Sheffield Skybar

[hella good]

Ooh, I might go to that!

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Had my friend over from Berlin at the weekend to see Pulp and so stopped in Sheffield on the Friday night rather than him have to suffer a York night out again!

Although the weather was pretty shite on Friday he still really enjoyed it. Was really interested in Park Hill and the street art scene. And thought that the gateway to the city from the station was fantastic and that the city seemed like a much nicer place (his words) than Leeds. He compared it to Leipzig or Stuttgart in Germany but said that Sheffield seemed less shabby (his words again!). Had a really good night out in the Devonshire Qtr then went to the Wednesday game on the Saturday which he really enjoyed and thought the stadium, crowd and football was all really good for a 3rd division game compared to in Germany. Also went to the Millenium Galleries and did a bit of record shopping as well as a curry on the Wicker. Seemed like he had a really positive view of the city anyway which I thought I would share.

[AdamBlade]

Went to Stuttgart a couple of years ago and always thought it had a similar feel to Sheffield.

[AndrewC]

Originally Posted by Irish Blood English Heart

Had my friend over from Berlin at the weekend to see Pulp and so stopped in Sheffield on the Friday night rather than him have to suffer a York night out again!

Although the weather was pretty shite on Friday he still really enjoyed it. Was really interested in Park Hill and the street art scene. And thought that the gateway to the city from the station was fantastic and that the city seemed like a much nicer place (his words) than Leeds. He compared it to Leipzig or Stuttgart in Germany but said that Sheffield seemed less shabby (his words again!). Had a really good night out in the Devonshire Qtr then went to the Wednesday game on the Saturday which he really enjoyed and thought the stadium, crowd and football was all really good for a 3rd division game compared to in Germany. Also went to the Millenium Galleries and did a bit of record shopping as well as a curry on the Wicker. Seemed like he had a really positive view of the city anyway which I thought I would share.

Good work, thats a pretty decent varied account of all Sheffield has to offer! Would only have been completed by a trip to Attercliffe for some hookers.

[jozblade]

I've just read on the BBC that South Yorkshire will be losing its police helicopter. Terrible news in my opinion seeing as the nearest one will either be from Derbyshire or West Yorkshire.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-14809567

[Steel City Suburb]

Thats terrible. It does a very good job.

[blades_lad]

There was a report on it on last night's late Look Leeds bulletin. It's a shame as it does do a very good job, pity it's not a charity case like the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as I could see people donating to keep it running

[jozblade]

It always seems to be flying about near where I live, add that the work it does at football games etc. and it could have a detrimental affect on crime.

[aek-94]

Originally Posted by jozblade

I've just read on the BBC that South Yorkshire will be losing its police helicopter. Terrible news in my opinion seeing as the nearest one will either be from Derbyshire or West Yorkshire.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-14809567

The same thing has happened here on Merseyside. The air operations units of Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales have been merged into a single 'North West Air Operations Group'. Our nearest police helicopter on Merseyside is either from Manchester or North Wales.

[muddycoffee]

it would be interesting to compare the effeciveness of the running costs of having a permanent police helicopter versus the 20 extra police officers its running costs would employ.

My guess is that an extra 20 police constables would serve the community and clear up much more crime.

[arepeejee]

Its not just for the police though - the thermal cameras help save lives of people and firefighters in burning buildings.

It's a disgrace.

[muddycoffee]

Originally Posted by arepeejee

Its not just for the police though - the thermal cameras help save lives of people and firefighters in burning buildings.

It's a disgrace.

And why can't these thermal cameras be mounted on remote control helicopters like the army do in the middle east. This way you spend 20 grand on a fancy remote control helicopter instead of millions on a full sizeed one and it costs far less to run.

[jozblade]

The helicopter, as has been seen on numerous TV programmes, is very good at tracking down criminals where the police would otherwise be unable to find them.

I think its a disgrace that a supposed large economic nation is having to have these cuts to the public sectors. Are there going to be police helicopters taken out of the south east, in particular London? I doubt it.

[arepeejee]

Originally Posted by muddycoffee

And why can't these thermal cameras be mounted on remote control helicopters like the army do in the middle east. This way you spend 20 grand on a fancy remote control helicopter instead of millions on a full sizeed one and it costs far less to run.

Normal cameras yes, decent thermal cameras are far too large currently. You also need a very sensitive Infrared camera and a powerful infrared beam to switch to. *and* a decent zoom lens for daylight is around 1kg which would be a third camera on one small mini drone.

[muddycoffee]

I'm just a bit dubious about the value of having a permanent helicopter for south yorkshire. The expense of keeping such a machine must run to a fortune which could easily be more usefully spent.

[jozblade]

It depends how you look at it. The police helicopter, along with solving traffic related incidents etc. has also uncovered thousands of pounds worth of drug factories through its thermal imaging camera. It's unlikley any other method would have traced this so easily.

Sure, it is expensive to run (I think 600k a year), but its a valuable public service and I personally don't believe it should be compromised.

[ThomasB443]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/sheffi...cial_1_3761166

Sheffield University is Yorkshire’s number one - and that’s official

Published on Saturday 10 September 2011 09:36

IT’S Yorkshire’s number one - and that’s official.

The University of Sheffield has been named the best in the county in a highly respected academic guide.

The Sunday Times University Guide 2012, which is published tomorrow, shows Sheffield has overtaken York to become number one in Yorkshire.

It also shows the university has risen from 18th place nationally in 2009 to 15th last year, before reaching its current 13th position.

The guide says the university performed well in a variety of areas including the health professions, engineering and science.

And the seat of learning produced world-leading research in 47 of 49 subjects submitted, including psychology, architecture and law.

Guide authors used data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the National Student Survey, the national funding councils, university heads of department and the 126 institutions themselves.

They looked at categories including peer assessment, where academics were asked to rate departments in their subject field at other universities on a five-point scale for the quality of their undergraduate provision.

Entry standards – the total number of Ucas points held by students enrolling for courses in 2009-10 - were also considered.

The survey also examined research, the proportion of top quality degrees awarded and drop-out rates.

The ranking is the latest in a long line of recent accolades for the university, including shortlisting for three prestigious Times Higher Education Awards 2011 and listing in the top 10 for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2011.

The university was also successful in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey where it ranked second overall in the country.

It was also named top for its Students’ Union, joint first for its social life, library facilities and accommodation and named “the university most people would recommend to a friend”.

Its pioneering research has also been highly commended this year, named in the top 100 QS World University Rankings and in the top 100 Times Higher Education World University Reputation Rankings, based exclusively on universities’ standing among experienced academics all over the globe.

Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Sheffield, said: “Being named top in the region is a fantastic accolade for the university, and one that is richly deserved.

“The university has not only been named top in Yorkshire but has also seen a rise in national ranking, highlighting an exceptional reputation both at home and overseas.

“The university has been acknowledged in recent awards and rankings in a wide variety of areas, including outstanding student satisfaction, innovative widening participation schemes and world-leading research, demonstrating commitment to constantly strive towards excellence in everything we do.”

Paul Blomfield, who was general manager of Sheffield University’s Union of Students until he was elected as MP for Sheffield Central, welcomed the news. He said: “I have always considered Sheffield University to be the best in Yorkshire but to see it confirmed is great news for the city.

“I would also like to say a great deal of strength is also given to the city from Sheffield Hallam University, which is also highly regarded in the academic world.”

[slother]

South Yorkshire to keep own police helicopter service

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/...vice_1_3805643

[Steel City Suburb]

Common sense prevails.

[jozblade]

Great news in my opinion. Forget the cost, it's worth it in the number of crimes it can solve where foot-police can't.