“This was a full, flourishing high street and it’s slowly just dwindled”: Walkley bakery says high street has been neglected

“There used to be loads of small businesses on here, and they've slowly died”

A cafe in Walkley said its end of the high street has lost multiple businesses after traffic control planters blocked nearby roads.

Ali Gerami and Rowan Wood of Gerry's Bakery | Iconic Media

placeholder image — Ali Gerami and Rowan Wood of Gerry's Bakery | Iconic Media

Gerry’s Bakery, an independent bakery and coffee shop in Walkley, said trade on its end of South Road has been severely affected by the traffic calming measures on the neighbouring streets.

The planters are part of the ‘active travel neighbourhood’ scheme introduced in Crookes and Walkley in May 2022 and implemented permanently in September 2023.

The Walkley scheme includes changes to vehicle access on parts of Fir Street, Highton Street and Matlock Road, blocking off some routes with large planters, and making Greenhow Street one way.

Rowan Wood, supervisor at Gerry’s, has always lived locally and said the bakery is a community involved business with a great rapport with customers.

She said the blockades have been a “controversial issue” as they have cut off traffic driving down their end of South Road.

Planters on Greenhow Street let drivers know the street is one way | Iconic Media

She said: “They’ve really messed up a lot of the local trade we used to have.

“There used to be loads of small businesses on here, and they've slowly died. We’ve lost the post office, we've lost several cafes, we've lost the electronics shop, the antique shop, the blind shop, the butchers, we've lost so much just on this short stretch because of how the roads have been designed and where the blockades have been put.

“Everybody avoids it now. There wasn't much parking here anyway, but instead of coming down here, people will just forgo it, because why would you bother with the traffic at either end."

Ms Wood said further up the road around Walkley Green is “thriving” by comparison.

She said: “There’s a little bay of parking. People can and do come down those streets. But this end, it's completely died. I think that is down to the council.

“It has been raised time and time again within the local community,” Ms Wood said.

“It's across multiple generations. I'm bothered about it. My parents, they've lived here all their lives. It bugs them. It bugs local residents, because it's hindering our livelihoods.”

Ms Wood also expressed frustration at the placement of a usually overflowing litter bin, beside the bakery's outdoor seating area.

“I think the bin just falls into that this end of the street is fully forgotten and a bit neglected," the bakery supervisor added.

“I think the bin just falls into that this end of the street is fully forgotten and a bit neglected.

"It's like nobody really cares about this end anymore. It's sad because this was a full flourishing high street, and it slowly just dwindled. It's just really sad to see."

Local resident Andrea Coombs has lived in the area for 18 years and is “all for environmental initiatives” but said nothing has been reported back to residents over how effective the planters are.

Planters on Highton Street | Iconic Media

“The jury's out for me on the bollards on the streets, blocking certain roads," she said.

“I feel like I'd be able to get more behind it if there was some kind of review. Maybe there has been, but it's not been communicated, so I would be interested in a counsellor who can report back to the community.

"If they're an effective initiative, then there's always going to be some people that are against them. Me personally, I could get behind them if I knew they were actually doing something for the environment, and that they'd been effective."

Sheffield City Council were approached for a response.

After the resignation of Andy Davies, a by-election for a new Walkley councillor will take place on Thursday, September 17, with the following standing: