About Friends of Graves Park
In 1935 Alderman J G Graves bought the proposed site & gifted the land to the people of Sheffield on condition that the City Council maintained it as public parkland forever. The Lord Mayor of Sheffield accepted the conditions, and the land became an extension of Graves Park. THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES FOR THE LAND'S USE!
Each day the park draws thousands of visitors attracted by the animal farm and the open spaces where they can kick a football. It is also a venue for many events where 15,000 or more people attend and fair grounds play rock music & host fireworks displays late into the night.There are many days when local roads are chock-a-block with cars and local residents take a day out in Derbyshire to escape the din. This is not an option if you are bed ridden in a hospice.
The site is also around 50 yards from Norton Church. This is the oldest church in Sheffield and dates from 1180. It has bells and has a long tradition of ringing them. They ring at weddings. They ring at funerals and every Sunday they ring at the church services. Every Wednesday evening the bell ringers practice for around 2 hours. Would this tradition have to be stopped if a hospice were built next door? The church also has a clock, which chimes the hour 24 hours a day. The sighting of St Luke's in the park might at first glance appear to be a good idea, but relocating it to an isolated spot like Norton Aerodrome makes a great deal more sense.
Norton Aerodrome is an isolated site which offers excellent access and the possibility of creating buildings tailored to the hospices needs rather than the confines of the site. It is a brown field site that is currently an eyesore. It has been identified by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as a site for future housing development.
Closer to the current St Luke's site is Whirlow Hall Farm. This is another quiet site with 130 acres of land ideal for the sighting of a hospice.Other sites worthy of consideration are Oakes Park, the Talbot School site, Hazelbarrow School site, and a playing field off Matthews Lane.
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friends@gravespark.fsnet.co.uk.
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Copyright © 2000 Friends of Graves Park