The Decline Of Sheffield City Centre

[Narden Dee 10]

lets see how posts there are until this turns into a anti-car council bashing cost of parking thread

[byeo 10]

I can't remember the last time I went shopping in the city centre, I find it more convenient to shop online, if I want something in a hurry I can use Amazon Prime Now which has recently launched in Sheffield and South Yorkshire. I can't wait for Amazon to roll out their new Fresh service, which is currently been launched in London: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36485318

[philyyy 10]

lets see how posts there are until this turns into a anti-car council bashing cost of parking thread

 

Have just been having exactly this conversation on Twitter. People are obssesed with parking costs. I don't get it.

 

---------- Post added 09-06-2016 at 12:06 ----------

 

I hope you are right and I know the financial crisis hasn't helped, but my concern is that the main contributing factor to the demise of Sheffield City Centre and other cities across the country is actually the internet.

 

Unfortunately, I think that because of this, the deterioration of our cities may continue.

 

The internet is great is some respects, just not for local communities in my opinion.

 

The internet is great for building local communities in terms of getting social groups together etc. Although it has the downside of having too many ways to spread the word, so much so that many people look at the ones I don't use, it seems.

[Anna B 1,414]

Too many chain stores and corporate outlets all selling much the same stuff. They're the only ones who can afford the high rents and business rates.

 

Small independent shops and Artisan places are still popular and provide a real, interesting shopping experience. Division street, Ecclesall Road, etc are buzzing. I'd like to see much more of this in the city centre, so maybe the council could cut them a deal and encourage it.

[DnAuK 10]

On a not-unrelated note, I noticed the other day that work has eventually started on building something opposite the train station, next to SHU. After how many years? About sodding time! Now we only need something built on the other side of the road outside the train station, and on the corner opposite the bus station next to the old post office... At least that way, when people do visit our fair city, they aren't instantly met with several areas of derelict land before they even get near the empty shops.

 

Development breeds development. So maybe things are starting to improve.

[chipspice 10]

Me and my other half went shopping the other day and I was saddened to see so many empty shop windows in Sheffield City Centre.

 

In my childhood, most of these shops were filled with popular retailers and they now stand empty. I have many happy memories of going shopping with my family and now (I don't know why this has only just struck me, because obviously this has been the situation for some time) if I go to town with my family; my kids probably won't have as many happy memories as I did, because it's quite a depressing place now.

 

My concern was reinforced walking through Hillsborough and it occured to me (again, I don't know why this has only just sunk in) that the cause of this internet shopping and that every time I decide to buy something online, I am actually making the problem worse.

 

I worry that my kids are going to live in a world, where they will have more interactions with computers than they do with people and they will miss out on many of the good memories that I have, most of which of through interacting with other people.

 

I have therefore decided to make a real effort to go on my iPhone less and do less internet shopping and this will be my contribution to try and reduce making this City a place where nobody socialises or has the chance to go shopping and see other people.

 

I know I'm not going to change the world alone, but at least I won't feel as bad if I stop making the problem worse by purchasing items online.

 

In closing, I hope the proposed Sevenstones development is successful, so I can stop feeling guilty about contributing to this problem in the first place!

 

It is the amount of chuggers that puts me off shopping in town. If they can reduce those then I would go more often.

[philyyy 10]

It is the amount of chuggers that puts me off shopping in town. If they can reduce those then I would go more often.

 

This (and lack of free parking) is always mentioned as a reason people don't go to town. I have never once been stopped by a chugger in town and I go there a lot. You just say "No" before they speak and walk on. Not sure what anyone else does. I only get approached about 1 in every 20 visits to town.

[LuSiVe 10]

On a not-unrelated note, I noticed the other day that work has eventually started on building something opposite the train station, next to SHU. After how many years? About sodding time! Now we only need something built on the other side of the road outside the train station, and on the corner opposite the bus station next to the old post office... At least that way, when people do visit our fair city, they aren't instantly met with several areas of derelict land before they even get near the empty shops.

 

Development breeds development. So maybe things are starting to improve.

 

It hasn't actually. The cranes are just parked on the old NMB to do stuff to the Hallam building next door. (If that's where you mean.)

[chipspice 10]

This (and lack of free parking) is always mentioned as a reason people don't go to town. I have never once been stopped by a chugger in town and I go there a lot. You just say "No" before they speak and walk on. Not sure what anyone else does. I only get approached about 1 in every 20 visits to town.

 

I must have one of those "approachable" faces cos I get stopped at least 8 times by different ones every time I go

[IanCentral 10]

We will always want to see certain things before we buy them, but there are so many things that are easier to buy online, without seeing them in the flesh, that makes it so hard for shops to survive.

 

Parking in the centre isn't great, but I think it's got better and you can spend 30 minutes driving round Meadowhall to find a parking space, so I don't think that a big contributing factor.

 

High business rates are more of a hinderance to shops than parking.

[alchresearch 215]

I hope you are right and I know the financial crisis hasn't helped, but my concern is that the main contributing factor to the demise of Sheffield City Centre and other cities across the country is actually the internet.

 

I used to believe this, but you only need to go into Liverpool city centre and its always heaving. Home entertainment and white goods, yes the internet wins hands down.

 

If there is any demise in city centre shopping, perhaps suburban mini retail parks are the culprit? I went to one yesterday just a mile from Preston city centre - huge car park (and free) and loads of shops.

[philyyy 10]

I must have one of those "approachable" faces cos I get stopped at least 8 times by different ones every time I go

 

By inference it would appear I'm unapproachable. Must be the 6ft 2 skinhead look that does it. Try it, if possible.