Letter from the editor: Can Sheffield seize positives created by such negatives?

If you could reinvent Sheffield city centre how would it look and what changes would you make?
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This awful pandemic has created some positive challenges which I am fervently hoping our city leaders will grab hold of – tightly!

This is an opportunity to say what we want, to change public transport for the better and to improve the overall look and feel for every Sheffielder. None of us wanted to lockdown in such horrendous circumstances but there are lessons to be learnt from how we feel about staying at home and what that makes us wish for in the future.

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There are already some movements towards making the roads more friendly for bikes and pedestrians but do they go far enough?

Sheffield once had an international reputation for public transport.Sheffield once had an international reputation for public transport.
Sheffield once had an international reputation for public transport.

Will they truly make such a difference that people will get out of their cars and opt for a more sustainable transport?

Everyone points to Holland as having a great cycling network but that didn’t just happen, there was a very clear and determined plan. That is what we need now.

The worst case is that half-cut ideas will simply annoy car drivers, put them off going into the centre and create a disaster which pushes more shops out of business. The best is that we truly grab this chance by the scruff of the neck and pull together to seize the opportunity … all of us.

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It can’t be bikes vs cars, businesses vs environmental campaigners, old vs new. We must all learn from this pandemic that the only way forward is together and with kindness, even when we don’t agree.

Sheffield once had an international reputation for public transport. It is also full of people who desperately want to do their bit to save the plant. Surely we can get to a place where we are all happy?

One thing we aren’t short of right now is time to challenge the accepted thinking and to work out what we really want in the city centre. How we get there is the real question and, again, there are plenty who should and could be putting their brains to that test. Do let me know what you think. How do we open up for pedestrians without chasing away those who have money to spend with our independent shops and businesses? What does Sheffield need to do and how can we ensure Sheffielders – all of us – back it? Wouldn’t that be a great way to end lockdown?

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