Harry Harrison
@hharrisonjourno.bsky.social
Local Democracy Reporter for Doncaster Occasional reviewer of coffee shops in Sheffield Views my own/RTs ≠ endorsements | DMs are open Email: harry.harrison@iconicmediagroup.co.uk
The number of people moving to Doncaster, combined with the city's high levels of deprivation, could be "catastrophic" for local healthcare, a leading local GP has warned Doncaster's richest will live 10 years longer than its poorest - with demand rising
Population growth and deprivation could be ‘catastrophic’ for NHS, warns GP
“If you can’t get care when you need it, the NHS has already failed and collapsed.”
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
Sheffield coffee diaries returns ☕️ Found Pipers on Herries Road during my travels today Cappuccino because it’s still the morning Tasted great, served at a perfect temp for immediate enjoyment, but still lasted me the trip back into the city centre May well be up there with the city’s best 9/10
Fact Check The below post from Reform UK Doncaster claims every Doncaster councillor is required to undertake a DBS check - suggesting a double standard between local authorities and Westminster This is not true I explain in this thread 🧵
NEW: A new training facility for elite professional football clubs is coming to Doncaster after getting planning permission on the second attempt It comes as the applicant agreed to purchase the properties of key objectors who spoke against the initial proposal
Elite football retreat approved after applicant buys objectors' homes
The plans received backing from major clubs in England and abroad including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and LA Galaxy.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
A Doncaster MP cancelled a private meeting with town councillors over safety concerns - after one of them posted on social media for followers to wait outside and "greet" him
MP cancels meeting over safety fears after FB post from town councillor
Mick Glynn told followers to wait for the Labour MP outside the town council and “greet” him on his arrival.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
It was really great to go and speak with Tom from EPIC in Frenchgate They’re clearly doing great things and it’s no wonder a new location is on the cards!
'These kids are our future': Over 2,000 young people attend award-winning youth hub
More than 2,400 young people in Doncaster attended the EPIC hub in the last year more than 8,300 times in total.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
Interestingly, this means that all four Donny MPs are bound by collective responsibility So there'll be no MPs publicly speaking up for the city if any new government policies aren't in its best interest - unless they resign
Harry Harrison@hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · last wk.NEW: Lee Pitcher MP appointed a PPS in Defra Makes it 4/4 Donny MPs with Government appointments
NEW: Lee Pitcher MP appointed a PPS in Defra Makes it 4/4 Donny MPs with Government appointments
Always proof-read your FOI requests Still not over the fact I sent one off last week asking for data from August 1, 2026, to present... 🤦♂️
It's extraordinary how a bit of a focus on the long-neglected north has sent some people completely loopy
A Doncaster Dad has said he holds the local council and Homes England "liable" for a collision which hospitalised his young daughter She was struck on Woodfield Way in Balby, an unadopted road with no pedestrian crossings - despite 17 requests in the last five years
Girl hit by car on 'unadopted road' with no crossings, despite 17 requests to council
Residents have asked Doncaster Council for pedestrian crossings on Woodfield Way 17 times in the last five years.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
Doncaster Council needs more than 100 extra SEND places in order to ease financial pressures and protect quality provision Councillors were informed of a six-strand strategy which could create more than 600 places
Council needs 100 more SEND places to ease financial pressures and protect services
The high costs of external and out of area placements could have a negative impact on quality of provision for SEND children.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
Doncaster Central's Sally Jameson is rewarded for her work getting Andy Burnham in in Makerfield Burnham thanked three women by name during his by-election victory speech - Louise Haigh, Annalise Midgley and Sally Jameson
Co-operative Party@coopparty.party.coop · 2w ago🐝 Congratulations to Co-operative Party MP Sally Jameson, our new Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government!
Having so many Doncaster and South Yorkshire MPs in government could suggest continued Whitehall support for Doncaster Sheffield Airport Healey's backed reopening in the past and Miliband isn't the vocal critic people expected him to be with his climate priorities
BREAKING: Ed Miliband is foreign secretary Shabana Mahmood stays as home secretary Louise Haigh is Chx of the Duchy of Lancaster
Doncaster is the best political patch in the country Doncaster Council is a journalist’s dream Two MPs in the four great offices of state
Healey could turn out to be a shrewd appointment. He’s obviously well respected and seen as dependable. I think the key thing here is that Burnham wants someone to faithfully carry out his vision and his economic agenda - not their own. He gets that with Healey I think.
Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband also now in No10 That's now two out of four Doncaster MP's set to be given Government jobs after Healey went in earlier We're also expecting Sally Jameson MP (Doncaster Central) to land a more junior government role
Doncaster/Rotherham MP and ex-defence secretary John Healey is in No.10, Steven Swinford reporting Healey certainly seemed open to a return to the Labour frontbench when I interviewed him earlier this month Read:
Local MP hints he’d be open to Government return with Andy Burnham
John Healey has served in the cabinets and shadow cabinets of Keir Starmer, Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
NEW: One police officer will receive training after a clash between police and teenage girls in Rotherham in June went viral A review by South Yorkshire Police determined the use of force to be "proportionate, necessary and justified"
Police officer to receive training after viral clash between police and teen girls
The footage was described as “shocking” by South Yorkshire Police following the incident.
rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk
I know this place is full of Starmer fans and I also know it needs to be about a lot more than just communication But it cannot be denied that Burnham is considerably better at that side of things - he just showed it
Doncaster Council is in touch with the family of Mackenzie Swift over a potential tribute or "place of remembrance" Mackenzie tragically drowned in the River Don during the record-breaking heatwave in May
Council in touch with family over potential tribute to Mackenzie Swift
Councillor Sue Farmer also praised the South Yorkshire-based water safety charity, Sam’s Army Mission.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
NEW: Ed Miliband has accused Reform UK of "failing" local people after the party supported a motion to revoke Doncaster Council's climate emergency The Net Zero Secretary's constituency is in Doncaster
Miliband says Reform UK ‘failing’ Doncaster after council revokes climate emergency
Doncaster Council serves Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary’s Doncaster North constituency.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
Doncaster Council will call on Andy Burnham's government to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls after a unanimous vote by in the chamber
Council to call on Burnham’s government to tackle violence against women and girls
“Violence against women and girls is not an abstract statistic. It is the lived reality of women across this city.”
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
REPORT: Doncaster Council revokes 'climate emergency' declared in 2019 Labour councillors attempted to secure a "review" rather than it being rescinded, but without success
Council revokes climate emergency declared in 2019
Doncaster Council’s 2030 and 2040 emissions targets are unlikely to be met.
doncasterfreepress.co.uk
NEW: Doncaster Council (Ed Miliband's back yard) votes to rescind a climate emergency declared in 2019 32 councillors voted in favour of recision to 13 against
Irony in the Doncaster Council chamber as the Labour leadership is contending the importance of not rescinding the climate emergency, whilst simultaneously trying to reopen an international airport... Which has just been pointed out by Cllr Rachel Reed - to some laughs
Harry Harrison@hharrisonjourno.bsky.social · 4w ago"It is hot, but what’s Doncaster going to do about it?" That was Cllr Cynthia Ransome's response when I asked her about the optics of proposing to reverse Doncaster Council's 2019 climate emergency at the start of a second heatwave in three weeks Read my report below ⬇️
"No blank cheque" Oliver Coppard spoke on Doncaster Sheffield Airport during the SYMCA Board meeting this week. Story in The Star from my fellow South Yorkshire LDR Julia Armstrong www.thestar.co.uk/news/politic...
South Yorkshire mayor says "no blank cheque" for Doncaster Sheffield Airport but project remains on track
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has said that £16m initial funding to help reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport does not mean there is a “blank cheque” for the project.
thestar.co.uk
NEW: The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport has taken another step forward as airspace proposals will now proceed to public consultation, the airport confirms Consultation will open on August 3, 2026, to October 4, 2026. Funding beyond September remains uncertain
