Like most Residents' Associations, we are apt to react to things rather than spring into action with unprompted bright ideas.  We are local residents, who expect to enjoy the company of our neighbours.  Many of us move through the area on foot or by bicycle.

We aim to protect the trees, stone walls, generous gardens and peaceful ambience of the area.  We favour family-use of the houses, since you need a critical mass of children for them to have friends within safe walking distance. We recognise that some subdivision of big properties is a way of accommodating smaller households; increasing numbers of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) however, may threaten long-term maintenance and generation-long social connection. We therefore pay attention to planning applications, especially those for changes of use, while our comments on more modest extensions and the like have usually been positive.

The Association has  protested and campaigned to safeguard Broom Hall itself, and its grounds. We actively encourage our members to respond to local government invitations to comment on proposed changes to the street scene. We are currently working to secure continued walking access through the grounds of Sheffield Hallam University's Collegiate site. The splendid mature trees which give the Broomhall Park estate a special character also create some maintenance tasks; in a cooperative initiative aimed at making walking and cycling easier, in the autumn BPA members and some other local residents gather fallen leaves into large sacks, for collection and disposal by the council’s contractor, Amey.

This far north, outdoor socialising works better in the summer. That’s why our big get-together occasion is a garden party, often in July.  Public fireworks have become tricky (safety and insurance issues).  We have managed a little light carol singing, though – and are keen to respond to any other initiatives for year-round mingling.