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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

It didn't take long for Mr Menday to become the story again. As first reported by @thestar.co.uk, #ReformUK councillor Menday, who won in Woodhouse in #Sheffield by more than 1,000 votes and more than doubled every other candidate, has been suspended by the party just days after his victory.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The other major story today from #Sheffield is this man: Nathaniel Menday. The controversial Reform UK candidate who said Nazis were visionaries won comfortably in Woodhouse. This is despite some members of his own party in the area never having met him.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

A lonely Tom Hunt on the phone after his result was announced. Cannot help but feel sorry for a well-respected council leader

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

BREAKING: #Sheffield council leader Tom Hunt has lost his seat in Walkley by 73 votes. Andy Davies of the Green Party has been elected. It is the headline of a dismal day for the Labour Party here in Sheffield and across the country

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop is here, including my desperate efforts to tackle the #Sheffield Half Marathon. Also is an update on Sheffield Hallam strikes, an intriguing transport pilot, and two Sheffield heroes meeting King Charles! open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...

open.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Tuesday, March 31

The Sheffield Half Marathon comes and goes, the council's brave transport plans, and another music venue in financial difficulty

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

More major news in #Sheffield. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard will unveil plans for the Don Valley Corridor today. The plans include 18,500 new jobs, 10,500 new homes and a £1.3 billion boost to the South Yorkshire economy.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

BREAKING: #Snooker is staying in Sheffield. It was thought the sport would leave its home after its contract with The Crucible ends next year, but thanks to a £45 million revamp, the sport will stay in Sheffield until at least 2045.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I watched the opening arguments of the Chris Brain trial at Inner London Crown Court earlier this week. Brain is accused of 36 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape. The 68-year-old ran the Nine O'Clock Service in Sheffield from 1985 to 1994.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop is here: @sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social wants an urgent conversation with the government after new legislation -- on which it was not consulted -- may overturn the city's 2021 referendum on how the council is run. open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...

open.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Friday, June 27

In today's edition: The council gets a surprise, a horrifying attack on a Sheffield mosque, and the latest update on the long-running Veolia strike.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

The turnout was 36.8%, which is significantly higher than average for local elections. Perhaps shows the growing impact Reform is having in areas across the country.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Sheffield has its first Reform UK councillor. Overnight, John Booker won the Upper Don and Stocksbridge by-election, securing 32.9% of the vote. Mr Booker has been a councillor before, representing UKIP in West Ecclesfield from 2014 to 2019.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

As an increasing number of Labour MPs rebel against the government's welfare reforms, I asked the only Sheffield MP why they did not sign an amendment to potentially reject disability benefit cuts.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop has landed in your inboxes - and it's all about 💧: - Yorkshire Water is urging residents to limit their usage - Police are warning kids against open-water swimming - Meanwhile, South Yorkshire's most senior firefighter is arguing for a water safety minister

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

💧Today's edition of The Sheffield Drop is out. ✈️ Progress on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport, updates on the Hillsborough Park development, and a rather interesting football talk all feature. open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...

open.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Monday, June 16

A slightly quieter edition today: Oliver Coppard gets to work on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport, an 11-year-old girl is killed by a Ford van, and further road safety measures are announced.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Despite having only launched yesterday, The #Sheffield Drop has reached 100 subscribers already. Thank you all for joining with me. Please do get in touch about why you subscribed and what you'd like to see from the newsletter.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

In The #Sheffield Drop today: Public consultation for the council's plans to build on the greenbelt, a new Rock N Roll Circus headliner, and a possible @peakdistrict.bsky.social visitor's charge. And there's a little #swimming anecdote... thesheffielddrop.substack.com/p/the-sheffi...

thesheffielddrop.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Friday May 30

Welcome to the first Sheffield Drop. In today's edition: controversial greenbelt consultation opens, Bryan Adams on his way to Sheffield, and a potential charge to visit the Peak District.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Some exciting news! We are launching The #Sheffield Drop - a bulletin newsletter published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays that will provide you with everything you need to know about the Steel City thesheffielddrop.substack.com

thesheffielddrop.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop | Substack

The Sheffield Drop provides you with the best coverage of the city. From the headlines making the news to the latest interesting events, we’ll give you the inside track on everything you need to know....

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Here is my report from #Sheffield council yesterday - it was a pretty fiery meeting at times, but ultimately, the controversial greenbelt plans were passed

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

We are hearing from angry residents who are petitioning against #Sheffield Council's plans to build in greenbelt land. The council is voting today - and there was a rousing applause following the opening petition statement.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Well, that didn't go very well. Massive to get Partey next week

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Responsible journalism suspended for the next two hours

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Yesterday, I was at #Sheffield Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing for the killing of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose. A 15-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a blade, but denied murder.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

An incident in Leeds has been transferred to counter terror police, West Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday. A man attacked Otley Road with a slew of weapons, seriously injuring two women. A 38-year-old man has been arrested and was taken to hospital with a self-inflicted injury.

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Reposted by Andrew Dowdeswell

Yorkshire Live @yorkshirelive.co.uk · 23/04/2025

A plume of dark smoke billowed over Sheffield this afternoon

examinerlive.co.uk

Live updates as dark smoke billows over Sheffield

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

The snooker is back at #Sheffield But for how long?

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

#Sheffield city centre has a new PSPO (public space protection order). It came into force this week, and provides police and local authority officers with expanded powers to deal with antisocial behaviour, such as loitering, begging, street drink, and urination. But will it actually work?

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

In the lead up Easter, American organisation 40DaysforLife has sponsored anti-abortion prayer vigils and protests across the UK, including in Sheffield.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Quite the day in #Sheffield - and another dog shooting by South Yorkshire Police.

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Reposted by Andrew Dowdeswell

Yorkshire Live @yorkshirelive.co.uk · 04/04/2025

Fargate in Sheffield has been under construction for the past two years and has faced a series of delays

examinerlive.co.uk

New end date for Sheffield's Fargate revamp confirmed as delays continue

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Reposted by Andrew Dowdeswell

Yorkshire Live @yorkshirelive.co.uk · 02/04/2025

We went out to speak to the people of Sheffield to see what they had to say as Fargate is finally opening up after months of delays

examinerlive.co.uk

Sheffield has its say on Fargate development as council promises finishing line

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

#Fargate in #Sheffield city centre has been under development since the coronavirus pandemic. First, the ill-fated shipping containers, now part of the Grey to Green scheme to open up the main shopping street in the city centre.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Here is my report on the new PSPO, which is due to come into force next week. I'll have a deeper piece looking at whether it actually solves the problem or not soon. www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

examinerlive.co.uk

New Sheffield city centre crackdown set to give police more powers

Sheffield councillors backed a public spaces protection order in December

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

@sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social announced today the city centre's public-space protection order will begin on April 7. A controversial scheme which tends to criminalise homeless people, it gives police officers the power to dish out an on-the-spot fine of up to £1,000 for anti-social behaviour.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Today is my first day in my new position as Sheffield Reporter for @yorkshirelive.co.uk. I'm really excited to get going, and already have some interesting stories lined up. If you have a story or would like to go for a coffee, get in touch!

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Top work by @sonjatutty.bsky.social, who looked into how much investment local councils are forced to plough into temporary accommodation. Given the financial situation of many councils across the country, it is a soaring cost they cannot afford. And there's some fancy 📈 for every local area

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Good to know #Arsenal get screwed in Europe as well

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

🚨 Personal News 🚨 After three wonderful years with the RADAR AI team, it's time for me to move on and embrace a new challenge! In March, I'll be joining up with @yorkshirelive.co.uk as their Sheffield Reporter.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Declan Rice the only footballer who's better with 10 men

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Great to see my story about mixed-sex accommodation breaches on the front page of the @telegraphnews.bsky.social today. Nearly 50,000 breaches of a rule that banned mixed-sex wards in 2010 -- it is the highest on record, and more than double just five years ago. #datajournalism

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Happy New Year! I have been spending my time looking at mixed-sex wards in the NHS - always a joyous start to the year!

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Factchecking getting a hammering this week...

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

First train to London cancelled. Second train reduced from 10 carriages to five, with seat reservations revoked. This is nothing new: train travel in this country -- which is perfectly set up for efficient train travel -- is broken.

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