This week’s District News from our correspondents across the Rotherham borough
This week’s District News from our correspondents
KIMBERWORTH AND KIMBERWORTH PARK
Karen Wilkes - Tel 07930 438313 or email [email protected]
THE SALVATION ARMY: 158 High Street, Kimberworth S61 2BE Telephone 01709 558435. Email [email protected]. Sundays 10.30am for relaxed and relevant church gathering. Tuesday 9.30-10.30am coffee morning, 10.30-11,30am bible study group. Wednesday 9-11am play group for preschoolers. Friday 9-10am prayer space.
ST THOMAS’ CHURCH: Peter Street, Kimberworth. Holy Communion every second and fourth Sunday. Family Service first Sunday of month and All-Age service with potential baptisms on third Sunday. All services 10am. Coffee mornings in Community Hall on first Wednesday of month 10am-noon. Good Companions on first and third Thursday 1.30-3.30pm. For enquiries about baptisms or weddings, contact Rev Diane Etchell [email protected]. To hire the Community Centre, contact Rachel [email protected].
KIMBERWORTH LIBRARY: Church Street, Kimberworth. Tel 01709 558581. Opening times - Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-1pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 1.30-7pm, Friday 1.30-5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am-1pm, Sunday closed. Knit and Natter every Thursday 2.30-4.30pm, experienced and beginners welcome. Readers’ Group – on second Thursday of month 5.30-6.45pm. IT beginners’ course – learn basic IT and internet skills with Learnmyway.com 10-11am every Tuesday. Police Drop In – 1 st Tuesday of month 9.30-11am. Free stories, songs and rhymes for under 5s every Monday 11.15-11.45am.
ST JOHN’S CHURCH: Last Sunday morning’s service was a Songs of Praise with songs chosen by church members. On Thursday, the Drop-In cafe will be closed for the August break, opening again Thursday 3 September, when the councillor surgery will be available. Sunday - Holy Communion 10.30am.
CLLRS’ SURGERIES AT ST JOHN’S CHURCH: Cllr Simon Currie - Third Monday of month 6-7pm. Cllr Gill Garnett – First Thursday of month 11.30am-12.30pm along with council Housing and Local Policing Team.
ST JOHN’S GREEN STAKEHOLDER GROUP: Consists of residents, business owners, councillors, RMBC housing and estates staff, police, church members, community groups, children and young peoples’ services etc. Meets regularly at St John’s Church to discuss ideas and problems.
KIMBERWORTH PARK COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP: Membership open to residents of the estate and others who work there. Meetings held regularly to update members on developments and plans for making a difference to the estate. Contact 01709 559805.
ACTIVITIES AT THE CHISLETT CENTRE: Monday – Friday 9am-3pm Men in Sheds (woodwork/gardening/socialising), Knit/Natter 9.30-11.30am, Quiet Group 11.30am-1.30pm, Sewing group 1.30-3.15pm. Tuesday – 11.30am-1.30pm Social group for over 50s. Wednesday – 9.15-11am Craft Group. Last Wednesday of month – noon-2pm Forget Me Not Memory Café (social group for people with dementia). Mon/Tues/Wed - 10am-noon and Thursday 1-3 pm Community Gym. Thursday - 10-11am Gentle Exercise/Keep Fit, 11.30am Musicality. Friday - 10.30-11.30am Yoga (chair based or floor mat), noon-1.pm Wellbeing/Mindfulness.
CHISLETT COMMUNITY GYM: Chislett Centre S61 3JT. Small friendly low-cost gym - £3 per session. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-noon. Instructor is GP referral and pre and post-natal trained. Individual support and free induction. For information/booking – phone Sam 07523889765 or [email protected],
KIMBERWORTH PARK WALKING FOR PLEASURE: Meets at St John’s Church on Wednesday 9.45am. On August 19, the group walked to Fenton Road, crossed over to the woods, walked down Bassingthorpe Lane and then along the footpath to Clough Road. Anyone wishing to join should contact Karen Wilkes [email protected]. Website https://www.kimberworthwalking.net.
GRANGE PARK GOLF CLUB: Golf memberships available. Contact 01709 919991.
KIMBERWORTH PARK TARA: Open Monday-Wednesday 9-11am. Byrley Road. Clothes, bric-a-brac, toys, books, DVDs etc on sale. Donations welcome.
KIMBERWORTH PARK CLUB 50+: Meet Friday noon-3 pm at St Thomas’s Community Hall, High Street, Kimberworth. Door to door drop off and pick up if booked. Full disabled access. Contact Pauline Fairbrother 07947090607.
S61 LITTER ACTION GROUP: This year celebrates the 5th anniversary of the group. For details of future litterpicks, see Facebook page S61 Litterpickers. To get involved, check out Facebook page or contact Neil 07960 507582.
ROTHERHAM BMX CLUB: Little Common Lane, Kimberworth. To promote BMX / MTB Racing which is suitable for anyone aged 4 to 40+. The club has a number of bikes and safety equipment available, which can be hired. To book go to www.rotherhambmx.com/shop or contact [email protected].
BARKERS PARK BOWLING CLUB: Redscope Crescent S613LY. Anyone interested in crown green bowling can visit the club. There is usually someone there (weather permitting) every Friday 10.30am-1pm and Tuesdays if not playing away. On some Tuesdays and Thursdays, there may be a league game, so all welcome to watch. Contact Dave Neale 07837460152.
WHISTON
Elaine Reynard - Tel 07825 558070 or email [email protected]
WHISTON RESIDENTS ACTION GROUP (WRAG): WRAG would like to thank all those who attended the recent public meeting regarding the proposed building of 450 dwellings behind Lathe Road/Worrygoose Lane. From the documents submitted to RMBC under Planning Applications RB2024/0104 and RB2026/0662, WRAG members outlined the four main areas where there were concerns, including: 1)Flood Risk/Drainage - a) Surface Water: (rainfall, snow melt, water from drives/roofs etc) - surface water stored in the three on-site attenuation basins and two tanks, with a total attenuation of over 14,000 cubic metres, will take approximately 46 days to empty after a prolonged downpour and therefore will not comply with regulations which state that such basins should be half empty within 24 hours, b) Foul Water: (toilets, sinks etc) - documentation submitted states that there is no capacity within the local sewer network, including Worrygoose Lane Pumping Station or at the Waste Water Treatment Works at Aldwarke, but approval has been given to discharge into the local network, c) Groundwater: (within the ground at all times and travels within fissures in the strata) - this will collect beneath the attenuation basin liners and will likely contain contaminants, particularly iron. No drainage strategy has been submitted to state where this groundwater will drain to and is likely to go to Whiston Brook. d) Exceedance: (additional water not contained by attenuation) - documentation submitted states that this will be retained onsite and will not flow elsewhere, but the plan shows it flowing onto the golf course, or alternatively it will flow down Worrygoose Lane and into Whiston Brook. 2) Traffic/Access - the original planning application (RB2019/0552) was submitted in 2019 and a Transport Management Plan submitted. Despite the increase in local traffic over the seven ensuing years, no further Transport Management Plan has been submitted and there is no mention of the proposed traffic mitigation plan for Worrygoose Roundabout. With regard to the two approved access roads, an additional access for site vehicles on to the private Golf Club road has now been included on the plan which would result in heavy construction vehicles travelling along Shrogswood/Lathe/Sheepcote Roads, all of which are narrow, and would see slow-moving vehicles egress on to a 40mph dual carriageway. 3) Building Height/Scale - 3 storey houses included in design plan, but never approved for this site, 4) Drilling/Grouting - documentation states that some damage to “local receptors”, i.e.housing, could occur during the construction phase, but no clear acknowledgement of risk or compensation. Anyone wishing to comment/object to Planning Application RB2024/0104 can do so via the RMBC Planning Portal - closing date is now 2nd September 2026. If you wish to speak at the relevant Planning Board meeting, please register your interest by email to [email protected].
WHISTON HERITAGE SOCIETY: The next meeting will take place on Tuesday September 1, with a talk by Matthew Hopps, Hazel Hopps and Tony Griffin entitled ‘Whiston in World War I’. Join as Matthew Hopps presents a three-way collaboration telling the story of Whiston during World War I, including the story of the war itself plus details of the 30-plus Whiston soldiers who left the village to go and fight for King and Country but who, sadly, never came home. Time: 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start. Admission £3 per person.
WHISTON PARISH CHURCH: Sunday August 23 was the twelfth Sunday after Trinity. Rev Karen Skidmore preached and presided at the 9.45am Parish Eucharist. There was no choir or Starfish Gang meeting; both will resume in September. On Wednesday, the midweek Holy Communion service was at 10.30am. That evening, the Mission Area book group met at St James Church, Clifton to complete study of Bishop Pete’s book ‘Come for Refuge’. Next Sunday, August 30, the Parish Eucharist service will be at 9.45am. To make arrangements for weddings or baptisms, ring 07799684543 or email [email protected]/ whiston [email protected]. Contacts - Lucy Luckock (children and families’ activities) on 07707863901; Rev Karen Skidmore, Priest in charge, on 07356232600; Alan Teale, churchwarden, on 07803021201. Email [email protected].
WHISTON METHODIST CHURCH: Last Sunday morning’s service was led by John Cook. The Craft and Board Games group met on Tuesday noon-2pm. The Community Coffee Morning is today (Thursday) 10-11.30am. Next Sunday morning the 10.30am service will be at Broom Methodist Church led by Rev Andrew Fox. One of the members of our congregation, Hugh Morgan, passed away on August 17. He was for many years a member at Talbot Lane Methodist Church and a Methodist local preacher. There will be a Bank Holiday coffee morning on Monday August 31 10am-noon.
BROOM METHODIST CHURCH: Our service on Sunday was led by Gail Atkin who preached on the theme of examples of people in the bible inspiring us by their actions in times of difficulty. Our service next Sunday will be a united circuit service led by Rev Andrew Fox 10.30am. Tuesday@Broom will next meet on Tuesday September 8 10am-noon. Broom Baby and Toddler Group will resume on Thursday September 3 9-11am and every Thursday during term time.
MEXBOROUGH & SWINTON
Ruth Booth-Rodgers - Email [email protected]
MEXBOROUGH, DENABY AND CONISBROUGH FOODBANK: The foodbank is part of the Coop Local Community Fund, with 794 Coop members currently supporting the foodbank through the fund, meaning donations are received every time someone shops. Visit https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/99678. Recent donations have included those from The Food Warehouse/Iceland Foods in Parkgate, the Discount Food Centre in Mexborough, and Concentrix at Dearne Valley.
MEXBOROUGH MARKET: With construction work ongoing as part of plans to improve the town centre, visitors may be finding it harder to reach the shops and market hall, therefore reducing footfall. With this in mind, local residents are being asked to support local businesses at this difficult time, by shopping local and paying a visit to the high street shops and the Market Hall.
ROAD CLOSURES: From September 1-September 11 7pm-6am, a number of roads in Mexborough will be closed for works. These are Greens Way 'in an easterly direction from its junction with Hartley Street to its junction with Adwick Road', West Street 'from its junction with Greens Way to its junction with John Street', and Bank Street ' from the exit slip on Greens Way in an easterly direction'.
PLANNING APPLICATION: A consultation on a planning application for a nine bedroom HMO on Bank Street in Mexborough is open. Local councillor Brendan Megaw is offering to help anyone with concerns around the application or who would like to object to it. Email [email protected].
THE SPIRIT OF MEXBOROUGH: The Spirit of Mexborough community group is planning a Christmas Market for November 27 4-7pm. They are looking for stallholders. If you are interested, message the group via their Facebook page.
ANDYS MAN CLUB ROTHERHAM: Provides mental health support for men aged 18 plus, who can visit one of the groups in Rotherham. The club in Swinton is at Swinton Civic Hall on Station Street on Mondays, excluding bank holidays, 7pm. Free to attend, with no referral needed.
SENSORY PLAY: A sensory play group for babies every Thursday during term-time 10-11am at Brookfield Family Hub on Lime Grove in Swinton. The group includes a baby self weigh, and activities. No booking required, free to attend.
ST. MARGARET'S PARISH CHURCH, SWINTON: Messy Church is on Saturday September 5 11am-1pm. A Heritage Weekend is on Saturday September 12 10am-1pm and will include heritage stalls and displays, book sale and churchyard geology and historical tours. Admission free. The church's annual fashion show and clothes sale is on Wednesday September 23 6.30pm, and will include clothes from high street retailers. Tickets £3 or two for £5, with proceeds to the church. Visit the church's Facebook page.