Mixed views on £300m Meadowhall extension plan

The leisure hall project, revealed in the Star yesterday, would massively increase the number of restaurants and activities on offer for visitors to the shopping centre.

If approved, the glass-roofed hall would create 1,000 jobs. Darren Pearce, Meadowhall’s centre director, said the extension would benefit the whole of Sheffield.

On the Star’s Facebook page, Debra Chadwick said: “Why wait till 2018 for work to start - get the plans approved now and start it.

“Why is Sheffiield always miles behind other cities. All these improvements are needed now.”

Kayleigh Ann Moorby said: “Great idea! Confused about where it’s going though.

“To extend beyond the Oasis means going to where the river is and into the car park. Does it mean less parking? Surely can’t sacrifice parking spaces then attract more people?”

Simon Stacey was not convinced the extension would have a wider benefit. Sarcastically, he said: “Great idea. Take more money and foot traffic away from our suffering city centre. Drive the final nail into the coffin into the central Sheffield redevelopment.

“The biggest mistake Sheffield ever made was Medowhall, you visit the city centre of other large cities in the UK and we are years behind. Look at Liverpool and Manchester, thriving metropolitan centres, what do we have?

“If anything we should be concentrating on the development of the Moor. Not pushing even more business to the outskirts of town.”

Angela Spooner Nee-Vinter said: “So basically it’s going to be the same as Valley Centretainment but with a roof over it. Why bother, if I was a business at Centretainment, I’d be worried.”

And Andrew Stringer said: “First impressions are that this is an excellent scheme and much needed in this location.”