Work to begin on city centre improvements scheme

Work is expected to begin on a project to create more cycle paths and pedestrian areas in Sheffield city centre later.

The scheme, named Connecting Sheffield, is being funded by part of a £21m pot from the Department for Transport.

It will start with improvement works on Pinstone Street, with further changes to the rest of Pinstone Street, Surrey Street, Charles Street and Arundel Gate also scheduled to take place.

Councillor Ben Miskell said: "We are creating a city centre fit for the future, that everyone can feel proud of and somewhere we can all love now and for many generations to come."

The improvements will include the replacement of kerbs near Sheffield Town Hall.

A temporarily pedestrianised area between Charles Street and the Moor is also set to be made permanent.

Miskell said: "Not only will our city centre streets be more vibrant with more space for people to enjoy, but we'll also create an environment that is more prosperous, where businesses can thrive too.

"Sheffield is changing, it's transforming into a vibrant place where residents and visitors can already enjoy fantastic shops, restaurants and events."

However, not everybody agreed the scheme would achieve the council's ambitions.

Linda Murphy, 76, said the city centre looked "terrible" because of the amount of construction work taking place.

She also did not believe the improvements would be enough to regenerate the area: "The shops are appalling, I tend to go in two shops, and that's all - other than that, I'm not interested in town."

Lynn Ford, 74, said she wanted to see another department store open.

"I know you've got to keep with the times," she said.

But she said she liked to "come in to town and spend money, we're not online shoppers, so we want somewhere to be able to go - not just to walk streets that look nice".

Ian Osborne, 67, said construction was "everywhere you go," but was optimistic about the outcome for the city.

"It will be good in the long run - no pain, no gain," he said.

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