Chapel walk/ghost walk

[dutch 68]

What is happening to that place is same as what is happening in society. Little ones are closing and big ones and internet are growing.

 

There was a topic already on this forum about this few weeks ago.

Edited July 4, 2014 by dutch

[Kerryann 10]

I think the reason is like you not many people wonder down there unless they are using it as a short cut. The rent is unjustified as they will be paying city centre rates but not getting the passer bys. I can't say I have ever made a special effort to walk down there as when I have passed the only thing half interesting is the birds yard and I don't think it's a patch on the nicolas building down shalesmoor.

[No User Name 10]

I think the reason is like you not many people wonder down there unless they are using it as a short cut. The rent is unjustified as they will be paying city centre rates but not getting the passer bys. I can't say I have ever made a special effort to walk down there as when I have passed the only thing half interesting is the birds yard and I don't think it's a patch on the nicolas building down shalesmoor.

 

And it seems that is going. Then again, not a great loss given some of the stuff I have heard from past tenants in there.

[Mr Bloom 10]

Meadowhall has killed the city centre. The only way to revive it is by introducing free parking for shoppers, they could have a single office in one of the many empty units in town where you get your car park ticket stamped or refunded on production of a valid receipt from one of the shops, similar to what they used to do with the market. This would stop people parking up for the day who were not shoppers.

[ryder8904 10]

First thing would be to get rid of that big issue seller, he has been there years. Second is to reduce the rents to more realistic levels.

[InigoMontoya 10]

It's a shame I agree. It's the only shopping street we have that is like that. Loads of potential, never fulfilled.

 

You've hit on some of the reasons. Too expensive rents. The Big Issue vendor is a deterrent to going that way. There is no particular destination shop for me to go via that route, nor even anything interesting to window shop. Pity.

 

What complete and utter tosh.

[No User Name 10]

What complete and utter tosh.

 

Not really, I had the misfortune to witness a different Big Issue seller (one near the Cathedral) have a go at an old woman the other day because she had the utter cheek to look at the seller and not buy a copy.

 

How dare she!!!!! So they can be off putting.

[Ousetunes 10]

Meadowhall has killed the city centre

 

Sorry but no. Our council's stubborn failure to respond to Meadowhall is the main reason for the city centre's demise. Indeed, their response is to increase and extend parking charges and make getting to, from and around the city centre akin to a Krypton Factor challenge.

 

I took a walk around the lower end of 'town' (more apt name) the other day. We have few buildings of architectural (and historical) note. Those which are lucky enough to remain are laying there in a sad state of neglect and abandon. The old Town Hall on Waingate is a beautiful building; in ANY other city this would be jewel in the crown, an arcade, a hotel, a restaurant, prime business and conference facilities.

 

The old Post Office in Fitzalan Square shares similar treatment, left to decay amongst pigeon droppings. The square likewise is a dump and what an opportunity for a civic building and square, where the public could convene for outdoor events!

 

The former Number One Buffet on Commercial Street. Take a look at the building; it's lovely. It's also one of the first commercial buildings a visitor sees when (trying his best upon) entering the city centre.

 

The opportunities are there, staring me in my face but sadly not the faces of those responsible for the DESTRUCTION of our city centre. "Ah, but these are private buildings and we're powerless to do anything about them," we are likely to be told. I don't think it's a question at to who owns the buildings; I seriously believe it's the attitude of a council which simply cannot be bothered and which would sooner blame the likes of Meadowhall and of course, previous governments for their lack of funding in Labour-strong Sheffield.

 

Chapel Walk is another lost opportunity. A little bit of York which should be buzzing with small, private, specialist businesses, lit up with interesting lighting and clean.

 

But no. I see that big signs have gone up all over stating that traffic enforcement starts in the next couple of days, so woe betide you motorists if you err by jumping red lights, parking where you shouldn't, overstaying your welcome or going through a bus- or tram gate.

 

That's our council's way of saying: WELCOME TO SHEFFIELD.

[Anna B 1,414]

Sorry but no. Our council's stubborn failure to respond to Meadowhall is the main reason for the city centre's demise. Indeed, their response is to increase and extend parking charges and make getting to, from and around the city centre akin to a Krypton Factor challenge.

 

I took a walk around the lower end of 'town' (more apt name) the other day. We have few buildings of architectural (and historical) note. Those which are lucky enough to remain are laying there in a sad state of neglect and abandon. The old Town Hall on Waingate is a beautiful building; in ANY other city this would be jewel in the crown, an arcade, a hotel, a restaurant, prime business and conference facilities.

 

The old Post Office in Fitzalan Square shares similar treatment, left to decay amongst pigeon droppings. The square likewise is a dump and what an opportunity for a civic building and square, where the public could convene for outdoor events!

 

The former Number One Buffet on Commercial Street. Take a look at the building; it's lovely. It's also one of the first commercial buildings a visitor sees when (trying his best upon) entering the city centre.

 

The opportunities are there, staring me in my face but sadly not the faces of those responsible for the DESTRUCTION of our city centre. "Ah, but these are private buildings and we're powerless to do anything about them," we are likely to be told. I don't think it's a question at to who owns the buildings; I seriously believe it's the attitude of a council which simply cannot be bothered and which would sooner blame the likes of Meadowhall and of course, previous governments for their lack of funding in Labour-strong Sheffield.

 

Chapel Walk is another lost opportunity. A little bit of York which should be buzzing with small, private, specialist businesses, lit up with interesting lighting and clean.

 

But no. I see that big signs have gone up all over stating that traffic enforcement starts in the next couple of days, so woe betide you motorists if you err by jumping red lights, parking where you shouldn't, overstaying your welcome or going through a bus- or tram gate.

 

That's our council's way of saying: WELCOME TO SHEFFIELD.

 

I have to agree with this.

Why is Leeds thriving? What are they doing that Sheffield isn't?

 

Sheffield has loads of potential which the council has failed to encourage or nurture. Chapel walk is perfect for small, interesting, independent shops and should be buzzing with colour and good vibes. The same is true of many other areas.

 

If this means the council has to lower the rates, so be it, if that's what it takes to make Sheffield City centre a destination that people want to visit. Why spend a fortune on 'a new retail quarter' when the old ones are standing empty. They are infinitely more interesting than a bland, modern, retail development full of chain shops and multinationals which can be found in every high street.

[Afilsdesigne 10]

At the risk of offending some people it is plain to me why Sheffield is going backwards and the answer lies in the town hall facilitated by the local population. Decades of labour councillors have taken a series of short sighted and overtly political planning decisions that are cumulatively coming home to roost. The local planners have taken some spectacular decisions over the years that have and continue to cost many millions of pounds, money effectively taken out of the local economy and wasted.

 

To name a few: Cutting the Moor off by allowing the Manpower building. Designing, planning, building and then demolishing a town hall extension which was then replaced with an office tower block. Building an underground hole in the road shopping centre and then filling it in. Building a brand new swimming pool then demolishing it and building another one within half a mile. Building a state of the art athletics stadium then knocking it down. Building a bus station then moving all the shops. Building a new market hall and then demolishing it. Moving all the high footfall market areas to the farthest edge of the shopping area with no tram access and expecting it to be a success. There are many more examples of how our council tax money has been thrown away over the years by a series of mystifying (plain stupid) planning decisions.

 

On top of that we have a car unfriendly town centre (wherever that is now) that seems to suck all cars straight onto any road that leads out of Sheffield at the highest possible speed with little affordable parking. Then there is Meadowhall with free parking.

 

Yes it would be possible to rescue Sheffield and turn it into a vibrant town centre but not, I suspect, with any of the current political or planning leadership teams in place. I think the most likely scenario is that the town continues to die and indeed, expect this process to accelerate now the council has managed to reduce footfall in key areas. Businesses cannot afford to pay expensive rents with fewer customers. Obvious to me but obviously not the planners (or they don't mind / care).

[Chelle-82 10]

First thing would be to get rid of that big issue seller, he has been there years. Second is to reduce the rents to more realistic levels.

 

They ought to pop the old chap outside Marks and Spencer's! Give the smaller independent shops a chance whilst he 'harasses' the M&S regulars..

[Ousetunes 10]

At the risk of offending some people it is plain to me why Sheffield is going backwards and the answer lies in the town hall facilitated by the local population. Decades of labour councillors have taken a series of short sighted and overtly political planning decisions that are cumulatively coming home to roost. The local planners have taken some spectacular decisions over the years that have and continue to cost many millions of pounds, money effectively taken out of the local economy and wasted.

 

To name a few: Cutting the Moor off by allowing the Manpower building. Designing, planning, building and then demolishing a town hall extension which was then replaced with an office tower block. Building an underground hole in the road shopping centre and then filling it in. Building a brand new swimming pool then demolishing it and building another one within half a mile. Building a state of the art athletics stadium then knocking it down. Building a bus station then moving all the shops. Building a new market hall and then demolishing it. Moving all the high footfall market areas to the farthest edge of the shopping area with no tram access and expecting it to be a success. There are many more examples of how our council tax money has been thrown away over the years by a series of mystifying (plain stupid) planning decisions.

 

On top of that we have a car unfriendly town centre (wherever that is now) that seems to suck all cars straight onto any road that leads out of Sheffield at the highest possible speed with little affordable parking. Then there is Meadowhall with free parking.

 

Yes it would be possible to rescue Sheffield and turn it into a vibrant town centre but not, I suspect, with any of the current political or planning leadership teams in place. I think the most likely scenario is that the town continues to die and indeed, expect this process to accelerate now the council has managed to reduce footfall in key areas. Businesses cannot afford to pay expensive rents with fewer customers. Obvious to me but obviously not the planners (or they don't mind / care).

 

Hallelujah. Someone else singing from my hymn sheet.

 

Obviously and with due respect, you and I are wrong.

 

But I agree with everything you say.