Spital Hill has been closed since September 2005, as the inner relief road is built. A year on, businesses still suffer from the effects of reduced access and in the last month it has got worse as parking bays are put in place as part of the Better Buses scheme.
The Messenger spoke to Keith Hobson from the butchers on Spital Hill who was angry and frustrated with the road-works, which have caused a substantial constraint on his business, and can see no future for himself in Burngreave.
Mr Hobson is unsure when the works will be completed and feels that the final results don’t look promising. At the moment it seems the one-way system coming from town is regularly congested.
“My customers who came by bus just don’t come in no more, because the bus into town is on a diverted route and no longer through Spital Hill.There is no parking in the vicinity and I myself have to drive around for a parking space.”
Customer Lorna Walker had to park on Andover Street and walk down. “The money used on roadwork is waste of space and money,” she said.
Jane Thompson from Amy’s Café states business has definitely suffered because of parking problems. She said: “I can’t see business getting any better. We have heard rumours of the Council installing parking meters, and works not being completed until July 2007”.
Raja Saddiq of SR Raja and Leroy of Lee’s Appliances have similar problems in that their businesses involve large deliveries but no parking. “Delivery lorries have to park up Spital Lane, I am having to call in extra workers to load and unload.” said Mr Saddiq.
The Council said all Better Buses work will be completed by the end of January 2007. Although the work on Spital Hill will be substantially complete by the middle of December, it is unlikely to be opened fully to two-way traffic until July 2007 when the relief road is finished. The placing of parking meters has still not been finalised.
Councillor Terry Fox, the Council’s Cabinet member for Transport commented:
“We hope that people using the area, such as traders and pedestrians, and those travelling through the area, will bear with us until these important works are completed. We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused during the works, but this will be kept to a minimum. This is an important project to provide a much-improved corridor for the North Sheffield Better Buses initiative.”
For queries or problems with the scheme, please contact the Council’s Street Force Helpline on 0114 273 4567.
by Kamida Khan