New bus gates making Sheffield 'medieval fortified city' transport guru claims
“This is not some sort of fortified medieval city with limited points of entry, or perhaps that is really what it has become”
A transport guru has compared Sheffield to a “medieval fortified city”.
Peter Kennan said bus gatea restriction create “limited points of entry” that deter drivers from the city.
And his hopes that new developments might attract “higher net wealth” visitors were fading.
Sheffield City Council has announced a new bus gate on Furnival Gate from September 19. It will stop cars driving towards Charter Row.
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At the same time, a second bus gate on the same road, but in the opposite direction, will force drivers on to Pinstone Street.
The gate used to operate but was suspended for a while and is coming back into action on the same day as the new gate.
The new measures will join a bus gate on nearby Arundel Gate which is notorious for being one of the most lucrative in the country. Figures show it was the fourth highest earner in the country in 2025, raising £674,126 from 21,844 fines.
Mr Kennan, who has advised public and private sector bodies, insisted he used public transport “a lot”and was an advocate.
But he said it was important to maintain multiple access points to city centre car parks to stop the inner ring road from being clogged by drivers trying to find a way in.
He wrote: “This is not some sort of fortified medieval city with limited points of entry, or perhaps that is really what it has become.
“Sheffield used to be a regional centre drawing in visitors from all over the wider economic geography.
“I had very high hopes that some of this could be recaptured with the great Heart of the City development. Higher net wealth visitors from outside the city boundary returning by car to spend their money in the city.
“Those hopes are fading.”
He added: “Enjoy your medieval fortified city Sheffield. You certainly will not need to worry about the massed hordes of high income spenders trying to scale your fortress. Good job!”
Sheffield City Council previously said the changes were designed to prioritise buses on key routes through the city centre, helping public transport move more efficiently and providing quicker, more direct access to important destinations.
And there were still more than 9,000 parking spaces in the city centre.
The new bus gates are part of the city council’s Connecting Sheffield scheme to improve walking and wheeling across the city.
A city council spokesperson said: “We will create more attractive streets for people to spend time in, and give you more choice in how you get around.
“When the work is complete, it will be easier, safer and more pleasant to travel into and around the city centre by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.”
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