p26], as did Parish Councillor Jackson [minures 1, p80]. Mr Stevens, speaking for the Crosspool forum, also indicated that it was more sensible to put Stannington ward with Hillsborough ward rather than in Hallam constituency [minutes 1, p80].

Broomhill

Initial submissions to the Commission recommended putting Nether Edge in Sheffield Hallam. Nether Edge was in Hallam from 1983 to 1997 and in Sheffield Ecclesall from 1934 to 1952.

However, no representations were heard from anybody advocating including Nether Edge in Sheffield Hallam. Many representations werre heard recommending that Broomhill should be put in Hallam, so putting Broomhill in Sheffield Hallam would satisfy the majority of representations received.

Professor Shariro, representing the Broomhill Forum spoke at the enquiry and strongly recommended that Broomhill should be put in Hallam [minutes 1, p81]. He also agreed that a satisfactory solution would be for both Crookes and Broomhill to be in Sheffield Hallam with Nether Edge in Sheffield Central [minutes 1, p83].

Richard Allan, former MP for Sheffield Hallam, also agreed that including Broomhill in Sheffield Hallam would be a viable solution [minutes 1, p11].

Electorates

Summary