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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Mayor Ros Jones has told councillors not to speculate over DSA based on 'third parties or media' after a senior Reform UK councillor said they were not receiving updates on the project www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politic...

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Reform councillor grills Mayor over lack of DSA updates

“I would encourage you not to speculate based on third parties or the media.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

🚂 A 14-year campaign for a new railway station in Askern will have to continue into the 2030s, as Mayor Jones says upgrades to the 'bottleneck' that is Doncaster Station must come first ⬇️⬇️⬇️

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Doncaster Station 'bottleneck' is a priority over new village station, Mayor says

“Doncaster station is a bottleneck and in need of considerable investment including additional platforms.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🔥 Firefighters will start on site at DSA next month, the Mayor of Doncaster has said She says there will be 50 fire personnel at the airport by 2027 working from the recently refurbished fire station

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Airport firefighters will start on site next month, Mayor says

Female bathrooms have been installed at the airport fire station for the first time.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

NEW: More than a dozen firefighters will be starting on site at DSA in October The on-site fire station has also been fully refurbished, Mayor Ros Jones said in yesterday's meeting No word on lease renegotiation, but she said she knows people are 'frustrated'

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Doncaster Council are currently debating a motion about HMOs Reform UK leader, Cllr Howard Rimmer, has just said: "There is no housing crisis in Doncaster." 200 new homelessness assessments per month (as of 2025) says otherwise

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

These memes of that Rory Stewart stare on newsnight are cracking me up 😂

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Doncaster's new city centre masterplan is supposed to build on it's 2016 plan I went to see what the big projects were, and to assess whether they'd be suitably delivered Take a look ⬇️

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

10 years after 2016 city centre 'masterplan' - how much has been delivered?

The local authority dreamt up improvements for Doncaster Station, a new cinema complex and cultural centre - but did they succeed?

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Doncaster's redevelopment of the Waterfront will continue beyond just 'Waterfront East' The council has introduced us to two new schemes on the banks of the River Don - Waterfront West and Minster Canalside See images and read here:

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Council shares vision for further Waterfront development in ‘masterplan’

Waterfront East has long been at the forefront of city centre regeneration plans.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Still business owners and residents in Waterdale await Doncaster Council giving them the decency of communication I reported in July how the council has been hinting at demolition of the site, but not saying anyting to the people whose homes and livelihoods are there ...

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The thing that gets me about this is that the council keeps playing down demolition. Looking at 'options' and all that Yet they've never, ever put out anything that suggesting there is any option not including demolition But business owners and residents there remain in limbo😶

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Doncaster Council has just launched its new 'City Centre Masterplan' with lots of ambitious ideas for the regeneration and future of the city centre Some great, ambitious stuff, but these are the things that have caught my eye straight away A thread 🧵

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Strong attack from Doncaster Reform here Hard to disagree with the criticism of the messaging Will mention that 2028 for passenger flights is not new. SYMCA has been saying this since September last year

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Big news incoming for Doncaster Sheffield Airport - that's the hint from Mayor Ros Jones today Months of poor communication surrounding the airport has finally shift (slightly), but concrete news still evades us

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Mayor hints at big airport news amid 'frustrations' over months of vague updates

“What I can say is that the next update is well worth waiting for and I look forward to sharing further details in due course.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Ros Jones' statement in SYMCA Board about DSA has been posted to social media By aligning herself with local frustrations, this reads to me like a Mayor trying to shift blame for the vague updates of the last 6 months on to SYMCA BUT! Clearly big news is on the way

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

NEW: "The next update is worth waiting for" Ros Jones says on DSA She says she understands frustrations over a lack of communication on the project, but asks for patience

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Current sat in the SYMCA Board meeting in Sheffield Mayor Coppard’s announcements have including no mention of Doncaster Sheffield Airport or the lease whatsoever DSA is mentioned in a later report, but I don’t think we’re expecting much from it

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Believe it or not, Donald Trump's trade tariffs and ongoing conflict in the Middle East has a very real impact on your local community Councils can borrow for capital investment, but, like the UK Government, the cost of borrowing is 'elevated' and 'volatile' ...

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Doncaster Council is projected to spend £7m more than budgeted by the end of 2026/27 Financial pressures in adult social care and waste drive a significant chunk of this Mayor Ros Jones says this will be "closely monitored" throught the rest of the year

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I think there is understandable scepticism over this claim considering the council’s poor DSA comms over the last 18-24 months It is, ultimately, just a claim. But this is a source I trust on this topic Also, we really don’t have to wait long to find out if it’s true 👀

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Doncaster Sheffield Airport will not "run out of money" this month, sources have said Will be a relief for supporters, as there remains limited public info on the incomplete lease renegotiation other than "progressing positively"

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

DSA reopening will not 'run out of money' this month, sources confirm

Two of the three conditions for £160million of funding are yet to be met, a year after they were agreed.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

EVEN BIGGER: The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport WILL NOT "run out of money" this month

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

NEW: Just one of three conditions set by the SYMCA for the release of DSA's £160m funding have been completed in the year since the decision Agenda papers for Sept 15th reveal lease negotiations and appointment of an "experienced Project Management Officer" are still outstanding

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Doncaster Council has revealed ambitious targets to slash the number of people killed or seriously injured on city roads by 50% by 2032 It comes as part of a new 'Road Safety Strategy', set to be approved by cabinet on Wedsnesday

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Ambitious target to reduce people killed or seriously injured on local roads by 50%

Doncaster’s new strategy will work towards an ambitious “Vision Zero” target that no one is killed or seriously injured on the road.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Councillor David Knight has dissolved the company he created to do business with DSA, which saw him booted from Reform UK last year Coun Knight tells me it is to "eliminate any conflicts of interest" and was a personal decision

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Reform UK councillor dissolves company linked to DSA 'conflict of interest' concerns

Councillor David Knight set up the company in hopes of doing business with Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which the council is working to reopen.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

EXC: Reported incidents of domestic abuse spiked in South Yorkshire during the 2026 World Cup During England's time in the tournament, there were 13.7% more incidents of abuse reported to South Yorkshire Police, compared to the month before ...

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Reposted by Harry Harrison

Annaleece Longmore @journoannaleece.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A health watchdog has declared a ‘gender health gap’ in Rotherham, revealing that some women feel their medical concerns are not taken seriously. The written experiences provide an insight into how women’s health issues are treated. www.thestar.co.uk/news/male-gp...

thestar.co.uk

'Male GP told me I couldn’t be sterilised before he spoke to my husband'

The written experiences provide an insight into how women’s health issues are treated.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

We've contacted councillors from across South Yorkshire for their thoughts on Burnham's plans to give regional mayors, like our own Oliver Coppard, more planning powers It's safe to say most are not impressed 🫤 Below by me with @journoannaleece.bsky.social

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

South Yorkshire split over Burnham plan to hand large planning decisions to Mayors

“Democracy has been broken to fulfil the Westminster wish. Done to, not with.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

NEW: The Planning Inspectorate has said the applicant for the Whitestone Solar Farm project have been issuing "hard copy forms" at public events, wrongly informing individuals these can be used to submit representations ...

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Doncaster's political toxicity comes from stuff like this, not from within the political sphere itself It is the same individuals each and every time in the city's social media space who share these twisted or misinformed versions (or in the below case untrue) of local stories

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Another example how, even on a local level, social media misinformation can be really impactful Myself and the DFP team have fielded multiple emails over the weekend from understandably fuming veterans and locals But, alas, it simply wasn't true

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Doncaster's Remembrance parade is"going ahead" says mayor after "misinformation"

There had been claims the parade was being dropped

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The new pay-and-display parking scheme at Doncaster Royal Infirmary will force families to take a "financial gamble" when paying for parking, according to the CEO of Citizens Advice Doncaster James Woods said many in Doncaster are already struggling financially

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Hospital parking system is ‘financial gamble’ for families, Citizens Advice

The new parking system has received criticism from charities and watchdogs.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

An interesting change here. Local critics might point out that this gives Oliver Coppard the power to take a decision over a 150+ home estate out of the hands of councillors living in and representing each respective borough

theguardian.com

Mayors to get new powers over planning decisions under Burnham proposals

Move would allow mayors to greenlight large developments and have more say on national housing funding

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The Government must give local authorities the power to "intervene" and buy major strategic infrastructure (such as regional airports) threatened by closure, a SYMCA inquiry has found Oliver Coppard called the Strategic Infrastructure Inquiry after the closure of DSA

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Expand powers for local authorities to buy closing airports, inquiry recommends

“The closure of DSA has underscored the potential community and economic impacts of losing critical infrastructure.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Spoke with Doncaster's new farming and nature recovery champion, William Shaw, this week Councillor Shaw is a farmer by trade. I spoke with him about how difficult the endless hot weather has been and will be

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Farmer warns the summer’s ‘bad harvest’ will have long-term impact

“Some farmers are going into winter stores already to feed cows.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Honoured that this gem of story I wrote when at The Star is considered an Angry People in Local Newspapers 'Classic' Wasn't possible without @lindsaypantry.bsky.social's photography

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🚨 CYCLE LANE STORY KLAXON Over £1m for more cycle lane infrustructure along Bawtry Road But don't worry angry motorists, the council are throwing in three sets of upgraded traffic lights to sweeten the deal

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Council to upgrade traffic lights on busy road as part of £1m+ cycle lane scheme

Cabinet members agreed to accept more than £1million from the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority for the cycle lane scheme.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Doncaster Council has some difficult financial decisions to come in the future If what I'm hearing from various sources is to be believed, the budget approved in February could end up being very problematic indeed

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Council directors encouraged to 'reduce expenditure' amid budget overspend projection

Emerging pressures on the council budget were considered signficant enough to have an early update issued to the Mayor’s cabinet.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Andy Burnham has committed to fixing social care Phil Holmes is president of the Association for Directors of Adult Social Care, he also works for Doncaster Council So it felt only right I speak to him about how we fix our broken system

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

'This is what Andy Burnham can do to fix our broken social care system'

“The first step to a solution is listening. It’s listening to people and what they need to live a good life, that’s always the first step.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Raytheon Systems Ltd has been awarded a £7.4m contract to build new radars for Doncaster Sheffield Airport Procurement of new radars for DSA was described as being "off track" in the report

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Council signs off contract for new airport radars worth over £7million

The seven-figure contract will be paid out gradually as certain milestones are reached.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

"I see the difference" The public spaces protection order in Doncaster city centre is up for renewal, with officials planning to extend powers to ban "amplified equipment" Local restauranteur, Shayne Chen, says the PSPO has visibly made a difference

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Business owner welcomes new city centre PSPO as officials grilled over enforcement

The council will ban the use of “amplified equipment” in the city centre without required permissions.

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Sheffield coffee diaries ☕️ Another recent new try was Lemon Town on Barkers Pool Had a number of cappuccinos and flat whites over the last few weeks as it’s right outside the new office. A nice tasting roast, often a little hot but manageable 7.7/10

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The number of people moving to Doncaster, combined with the city's high levels of deprivation, could be "catastrophic" for local healthcare, a leading local GP has warned Doncaster's richest will live 10 years longer than its poorest - with demand rising

doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Population growth and deprivation could be ‘catastrophic’ for NHS, warns GP

“If you can’t get care when you need it, the NHS has already failed and collapsed.”

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Sheffield coffee diaries returns ☕️ Found Pipers on Herries Road during my travels today Cappuccino because it’s still the morning Tasted great, served at a perfect temp for immediate enjoyment, but still lasted me the trip back into the city centre May well be up there with the city’s best 9/10

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Harry Harrison @hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Fact Check The below post from Reform UK Doncaster claims every Doncaster councillor is required to undertake a DBS check - suggesting a double standard between local authorities and Westminster This is not true I explain in this thread 🧵

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