£5million safety measures to be installed in Sheffield city centre to protect shoppers from terror attacks

The new safety measures will be installed at Tudor Square, Fargate, Pinstone Street, Barkers Pool and The Moor in the city centre.

Sheffield City Council has stressed that the city has not received any specific threats and is still a safe place.

The measures will be landscaped, rather than concrete blocks or metal ramps, and should be able to withstand the force of a six tonne van.

Some test holes have already been dug and repaired in Tudor Square near Surrey Street.

Coun Paul Wood, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: “Sheffield prides itself quite rightly as a safe and welcoming city and it is our duty to keep our people and visitors safe too.

“It is sadly a fact of life that acts of terrorism can and do happen in the UK and around the world and that major cities must respond to those challenges.

“We must take every step necessary to keep our city safe and are working with South Yorkshire Police and our own teams to ensure these measures are in keeping with our transforming city centre.

“We must protect people and buildings while maintaining and even enhancing our city’s growing reputation as a place to live and work.”

The new measures should blend in with the existing street scene and the council is currently looking at various designs.

Coun Wood added: “We previously took action to make sure our Christmas Market was secure but recognise that although the bollards were functional, they didn’t have much kerb appeal.

“That’s why, wherever possible, we’ll look at options that are more in keeping with our ongoing city centre regeneration whilst also putting the absolute emphasis on keeping our people and businesses safe.”

As in previous years, security barriers were placed around Sheffield Christmas Markets last year as a safety precaution.

Authorities continue to take security measures at festive events in the wake of a series of terror acts across Europe.