Which way is the right way for these Sheffield seats?

Are some new stone benches in Sheffield city centre facing the wrong way?
Sheffield Town HallSheffield Town Hall
Sheffield Town Hall

That was the question from one member of the public who quizzed the council’s Cabinet about the benches at the back of Debenhams on Charter Row.

Nigel Slack said: “The changes to the public realm offered an opportunity to much improve that relatively sterile part of the city centre. Unfortunately, for some strange reason, the seating on the Debenhams side of the street faces the back wall of Debenhams rather than across the open space towards the new green spaces being created at the side of the HSBC building.

“Why is this? Was this always the plan or a mistake?”

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Coun Mazher Iqbal, who is in charge of city centre redevelopment, said he could understand the confusion but the area was designed to be part of a wider project to improve shopping between the Moor and the new Heart of the City 2.

Coun Iqbal said: “It is envisaged that the route up from the Moor, past the cinema and across the new public spaces around the HSBC building will become a busy space and thoroughfare. The seating has been designed to face onto and be part of this space allowing people to sit, rest and people watch.

“This also creates the opportunity for dividing up the space into distinct sections and forms an event space away from passing traffic.”