Andrew Dowdeswell
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adowdeswell.bsky.social
Andrew Dowdeswell
@adowdeswell.bsky.social
Sheffield reporter for YorkshireLive.

Got a story or fancy a coffee? Get in touch: andrew.dowdeswell@reachplc.com
I watched the opening arguments of the Chris Brain trial at Inner London Crown Court earlier this week.

Brain is accused of 36 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape. The 68-year-old ran the Nine O'Clock Service in Sheffield from 1985 to 1994.
July 3, 2025 at 7:54 AM
The Sheffield Drop is a month old! 🥳

And we celebrate with a bumper edition! @reformuk.bsky.social secured its first @sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social seat after the party's historic Stocksbridge and Upper Don by-election victory.

open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...
The Sheffield Drop 💧 Monday, June 30
A bumper edition of The Sheffield Drop to celebrate one month in existence today. A historic new councillor, continued Greenbelt protests, and the end of an era for The Leadmill all feature.
open.substack.com
June 30, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop is here:

@sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social wants an urgent conversation with the government after new legislation -- on which it was not consulted -- may overturn the city's 2021 referendum on how the council is run.

open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...
The Sheffield Drop 💧 Friday, June 27
In today's edition: The council gets a surprise, a horrifying attack on a Sheffield mosque, and the latest update on the long-running Veolia strike.
open.substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The turnout was 36.8%, which is significantly higher than average for local elections. Perhaps shows the growing impact Reform is having in areas across the country.
Sheffield has its first Reform UK councillor. Overnight, John Booker won the Upper Don and Stocksbridge by-election, securing 32.9% of the vote.

Mr Booker has been a councillor before, representing UKIP in West Ecclesfield from 2014 to 2019.
June 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Sheffield has its first Reform UK councillor. Overnight, John Booker won the Upper Don and Stocksbridge by-election, securing 32.9% of the vote.

Mr Booker has been a councillor before, representing UKIP in West Ecclesfield from 2014 to 2019.
June 27, 2025 at 7:31 AM
As an increasing number of Labour MPs rebel against the government's welfare reforms, I asked the only Sheffield MP why they did not sign an amendment to potentially reject disability benefit cuts.
June 25, 2025 at 11:10 AM
The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop has landed in your inboxes - and it's all about 💧:

- Yorkshire Water is urging residents to limit their usage
- Police are warning kids against open-water swimming
- Meanwhile, South Yorkshire's most senior firefighter is arguing for a water safety minister
June 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
💧Today's edition of The Sheffield Drop is out.

✈️ Progress on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport, updates on the Hillsborough Park development, and a rather interesting football talk all feature.

open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...
The Sheffield Drop 💧 Monday, June 16
A slightly quieter edition today: Oliver Coppard gets to work on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport, an 11-year-old girl is killed by a Ford van, and further road safety measures are announced.
open.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 9:41 AM
The latest edition of The #Sheffield Drop was published yesterday.

In uglier news, I’m posting this at 1.30am as I’ve been sat in A&E all night with a suspected torn MCL…

open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...
The Sheffield Drop 💧 Friday June 6
Two major crime stories lead today's edition, as well as news of The Leadmill's final live performance and the first lines from an FA report into the circumstance surrounding Maddy Cusack's death.
open.substack.com
June 7, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Despite having only launched yesterday, The #Sheffield Drop has reached 100 subscribers already.

Thank you all for joining with me. Please do get in touch about why you subscribed and what you'd like to see from the newsletter.
May 31, 2025 at 7:28 AM
In The #Sheffield Drop today:

Public consultation for the council's plans to build on the greenbelt, a new Rock N Roll Circus headliner, and a possible @peakdistrict.bsky.social visitor's charge.

And there's a little #swimming anecdote...

thesheffielddrop.substack.com/p/the-sheffi...
The Sheffield Drop 💧 Friday May 30
Welcome to the first Sheffield Drop. In today's edition: controversial greenbelt consultation opens, Bryan Adams on his way to Sheffield, and a potential charge to visit the Peak District.
thesheffielddrop.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Some exciting news! We are launching The #Sheffield Drop - a bulletin newsletter published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays that will provide you with everything you need to know about the Steel City

thesheffielddrop.substack.com
The Sheffield Drop | Substack
The Sheffield Drop provides you with the best coverage of the city. From the headlines making the news to the latest interesting events, we’ll give you the inside track on everything you need to know....
thesheffielddrop.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
🟩 The public consultation for #Sheffield Council's plan to build on the greenbelt to meet government housing targets is now open.

You can have your say here:

haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/sheffield-pl...
Sheffield Plan - proposed additional site allocations
We are seeking your views on potential changes to the draft Sheffield Plan that has been submitted to the Government for public examination. The changes are in response to the request for the Council ...
haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk
May 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Here is my report from #Sheffield council yesterday - it was a pretty fiery meeting at times, but ultimately, the controversial greenbelt plans were passed
I will have a report from a spicy council meeting this afternoon for @yorkshirelive.co.uk - and there will be plenty of coverage on this issue over the coming weeks and months.
May 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
We are hearing from angry residents who are petitioning against #Sheffield Council's plans to build in greenbelt land.

The council is voting today - and there was a rousing applause following the opening petition statement.
May 14, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Andrew Dowdeswell
The pair have been sentenced for their crimes
Vile 'menaces' forced people to peddle Class A drugs for 16 hours a day
www.examinerlive.co.uk
May 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Well, that didn't go very well. Massive to get Partey next week
April 29, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Responsible journalism suspended for the next two hours
April 29, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Yesterday, I was at #Sheffield Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing for the killing of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose.

A 15-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a blade, but denied murder.
April 29, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by Andrew Dowdeswell
A 15-year-old Halifax girl has gone missing
Halifax teen goes missing as police appeal for information
www.examinerlive.co.uk
April 27, 2025 at 12:29 PM
An incident in Leeds has been transferred to counter terror police, West Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday.

A man attacked Otley Road with a slew of weapons, seriously injuring two women. A 38-year-old man has been arrested and was taken to hospital with a self-inflicted injury.
April 27, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Reposted by Andrew Dowdeswell
A plume of dark smoke billowed over Sheffield this afternoon
Live updates as dark smoke billows over Sheffield
www.examinerlive.co.uk
April 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The snooker is back at #Sheffield

But for how long?
April 19, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Everything is fine...
April 11, 2025 at 11:19 AM
#Sheffield city centre has a new PSPO (public space protection order). It came into force this week, and provides police and local authority officers with expanded powers to deal with antisocial behaviour, such as loitering, begging, street drink, and urination. But will it actually work?
April 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM