Urgent rethink needed to build a better future for our city, argues Sheffield business leader

Once again it shows the tension between economy and health.

However, these challenges are balanced and must be better evaluated locally, albeit under criteria established centrally to ensure consistency.

The current furore is inevitable given that the tiers of restrictions are determined nationally, without clear justification, or what we need to do to move to a less restrictive regime.

Businesses cannot turn on and off their activities, with all the consequences for their survival, not least their employees .

So alongside these new restrictions there surely has to be targeted relevant support, early enough to be effective to ensure the survival of businesses crucial to our way of life.

Our country’s economy is heavily dependent on the service industry, so protecting them has to be expedited during the latest set of restrictions.

We don’t just work, we play also, so we have to support not only the hospitality industry, but their suppliers who are crucial to them.

Not only does this new tiered approach have to be seen to be acceptable, it must give confidence that adherence to the latest restrictions will lead to a safer and better way of life.

We have suffered too much for short-term fixes. We must show competence in the roll out of vaccines, that the test-and-trace system is now fit for purpose and delivers results.

We must restore health promotion regimes to local control and that accessibility of good recreational facilities is a right not a privilege.

Town centres cannot rely just on retail. We have to rethink quickly so they can recover from the ravages of the pandemic to make them more attractive and accessible.

These changes will have to be led by responsive enlightened new leadership at Sheffield Council with the vision to enthuse and revitalise our city.

A city whose stakeholders will need to be consulted and involved as never before so the necessary changes have widespread support.

The last few months have been painful. Morale must be rebuilt so we can live all aspects of a life in a city that has accepted its shortcomings, to come together like never before to build a better future for our citizens. A city at ease with itself.