The city centre really has gone through a transformation since the 1980s in going from a car dominated space to a people first place, and it's very positive. Who wouldn't want the peace gardens, developing cafe culture of division street or award winning grey to green!
The next step for Sheffield is to start doing this in our suburban centres. Cars shouldn't be top priority, with walking made easier. We need works to remove cars from our centres like Broomhill and Sharrowvale Road whilst making it easier to walk to them.
Thanks Jill. I agree, bits of the city centre are great now but there’s still a long way to go (e.g. Castlegate, Fargate, High Street). I think the active travel schemes in various suburbs are about creating more “liveable” neighbourhoods but, as you’re probably aware, they aren’t universally popular!
Well said, this is part of the reason why we are calling for the former Castle Market to be turned into a park. A park that can become the new home of the Pollen Market, host circus big tops when they visit the city in celebration of Castlegate's Circus Heritage as home to the UK's first black circus master. Where people can visit the site where Sheffield began as a Sheaf Field on the boarder of the ancient kingdoms of Northumbria, York, Elmet etc met Mercia and others before it. Where the castle ruins can be put on show and we can celebrate our city's ancient heritage and history and mark the loss of those who played a key role in all of our lives. In Cleethorpes Pier Gardens they have built Ross Castle a folly, we have the ruins of a real castle, they planted a tree in memory of all who died while at work, they have monuments to the regiments that were once based in the town. Bristol took advantage of the blitz in the second world war to uncover its castle's ruins and create 'Bristol Castle Park' which is a truly special place. It would be foolish for us to not take advantage of this opportunity and do similar.
We could dedicate similar monuments to people on the site with the addition of Mary Queen of Scotts and the English Civil War and Sieges of Sheffield. In the Sheffield Castle site we have the potential to create a new greenspace that commemorates all of this, complements other greenspaces, the new Grey to Green route along Castlegate and 'Marioland skate park' on Exchange Street.
Yet under 'Levelling Up' plans announced earlier this year a park for this site it seems as though the money is earmarked for making as much money out of the site as possible for developers and those who can afford city centre property.
Thanks for the comment Dave 🙏 A park would be a good solution for the castle site but, as we’ve reported before, lots of people are worried that the council would prefer to develop the area, especially given the amount of housing they hope to build in the city centre over the next 20 years. I think we’re going to find out quite soon what they have planned for it.
I find it surprising you say Pollen is not accessible. How so? I can see the cobbles would make Victoria Quays difficult for wheelchair users but surely that wouldn’t be too difficult to sort out. I can see the rationale for a park on the castle site but there are plenty of other people who would like to see that space more developed too.
This makes a lot of sense, I imagine you have difficulty with the new planters at the top of Fargate and the barrier they moved from Leopold Street to stop vehicles.
Victoria Quays itself is managed by the Canal and Rivers Trust and the events held there are organised by them too. Personally I wouldn't take the market away from them, it's a great way of introducing people to that part of the city centre and encouraging them to explore one of our best trails. The vision that I/we are pushing for is to have as many events as possible on the Castle site, to create the best platform we can for showcasing independents, creatives and small businesses. Outside events and event spaces there would still be room for kids to entertain themselves. Hopefully this would encourage others to use the site as a whole which would increase security at all times for children to play. It seems crazy that they are talking of clearing buildings to create new green spaces at Pound's Park, the John Lewis Car Park etc, when we have this site with all the history associated and now no buildings.
Fantastic to see this development of a play area in the city. I cannot see the tall structures in the building site photo on the plan. What are they?
It would be good to see the council giving more support to the 2 Adventure Playgrounds we already have in Sharrow and Pitsmoor that provide wonderful safe, staffed play spaces for children from a range of backgrounds. This includes those who live without gardens and face many barriers to accessing the Peak District or other places where you learn to walk on uneven surfaces, climb, jump, take risks, while meeting a range of people and families. I hope this new park can provide some of these things for families who go into town. It won't be community based but it can encourage play which we know is good for all of us.
Thanks Kate 🙏 I think the tall structures are climbing frames shaped a bit like a tipi. Yes, as I was reading Daniel’s piece I thought about Pitsmoor Adventure Playground. What they have done there is fantastic. Every area should have one!
So good to read about this new park. I have high hopes for Sheffield but cars really are a huge problem. Why does Sheffield not have a Park and Ride scheme and a reliable, unthreatented, clean energy bus service?
Thanks Judith. Yes, the elephant in the room is our transport infrastructure. Until that is sorted out I think we’ll struggle to make much progress sadly.
Good to see some positive comments about the castle remains and a park.Interaction between Sheffield City Council and conservation groups is not proceeding as well as it should be-its really time this was brought out into the open.Over to the Sheffield Star and the Tribune.
Yes, I think your view is largely what Daniel concludes at the end of the piece (i.e. that Pound’s Park is a step in the right direction rather than a game changer). Housing and public transport are of course huge issues. But there are a large number of families who live on the edge of the city centre who would benefit from more facilities in the city centre. For example, I live at Park Hill and there are plenty of families who do too. However, I’d struggle to think of much to attract them to the city centre at the moment. Hopefully Pound’s Park will change that. In terms of people living further away, many outlying areas are quite well served by parks with good play facilities, aren’t they?
The city centre really has gone through a transformation since the 1980s in going from a car dominated space to a people first place, and it's very positive. Who wouldn't want the peace gardens, developing cafe culture of division street or award winning grey to green!
The next step for Sheffield is to start doing this in our suburban centres. Cars shouldn't be top priority, with walking made easier. We need works to remove cars from our centres like Broomhill and Sharrowvale Road whilst making it easier to walk to them.
Thanks Jill. I agree, bits of the city centre are great now but there’s still a long way to go (e.g. Castlegate, Fargate, High Street). I think the active travel schemes in various suburbs are about creating more “liveable” neighbourhoods but, as you’re probably aware, they aren’t universally popular!
Well said, this is part of the reason why we are calling for the former Castle Market to be turned into a park. A park that can become the new home of the Pollen Market, host circus big tops when they visit the city in celebration of Castlegate's Circus Heritage as home to the UK's first black circus master. Where people can visit the site where Sheffield began as a Sheaf Field on the boarder of the ancient kingdoms of Northumbria, York, Elmet etc met Mercia and others before it. Where the castle ruins can be put on show and we can celebrate our city's ancient heritage and history and mark the loss of those who played a key role in all of our lives. In Cleethorpes Pier Gardens they have built Ross Castle a folly, we have the ruins of a real castle, they planted a tree in memory of all who died while at work, they have monuments to the regiments that were once based in the town. Bristol took advantage of the blitz in the second world war to uncover its castle's ruins and create 'Bristol Castle Park' which is a truly special place. It would be foolish for us to not take advantage of this opportunity and do similar.
We could dedicate similar monuments to people on the site with the addition of Mary Queen of Scotts and the English Civil War and Sieges of Sheffield. In the Sheffield Castle site we have the potential to create a new greenspace that commemorates all of this, complements other greenspaces, the new Grey to Green route along Castlegate and 'Marioland skate park' on Exchange Street.
Yet under 'Levelling Up' plans announced earlier this year a park for this site it seems as though the money is earmarked for making as much money out of the site as possible for developers and those who can afford city centre property.
Thanks for the comment Dave 🙏 A park would be a good solution for the castle site but, as we’ve reported before, lots of people are worried that the council would prefer to develop the area, especially given the amount of housing they hope to build in the city centre over the next 20 years. I think we’re going to find out quite soon what they have planned for it.
I find it surprising you say Pollen is not accessible. How so? I can see the cobbles would make Victoria Quays difficult for wheelchair users but surely that wouldn’t be too difficult to sort out. I can see the rationale for a park on the castle site but there are plenty of other people who would like to see that space more developed too.
This makes a lot of sense, I imagine you have difficulty with the new planters at the top of Fargate and the barrier they moved from Leopold Street to stop vehicles.
Victoria Quays itself is managed by the Canal and Rivers Trust and the events held there are organised by them too. Personally I wouldn't take the market away from them, it's a great way of introducing people to that part of the city centre and encouraging them to explore one of our best trails. The vision that I/we are pushing for is to have as many events as possible on the Castle site, to create the best platform we can for showcasing independents, creatives and small businesses. Outside events and event spaces there would still be room for kids to entertain themselves. Hopefully this would encourage others to use the site as a whole which would increase security at all times for children to play. It seems crazy that they are talking of clearing buildings to create new green spaces at Pound's Park, the John Lewis Car Park etc, when we have this site with all the history associated and now no buildings.
Interesting perspective - I'm sure we could all benefit from more playful areas
Thanks Jos. Indeed — adults as well as children!
Fantastic to see this development of a play area in the city. I cannot see the tall structures in the building site photo on the plan. What are they?
It would be good to see the council giving more support to the 2 Adventure Playgrounds we already have in Sharrow and Pitsmoor that provide wonderful safe, staffed play spaces for children from a range of backgrounds. This includes those who live without gardens and face many barriers to accessing the Peak District or other places where you learn to walk on uneven surfaces, climb, jump, take risks, while meeting a range of people and families. I hope this new park can provide some of these things for families who go into town. It won't be community based but it can encourage play which we know is good for all of us.
Thanks Kate 🙏 I think the tall structures are climbing frames shaped a bit like a tipi. Yes, as I was reading Daniel’s piece I thought about Pitsmoor Adventure Playground. What they have done there is fantastic. Every area should have one!
So good to read about this new park. I have high hopes for Sheffield but cars really are a huge problem. Why does Sheffield not have a Park and Ride scheme and a reliable, unthreatented, clean energy bus service?
Thanks Judith. Yes, the elephant in the room is our transport infrastructure. Until that is sorted out I think we’ll struggle to make much progress sadly.
Good to see some positive comments about the castle remains and a park.Interaction between Sheffield City Council and conservation groups is not proceeding as well as it should be-its really time this was brought out into the open.Over to the Sheffield Star and the Tribune.
Yes, I think your view is largely what Daniel concludes at the end of the piece (i.e. that Pound’s Park is a step in the right direction rather than a game changer). Housing and public transport are of course huge issues. But there are a large number of families who live on the edge of the city centre who would benefit from more facilities in the city centre. For example, I live at Park Hill and there are plenty of families who do too. However, I’d struggle to think of much to attract them to the city centre at the moment. Hopefully Pound’s Park will change that. In terms of people living further away, many outlying areas are quite well served by parks with good play facilities, aren’t they?