Star readers call for free parking to tempt people into Sheffield city centre more often
Sheffield city centre is looking the best it has in a decade - now, it’s a question of what will tempt more people to come to see it.
It’s been a turbulent few years, but so many construction and renovation projects have come to fruition in the last 24 months in Sheffield.
To name but a few, the hoardings have come down from the Heart of the City and the Cambridge Street Collective project, Leah’s Yard, Pounds Park and the Fargate renovations. Meanwhile, developers are poised to revive the Cole Brothers’ site and work is rapidly underway to pedestrianise Pinstone Street.
Sheffield is not the building site it was five years ago - now, what would get residents in to take a look?
“What would tempt you into the city centre more often?”
The Star asked you, our readers, this simple question to gauge what the public wants to see on a trip to town, and was met with over 800 replies on our Facebook page.
And while many answers called for the return of long lost shops and brands they want to see, the overwhelming response was they would visit more if they had somewhere to park.
Approximately two-out-of-three of the 800 responses in some way asked for more car parking, cheaper car parking, or free car parking for the first few hours.
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Carleton Johnson wrote: “Nice big free car park. We as humans take the path of least resistance, if that isn't ordering on Amazon, a quick stop at Meadowhall is pretty simple. I haven't once in my 14 years on the road decided to ‘pop into town for some bits’.”
Tim Addinall wrote: “Free parking like Meadowhall would probably encourage more people to go into the town centre.”
Jayne White’s summary response was: “Shops. Car parks. Two hours free. Security. Entertainment. Support small Sheffield business schemes. Clean it up.”
Meanwhile, Kate Heslop called not for car parks but “Secure free cycle parking in place of car parks,” much like the Sheffield City Centre Cycle Hub on Charter Square.
Debbie Fieldsend wrote in defence of the city centre: “I go into town with my kids all the time - we get the bus or walk. Plenty to do for free - Pounds Park, the music area outside The Light, the library, Millennium Galleries, play area in the Light.
“Also, I think it's great that Fargate is looking better since the revamp. There is unfortunately a carrying capacity when it comes to shops and with online opportunities many prefer the convenience of shopping from their home.”
Others were more critical.
Kate Billigoat said she wanted: “Some shops? Maybe a department store and a market that’s open longer hours and on Sundays including a decent outdoor one. Cheap buses in and out of town and/ or affordable car parking - obviously the CAZ (Clean Air Zone) thing ain’t exactly tempting either.”
In Sheffield, commercial vehicles and all vans below a carbon emission standard are fined for entering the ring road.
Other replies called for certain stores to return or were decidedly tongue in cheek about it.
The most liked answer was Joanne Simmonds simply saying “bring back John Lewis.”
Ian Oliver called for another face from the past by calling for “a big hole in the road with a grotty fish tank.”
“Being able to walk on the path without being run over by a bike,” wrote Don Morris, seemingly unhappy with the rise of e-bikes travelling through the city centre.
And Martin Smith derided current high street trends with: “Maybe a Greggs, or a Pound Shop... Ooh ooh... I know... a Vape shop and a Turkish Barbers... I just wish someone would open one... there’s surely a niche in the market.”