Story: Bronte Matthews | Photo: Rohan Francis
Traders have expressed how they feel let down by the Council’s decision to make Spital Hill a one-way system while roadworks take place.
Two weeks before work started, traders attended a Council meeting in Sorby House to explain how the work would be done. Yvonne Hayes, co-founder of charity shop Rainbow’s End on Spital Hill, attended the meeting but walked out after it was announced that a one-way system would be in operation.
Yvonne said,
“we were told that work would take place to improve Spital Hill, which we fully supported. However we weren’t consulted on how the work was going to take place. I was angry and upset – that is why I walked out of the meeting.
“I feel abandoned and let down by the Council. They gave us no time to prepare for what has happened. It is a fight for survival in this economic climate and many of us are struggling.”
Yvonne explained that the lack of accessibility for people has meant fewer people are dropping off donations and buying goods. Many taxi drivers are refusing to drop people off on Spital Hill because of the diversion.
Nearly every shop on Spital Hill has signed a petition against the plans.
Shop owners in the area have seen a down turn in trade since the one way system has been put in.
Mr Saddiq, from SR Raja, said,
“It has affected us so much. We are devastated. We think we should have compensation or relief on our rates. Business went down from the first day of the roadworks – we are down by about £3000 per week. We were really worried at one point that we wouldn’t be able to pay our suppliers, it’s really bad.
“When they called us into Sorby House for the meeting we said, ‘why can’t you do the work at night?’ It’s a commercial area, it would have been better at night. We all signed a letter to say that to the Council.
“The time it’s taken them so far is ridiculous. They couldn’t find the services to take out a lamppost – that caused a 2 week delay. And then they waited two weeks for the paving slabs – they should have been bought in advance.”
Sheffield City Council said that
“night working will extend the construction period and add significant cost, which we have no funding for. Additionally, there are safety issues with working at night in the area, which would further increase cost and effect productivity.”
The owner of Jerusalem Café told the Messenger that a few weeks ago he put his shop up for sale because he is not making enough money. He said,
“we have been here for two months but, as soon as the roadworks started, no one has come in. The Council do not care about us.”
The road disruptions have affected people in the area in a lot of different ways.
A Sheffield City Council Spokesperson said,
“after careful consideration to the choice of traffic management, works programme and organisation of this project, the improvement project will go ahead as planned and hopefully provide a much improved Spital Hill shopping centre and public space at Ellesmere Green.”
The one-way system on Spital Hill was in place from October 6 until November 27. The roads will go back to normal from November 27 until January 6 2014. After this date Spital Hill will go back to a one way system until early February 2014 while roadworks are finished
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