Hi,

as many of you know, I'm a third year student at sheffield uni studying Urban Studies and Planning. We have been asked to visit Tinsley and to identify any problems with the area and come up with solutions or ways to improve the area.
As well as my own observations I was hoping to gain a deeper insight into the area (since I have not, to date, ever been there).

So please can anyone that works, lives, studies, shops or visits Tinsley regularly help me?

Could you list 5 problems that you feel Tinsley has starting with the worst/most pressing issue.

Also, could you add iany improvements that you think need to be made or ideas for what could be done in Tinsley (this could be anything - transport, retail, housing, crime, environment etc).

It would be really helpful to get the views of people that know the area well :)

Thanks in advance, Harriet

*bump* i really would appreciate any constructive comments people have about tinsley :)

so did you go there this afternoon?

I am going this morning :)

I don't live in tinsley but commute to and from there on a daily basis.
What i have learned about tinsley in the time that i have lived in sheffield, is that its core historical purpose was to act as local housing for those working in the Industrial eastern/north eastern fringes of the city. To this day, large factories still dominate part of the skyline - however it appears that the future drive is towards the provision of white collar business.
This will do wonders for the areas image, and should hopefully promote a chain reaction of further businesses to the area.
It will never become an affluent area to live, in my opinion, largely due to the closeness of the M1 motorway.
I, as i am sure many others do, appreciate its heritage - Sheffield is still renowned by many as the place where stainless steel production originates. Forgemasters, despite its ugly appearance is worthy of its stature and should never be removed.
Tinsley itself is famous for two things, its famous (well with motorists and yorkshire folk alike) twin cooling towers and its infamous viaduct. Rather than raising the towers to the ground - they should be repainted with symbols of either Yorkshire or of Sheffield and its heritage displayed. The viaduct is tricky - i would love to see a 8 lane bridge (like newcastle/sydney) in its place - which would become as much part a symbol as entry to the north of england as entry into yorkshire!
But the area will forever appear run down - essentially from the pollution given off by the passing traffic. Crime too is inevitable - with easy routes of movement for criminals North and Southbound on M1, east in Rotherham, west into Sheffield.
In my opinion, a 'regeneration zone' should be established. Rather than building more of the existing homes, look to create a 21st century suburb. Focus on environmentally friendly buildings with traffic calming measures, while improving street lighting and plantation of more trees. Reshape the communities by placing business into its heart. This would decrease the need to commute long distances to work. Get it connected to the tram network, offering travel incentives for city-bound workers.
Make the area a showcase for other projects, this should be reason enough to generate demand to want to live there, as should act as a catalyst to future growth and vitality.

I'm really grateful for your views, mainly because when I visited Tinsley this morning, even though it was only for an hour, I came to much the same conclusion as you have.

I felt that the residential area of Tinsley was cut off from the rest of Sheffield being on the other side of the M1, cut off by the old industrial works, canals and Meadowhall. I thought that walking alongside the canal to get to the housing from the tram stop, although fairly pretty, wasn't very safe or clear access. Access to the tram could be improved or highlighted with better signage.

The housing itself seemed in pretty good condition and there wasn't that much graffiti or litter. I'm not sure what tenure the housing is, but it seemed to be owner-occupied and most of the housing was well maintained. There seemed to be a shortage of parking with cars parked in odd places outside houses!

Transport systems - the proximity to the tram is an obvious bonus and it's got brilliant access to the M1. the 69 bus seems to provide good links to Sheffield.

when there I saw 2 church community centres and 2 children's centres/nurseries so there seems to be a strong community or at least a drive to create more of a community. There was also a one stop employment shop which is evidence of funding/an attempt to improve the area.

In terms of employment, straight away I recognised Tinsley's obvious heritage with the steel industry. It seemed very obvious that the housing was built for steel workers and that the area must have felt a huge blow with the decline of manufacturing. However, meadowhall and the training and conference centre show that retail jobs and other opportunities are available. The local shops seem very run down with 2 convience stores, 2 hairdressers and a bakers open. Oh and a car salesroom. Other shops were borded up/closed down. 1 open pub, 1 closed down.

The recreation ground and playground was a nice bit of open space but apart from an old cricket layout it didn't seem to be in use. Perhaps erecting goalposts for rugby or football would mean it was used more. There wasn't much evidence of leisure activity in Tinsley.

I think to improve the area, the local business and community needs a boost. I think that the attempts to create community centres is a good thing, but it might be an idea to organise/motivate the community into setting up community businesses such as community run shops or cafes maybe. I felt the canal side area was a natural asset and perhaps could be tidied up and made into more of an 'attraction' with perhaps regular heritage tours/walks or boat rental? I think more leisure activities would benefit the local people although I suppose being close to Meadowhall and the Hallam FM arena doesn't really warrant it?

It's hard to judge an area just on first sight within an hour of being there and I don't have any data on crime, employment or tenure - it is all just my personal judgement but the above is the impression I got.

I've started to create a website about Tinsley at www.244.org.uk.

There is alot of work going on behind the scenes to regenerate the area after the last 30 years of neglet by the labour councils.

Problems in Tinsley
1. Traffic levels, noise and pollution
2. Lack of local job training opportunites for nearby industries
3. Social deprivation, intimidation, lack of responsibility
4. Poor facilities maintenance and management
5. General feeling of isolation
6. Perception of Pakistani ghetto

Good things
1. Low house prices
2. Low crime
3. Social community
4. Access to Meadowhall & sports facilities
5. Good transport links

To improve the place will require young workers and families to move into the great priced housing and generate new local economy & facilities.

yes the low house prices and promxity to the M1 seemed very appealing when I was there, a place for good investment in property i think, when i buy my first house the prices will be attractive, but the general sense of isolation is a turn off.