Local Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the announcement of a ground breaking green transport project in Sheffield, which will see the Government invest millions of pounds in South Yorkshire.

Government funding for the Tram-Train project, which would link Rotherham Parkgate to Sheffield City Centre, was announced today by Lib Dem Transport Minister, Norman Baker MP.

The investment was secured following lobbying by Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield Hallam MP, Nick Clegg.

Tram-Train will explore the possibility of trams travelling both on the heavy rail and light rail network and would be operated by Stagecoach Supertram as an extension of their existing Supertram route.

The project aims to deliver three services an hour between Sheffield City Centre and Rotherham Parkgate.

Cllr Ian Auckland, Sheffield Lib Dem spokesperson for Transport, said:

“I’m delighted that plans first drawn up when Liberal Democrats ran the Council are now being brought to fruition by Liberal Democrats in Government.

“Thanks to the lobbying of Nick Clegg, millions of pounds are being invested in our local public transport. Lib Dems in Government are putting their money where their mouth is by supporting this project, unlike the Labour Government, who failed to stump up the necessary cash.

“The Tram-Train project will bring new jobs to Sheffield and put South Yorkshire on the cutting edge of sustainable and green transport.”

Local residents have been left outraged as Sheffield City Council move forward with plans to close three local dementia care centres.

The Labour-run council is set to agree its dementia strategy next Wednesday (23^rd May, 2pm), which does not rule out the closure of centres despite a strong local campaign to save them.

The strategy contains savings of £385,000. The Council’s 2012 Budget stated this saving would be made by planning “to decommission existing resource centre provision.”

This places three local dementia care homes, Bole Hill View, Norbury, and Hurfield View, under threat of closure.

Cllr Rob Frost was elected as the new Lib Dem councillor for Crookes, running a strong local campaign to save Bole Hill View. He’s outraged by the latest Council strategy.

Cllr Rob Frost, Lib Dem councillor for Crookes, said:

“The people of Crookes have spoken loud and clear but Labour councillors are refusing to listen.

“Bole Hill View is a vital part of our local community and supports some of the most vulnerable people in our area. Labour should listen to local people and rule out closure as an option.”

Why not sign our petition against the closure of local dementia care centres by clicking here?

The Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council have announced the results of their election for a new Shadow Cabinet.

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed was re-elected by his fellow councillors as the Group Leader. The rest of the Shadow Cabinet team elected are as follows:

Cllr Colin Ross (Deputy Leader) – Children, Young People and Families

Cllr Penny Baker – Homes & Neighbourhoods

Cllr Simon Clement-Jones – Finance

Cllr Ian Auckland – Business, Skills & Development (including Transport)

Cllr Clive Skelton – Health, Care & Independent Living

Cllr Joe Otten – Culture, Sport & Leisure (including Parks)

Cllr Alison Brelsford – Communities & Inclusion

Cllr David Baker – Environment, Waste & Streetscene

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Sheffield City Council, said:

“I’m proud of the strong team we’ve announced today, which compliments experience and youth.

“Although the Liberal Democrats face a tough position politically, we will continue to do job we were elected to serve. It’s vital that this arrogant and dogmatic Labour Council are held to account.

“We will continue to shine a spotlight on Town Hall waste and ask the difficult questions that Labour’s leaders want to avoid.”

Local Liberal Democrats have held six wards at the 2012 local elections, including all five wards in Nick Clegg’s Sheffield Hallam constituency.

Cllr Colin Ross, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group, was re-elected for his ward of Dore & Totley.

A number of new candidates were elected across Sheffield in Lib Dem held wards including, Penny Baker (Ecclesall), Sue Alston (Fulwood), Katie Condliffe (Stannington), and Denise Reaney (Graves Park).

Local Lib Dem campaigner, Rob Frost, also regained control of the Crookes Ward, which was won by Labour in 2011.

However across the city local Liberal Democrats lost nine councillors. Lib Dems remain the main opposition to Labour with 23 councillors. The Greens have two councillors and the Conservatives still do nto have a single councillor in Sheffield.

Nick Clegg, Deputy PM and Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam, said:

“Seeing friends and colleagues lose their Council seats is not easy. They have all worked extremely hard for the communities they represented over the years.

“Losing councillors is hard to take. It is often the price that parties in Government pay in mid-term, as Labour found out a few years ago. However, I am pleased to see that Lib Dems in Sheffield kept the Tories in check.

“I know Shaffaq and the rest of the team will continue to be the strong opposition to Labour thatSheffieldneeds on the Council.”

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council, said:

“I’m disappointed to lose hard working Lib Dem councillors. However, I am encouraged that we won every seat in Nick’s constituency, even winning a seat Labour won last time, and beat off the Tories comfortably.”

A local councillor has scored victory for local parents by securing thirty additional places at local primary schools.

Many local parents were left dismayed after their children failed to secure places at Dore Primary or Totley Primary despite living in the catchment area.

However, Colin Ross, local councillor for Dore & Totley, worked with local schools to ensure Sheffield City Council provided additional places for all children in the catchment area who were initially unsuccessful.

The announcement has been welcomed by local parents, who were worried their children could be sent as far away as Lower Meadow in Gleadless.

Colin Ross, local Lib Dem councillor for Dore & Totley, said:

“I’m delighted that we’ve have been able to convince the council that there is a pressing need for these additional places. Now parents will not be faced with the prospect of five mile journeys to their allocated schools.

“I’d like to thank local schools and concerned parents – by working together we’ve demonstrated the local leadership that our community needs.”