Harry Harrison

An inquiry prompted by the 2022 closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport recommends new legislation allowing local and national authorities to temporarily halt the closure or sale of major privately owned infrastructure and potentially purchase it at market value through a simplified compulsory purchase process. The report says the airport’s closure demonstrated the economic and community risks of losing critical regional infrastructure. Doncaster Council, backed by £160 million from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, is pursuing a publicly funded reopening, though lease negotiations have delayed the money’s use. The inquiry also calls for a national regional aviation strategy to help protect and coordinate support for regional airports.

Doncaster Council has approved plans for the 37-acre Doncaster City Elite Training Centre after the applicant purchased two nearby cottages whose owners had objected to the original proposal. The facility will include five full-size pitches, goalkeeper and technical training areas, a 499-seat covered stand, padel courts and five-star accommodation for elite teams. The revised application received backing from Doncaster's business community, local MP Lee Pitcher and clubs including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, LA Galaxy and Racing Club de Strasbourg, while concerns remain about green-belt development and the site's impact on the surrounding area.

Sheffield councillor Ian Horner criticised rising vehicle‑related anti‑social behaviour in Beighton, describing the area as increasingly dominated by reckless use of bikes and off‑road motorbikes. During a South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel meeting, he and other councillors expressed frustration over limited police action as incidents surge during warmer months. Deputy mayor Kilvinder Vigurs acknowledged the issue as widespread and said further discussions will outline policing plans to address it.

A South Yorkshire Police officer involved in a June 20 clash with teenage girls in Rotherham will receive de-escalation training and additional supervision. The force's professional standards review, supported by a peer review from another police force, found that the use of force was proportionate, necessary and justified, while identifying shortcomings in de-escalation. The incident prompted criticism after footage showing officers with drawn stun guns and girls on the ground circulated online; a 17-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

Former defence secretary and Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP John Healey is lobbying the government to increase investment in police drones and make South Yorkshire Police’s off-road bike team a national example of innovative policing. He says drones could help the stretched team respond more effectively to anti-social behaviour and organised crime, following concerns raised by residents in Conisbrough and nearby Doncaster communities.

Doncaster Council is considering requiring CCTV in hackney carriages and private hire vehicles as a condition of licensing. A 12-week consultation found drivers divided over making cameras mandatory, although there was strong agreement that CCTV could improve passenger and driver safety. Drivers Abdul Quyyum and Malik supported the safety benefits but raised concerns about the shortcomings of an earlier council-backed system, which reportedly only operated while the taxi meter was running. Councillors are expected to discuss the proposal at a future meeting.

Only 46.8% of South Yorkshire residents believe the police force is doing a good or excellent job, below the national average, although 62.8% say they have confidence in the force. Deputy mayor Kilvinder Vigurs said greater transparency, scrutiny, engagement and visibility are needed, pointing to expanded neighbourhood policing, an e-bike strategy and improved work in the night-time economy. South Yorkshire Police acknowledged the mixed results and said it is working with communities to address their priorities. The recent shooting death of Shanice Brookes was cited as evidence that further action is needed to improve public safety.

Campaigners from Powerful South Yorkshire are urging Mayor Oliver Coppard to use new powers to address a regional crisis involving damp, mould and cold homes. Coppard says work is already under way through local-authority cooperation, landlord forums, retrofit programmes including Let Zero, and efforts to map housing conditions and target support. He also acknowledged the limits of his current powers and said he is seeking greater authority from central government. The campaigners welcomed his willingness to engage but called for closer community collaboration and practical action, highlighting poor conditions in parts of Rotherham and the health risks associated with unhealthy homes.

South Yorkshire councillors criticized the continued vacancy of a police station beside Sheffield Parkway, arguing that unused police buildings waste public money and undermine visible policing and public confidence. Ian Horner suggested that Volker Rail could potentially rent the Nunnery Square compound, while Kilvinder Vigurs said the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority was working with South Yorkshire Police on an estates strategy. Vigurs also said there were no plans to turn Rossington Police Station into an active public-facing station, despite a petition supported by thousands of signatures.

Campaigners from Powerful South Yorkshire are urging Mayor Oliver Coppard to declare an emergency over unhealthy homes, fund enforcement against the worst landlords and encourage councils to use new rental-housing powers. Residents and community organisers describe severe mould, damp and cold, including conditions they say are harming health and education in areas such as Little London in Rotherham. The campaign is supported by the New Economics Foundation and also seeks backing for community ownership of housing. Rotherham Council says it is conducting targeted inspections, working with landlords and tenants, and taking enforcement action where necessary. A meeting between Coppard and campaigners is scheduled for June 19, 2026.

Mayors from across Yorkshire met in Sheffield for the first meeting of the White Rose Rail Board, which aims to advance regional rail improvements. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard highlighted better connections to Leeds and Manchester, a new station at Rotherham, and upgrades to Sheffield Station as priorities. He said improved capacity at Sheffield Station would help unlock wider initiatives, including Tram Train services, while acknowledging that major rail projects will take years. The board is chaired by former Sheffield MP and Home Secretary David Blunkett, and its work follows the government’s £45 billion commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Amy Haughian, whose community was affected by the death of 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift in the River Don, is urging Doncaster Council to build an outdoor pool at Dearne Valley Leisure Centre. She argues that more accessible, supervised swimming facilities could reduce the risks faced by children in rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The proposal follows disappointment among residents that outdoor water facilities associated with the £15 million refurbishment of The Dome did not materialize. Doncaster’s director of public health offered condolences and said the council is working with emergency services, the Environment Agency, the Canal & River Trust and local organizations to consider additional water-safety measures; the council noted that Hatfield already has an outdoor natural lake pool.

Doncaster Council papers ahead of the 11 May 2026 vote warn that rescinding the £57 million loan could halt the Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening unless replacement funding is found urgently, which officials consider unrealistic on the current timetable. The council could face at least £48.6 million in quantified liabilities, plus undisclosed termination and redundancy costs, while the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's £159.52 million reopening allocation may not be available to fund closure. If the project continues, passenger flights are now expected from Easter 2028, and a 12-month delay could reduce projected income by £36.1 million by 2034/35. Lease renegotiations with the Peel Group have progressed on passenger and freight targets but remain unsigned, with turnover-rent negotiations paused. Earlier attempts to secure private investment failed to establish credible funding, although officials view private investment as more viable after operations and passenger flights begin.

Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson has introduced a Bill seeking to change trial procedures when the minimum number of jurors remains available. The proposal follows the case of a constituent whose alleged abuser died five weeks before a postponed trial, causing the charge to be abandoned and leaving the alleged victim and other victims without a trial. Jameson argues that the existing system allowed justice to be delayed and ultimately denied; the Bill, supported by 11 other MPs, is scheduled for its second reading on June 26, 2026.

Whitestone Solar Farm's developers have reduced the proposed project's overall size by 17%, including a 37% reduction in developable areas, after a second public consultation in autumn 2025. The project, planned across sites near Conisbrough in Doncaster and Rotherham, would still cover more than 1,100 hectares and could become one of the UK's largest solar farms. Local representatives Rachel Reed and Jake Richards say the changes are insufficient, citing impacts on countryside, green space and infrastructure. Doncaster and Rotherham councils have formally opposed the plans, which have not yet been submitted for a planning decision by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Developers Green Nation and Net Zero One argue the project would support energy security, lower costs and climate goals.

Reform UK Doncaster has threatened to suspend its support for the publicly funded reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport unless Mayor Ros Jones and Doncaster Council disclose information about lease clauses agreed with landowner Peel Group. The clauses relate to planning applications for 1,200 and 1,400 homes near the airport, both approved in November 2025. Reform UK says the disclosures raise transparency and scrutiny concerns, but it lacks the power to halt already approved commitments, including a £57 million council loan and £160 million from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Doncaster Council says lease terms were subject to legal advice and that planning decisions were made independently under planning law.

Business leaders from South Yorkshire’s chambers of commerce are backing plans to reinstate controlled airspace at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which Doncaster City Council hopes to reopen with an estimated £200 million in public funding. They argue that the airport would support jobs, investment, international trade and regional connectivity. However, the Civil Aviation Authority is not expected to decide on the airspace application until May 2027, potentially limiting any freight operations in 2026 to a single operator.

South Yorkshire’s Integrated Care Board has reduced NHS-funded IVF access for new referrals and ended most prescriptions for gluten-free bread and mixes, citing financial pressures. Healthwatch Doncaster and Healthwatch Rotherham warned that the changes will disproportionately affect lower-income people, those with long-term conditions and women seeking reproductive care. Doncaster and Sheffield councils, along with local Labour groups, opposed the IVF cuts. The board said exceptional funding requests may secure additional IVF cycles, while gluten-free prescriptions will remain available to people considered most at risk of clinical harm.

South Yorkshire’s NHS Integrated Care Board has reduced NHS-funded IVF provision from two cycles to one, reportedly saving £400,000. Doncaster Council’s Labour group, backed by Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire MPs and more than 90% of consultation respondents, is urging the ICB to reverse the decision. Opponents argue that second IVF attempts can have higher success rates, private treatment is unaffordable for many, and the policy could worsen health inequalities or push people toward unsafe alternatives. The ICB says the change aligns with most ICBs in England and is necessary to balance fertility care with wider financial pressures, while allowing exceptional cases to seek additional funding.

South Yorkshire’s Integrated Care Board has reduced NHS-funded IVF treatment from two cycles to one for new referrals, citing financial pressures, cost effectiveness and alignment with most integrated care boards in England. The decision has drawn strong opposition from Doncaster and Sheffield councils, local MPs and councillors, who argue that one cycle is unfair because first-cycle success rates remain below 50% for many patients and that the policy will worsen existing inequalities in women’s healthcare. Existing IVF patients will retain their current arrangements, while clinicians may request exceptional individual funding. The ICB says it will continue supporting hundreds of people annually.

Climate Minister Katie White said the UK must take advantage of falling solar costs but declined to comment on the planning merits of the proposed Whitestone Solar Farm. The project, spanning sites in Rotherham and Doncaster, has faced opposition from both councils and local MPs over potential effects on wildlife, heritage, landscapes, farmland, landfill safety and flood risk. The developers say they will submit revised proposals in 2026 after further consultation and environmental assessment, and have proposed community benefits worth up to £300,000 annually. As a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the final decision will be made by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband rather than local authorities.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said he is “really confident” about the future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport after extensive risk and assurance work by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Doncaster Council. He said passenger flights could resume in late 2027 or early 2028, while maintaining that 2028 remains the likeliest date. The airport has cleared its final legislative hurdle, and the authorities have approved £160 million in gainshare funding for its reopening.

Doncaster Council has passed a cross-party motion calling on the developers of Whitestone Solar Farm near Conisbrough to withdraw the current proposal and substantially reduce any future plans. Reform UK councillor Rachel Reed said the project would damage green space and disrupt local life, while MP John Healey has also opposed it. The developers, Green Nation and Net Zero One, said the project remains at an early stage, that consultation feedback will shape revised proposals, and that it would provide substantial community benefits and support national renewable-energy targets. Because the project is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the final consent decision will be made by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband after the developers submit an application planned for next year.

Doncaster Council has approved £57 million in borrowing to address early cash-flow shortfalls linked to the planned reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The measure passed by 42 votes to nine after receiving Labour and some Reform UK support, while most Conservative councillors opposed it and questioned the scrutiny behind the proposal. The borrowing is intended to bridge the gap between initial project costs and £6 million-per-year gainshare payments from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which will support the nearly £200 million publicly funded reopening over 25 years. Mayor Ros Jones described the airport as a major generational investment and economic opportunity, while critics argued that Peel would be the principal beneficiary.

Doncaster Council’s cabinet has accepted £175 million in grant funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to help reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport and approved a 24-year financial plan for council-owned Fly Doncaster Ltd. The £193 million reopening project also requires £57 million in additional council borrowing, which full council must approve on November 27; Reform UK holds the majority, and officials warn that rejection would end the project. Financial projections anticipate £81 million in losses during the first nine years, followed by more than £230 million in pre-tax and interest profit through 2049, with potential additional business-rate income of around £300 million.

South Yorkshire business leaders are urging Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to fund an upgrade to Junction 3 of the M18, which serves Doncaster Sheffield Airport and is described as a major transport bottleneck. They argue that improving the junction is essential to support the airport’s planned reopening, the South Yorkshire Airport City development, new housing, jobs and regional supply chains. Proposed works could cost up to £80 million, while a partnership scheme with National Highways is estimated at £50 million. Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones supports the investment and is lobbying the Government with local MPs and the South Yorkshire mayor; the Department for Transport had not responded by the article’s deadline.

Doncaster councillors rejected plans by Ainsley Tranter of JT MotoPark Ltd to create a permanent motocross facility with two circuits near Clifton, between Rotherham and Doncaster. Residents and councillors raised concerns about noise, illegal riding, additional traffic and damage to the village’s rural character and green belt. Planning officers had recommended refusal, and six of the eight councillors present voted against the application, with two abstaining.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority unanimously approved £159.52 million in public funding for the City of Doncaster Council to reopen and operate Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed in 2022. Mayor Ros Jones said the decision was a major step toward restoring the airport and delivering jobs and economic growth. Freight operations are targeted for 2026 or 2027, while passenger flights are not expected until 2028. The project’s projected return has fallen from £9 to £2 for every £1 invested and depends on record passenger numbers. Regional council leaders backed the investment but emphasized the need to improve rail and bus connections to the airport.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said Doncaster Sheffield Airport is unlikely to handle commercial passenger flights before 2028, if it reopens, despite earlier hopes of a spring 2026 restart. He said the project remains a long-term undertaking with unresolved challenges and that he must balance the airport’s potential economic benefits against the risk of committing more than £150 million in public funds. A decision on releasing Mayoral Combined Authority gainshare funding is due on September 9, 2025. Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones’s office said the airport is technically operational for 2Excel aircraft and that freight and passenger services would return gradually once funding and related airspace and airline arrangements are finalized.

A photo-led retrospective profiles some of South Yorkshire’s biggest National Lottery winners and describes how their wins affected their lives. It highlights Ray and Barbara Wragg’s multimillion-pound win in 2000, Michael Turner’s £3,089,944 jackpot in 2003, Richard Carr’s scratchcard win, Susan Waters’s £108,835 Lotto prize in 2006, and Deana Sampson’s £5.4 million win in 1996.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard expects a final decision on releasing Gainshare funding for the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport in early September 2025. He said viability and assurance work is under way and stressed the need to protect taxpayers as projected reopening costs approach £150 million. Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones welcomed the timeline and said funding certainty is essential for airspace arrangements, airline and freight-provider agreements, and staff recruitment, alongside the £30 million government package. Critics argue that repeated delays threaten the pledge to resume flights by spring 2026. The airport closed in 2022 after Peel Group deemed it unviable, while government backing and Civil Aviation Authority work on airspace have advanced the reopening proposal.

A domestic abuse survivor identified as Milly, a pseudonym, describes fleeing an alcoholic and abusive former partner after experiencing physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse and threats to her family. After a previous refuge was located by her ex-partner, she and her children moved to Rotherham, where Hopian provided safe accommodation, helped the children cope with trauma and supported Milly with schooling and other practical needs. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has agreed to continue the Domestic Abuse Refuge Service for another four years, with councillors emphasizing the importance of safe accommodation and survivor support.

Sheffield businessman Anthony Oldfield says groups dismantling cars on Chambers Lane have been leaving parts in the road and pouring engine oil onto the street and into drains, potentially polluting rivers and disrupting nearby businesses. He claims the council and police have passed responsibility between them. South Yorkshire Police said officers attended on 17 February 2025, advised the men about fluid spills and received assurances that the mess would be cleared. Sheffield City Council had not provided a comment.

A fire on Meadowgate Avenue in Sothall, Sheffield, involved a wheelie bin and two vehicles before spreading partially to a nearby property. Fire officials said the cause remains under investigation. A separate blaze on Tynker Avenue in Beighton on February 23, involving a plastic storage container and wheelie bin, has been recorded as deliberate. Both incidents remain under investigation, and South Yorkshire Police has been contacted.

A three-bedroom family home on Fulmere Road in Parson Cross, Sheffield, has been listed by Purplebricks with a guide price of £200,000. The property includes a modern kitchen, garden, off-road parking and an outbuilding currently used as a private bar, which could be converted into a gym, office or workshop. It is marketed as suitable for first-time buyers, families and other purchasers.

A two-bedroom duplex townhouse in Sheffield's Park Hill development has been put on the market for £275,000. The property features a dining room, modern kitchen, lounge, pantry, two bathrooms, an en-suite bedroom, balcony and private terrace, while retaining elements of Park Hill's original character. Its location offers easy access to Sheffield city centre, cultural amenities and transport links including Sheffield Station.

More than 1,000 people gathered at Sheffield Cathedral for the funeral of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose, who was fatally stabbed at All Saints Catholic High School on February 3. Family, friends and teachers remembered him as a kind, funny and sociable Sheffield United fan who loved fishing and sport. Mourners watched the service on a screen outside, observing an hour of silence before applauding as his coffin was carried away. His death has also prompted an anti-knife-crime march, a petition for stricter youth knife-crime laws and fundraising for funeral costs.

A four-bedroom modern house in the gated Orchard Court development off Doncaster Road in Thrybergh, Rotherham, is listed for £500,000 through Purplebricks. The property features parking for more than six cars, large windows, bi-folding doors, a low-maintenance garden, an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, a second reception room, an en-suite bedroom and a family bathroom.

Four-year-old Sheffield Wednesday supporter Jaxon Knowles died suddenly after contracting meningitis. His mother, Sammy Knowles, described him as her “absolute hero” and a miracle baby after she and Jaxon's father, Jordan, had experienced three miscarriages. Sheffield Wednesday will hold a minute's applause for Jaxon during its February 28 match against Sunderland at Hillsborough, while his family hopes the tribute will also raise awareness of how quickly meningitis can become serious.

Two men aged 24 and 26 were arrested after South Yorkshire Police executed a pre-planned warrant at a property on Townhead Road in Dore, Sheffield, where officers found a cannabis grow. The men remain in custody on suspicion of cannabis production. Police also recovered a stolen vehicle nearby on Church Lane, with enquiries ongoing into both incidents.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is due to visit South Yorkshire amid concerns about youth violence and knife crime following the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3. The Home Office confirmed the visit after local expert Ronny Tucker criticized Cooper for not visiting sooner, while an exact date has not yet been announced. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder, and Willgoose’s funeral is scheduled at Sheffield Cathedral on February 21.

Ronny Tucker, who runs Sheffield’s Aspire Boxing Club and previously worked with the city’s Youth Justice Service, is calling for the return of the Ending Gang and Youth Violence scheme introduced in 2008. He argues that short-term funding cannot address a long-term problem and that councils need sustained government support to prevent young people from becoming involved in violence. His appeal follows the fatal stabbing of Sheffield teenager Harvey Willgoose. MP Louise Haigh supports a national strategy addressing the root causes of knife crime across youth services, policing, health, education and community groups. The Home Office says the government aims to halve knife crime within a decade and has agreed that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will visit the area, while also pointing to the new Young Futures Programme.

Food hygiene inspectors released 50 new ratings for Sheffield restaurants, cafes, canteens, pubs, bars, nightclubs and takeaways. Most venues received the top score of five, including Meadowhall locations operated by Five Guys, Pizza Express, Wagamama, Harvester, Pret a Manger, KFC and Vue Cinema. Coffee Boo on Langsett Road received a rating of two. The results were correct when published on February 20, 2025, with readers advised to consult the Food Standards Agency website for the latest scores.

Sheffield-born goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck revealed that she suffered a stroke while playing for Manchester City in early 2024, initially believing she had sustained a concussion. The 24-year-old feared she might never play football again, underwent hospital treatment and an operation, and faced a lengthy recovery. After signing for FC Barcelona, she made her debut in December and is competing with Cata Coll for the starting role. The experience also prompted Roebuck to plan for life beyond football by starting a coffee-roasting company.

South Yorkshire Police warned Sheffield Fiat 500 owners to improve vehicle security after two cars were stolen in the Chapeltown area within two days. Thieves reportedly smashed rear windows and took the vehicles without keys. Both cars were later recovered in Shirecliffe and Parson Cross, and police are investigating while seeking to identify those responsible.

Sheffield author and University of Sheffield professor Lisa Rookes is launching her horror novel The Village in paperback on February 20, 2025, after its audiobook and ebook soft launch reached the top 100 for US Apple downloads and topped the UK Kindle horror-fiction list. Set in a fictional South Yorkshire village shaped by the region’s steelmaking heritage and a plague-end celebration, the novel follows the mystery surrounding Joni Blackwood’s disappearance and the discovery of unidentified bones in a church graveyard.