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DURING the current gloom of an economic recession, we must be thankful for small mercies. So there is a slight room for optimism in the limited good news that the number of job losses within South Yorkshire has finally begun to slow down.
However, that does not offer much in the way of comfort to the 41,000-plus people in the county who are now registered as unemployed. They represent a shocking increase in the number of South Yorkshire folk who are jobless.
We are sure that each and every one of them will support Brightside MP David Blunkett who is calling for urgent action to save a 'lost generation' of young people from the stigma of unemployment.
In the current economic climate, this is a very real danger. For past experiences have shown that once an individual is sucked into the quagmire of the benefits system, they can so easily be condemned to a life of joblessness.
That must not be allowed to happen with today's young people and we call on the authorities to ensure that the mechanisms are in place to ensure that today's unemployed are given the skills and, therefore, the enthusiasm to tackle the challenges of tomorrow when the upturn gets into top gear.
We should get this scheme on track
FOLLOWING publication of a visionary report by the Association of Train Operating Companies, plans to reopen the Woodhead Tunnel are back on the political agenda.
Hillsborough MP Angela Smith is championing the idea and recently put forward a strong and compelling case for the venture to business and regional development representatives.
While the rail association did not give the reopening scheme the high priority we would like, concentrating on resurrecting lines elsewhere in the country, there is a strong argument to bring the tunnel back into life, not only forging better cross-Pennine links but adding a vital link to the nation's entire rail network.
For the sake of this region's welfare, this is a scheme which should be pursued with vigour.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
