Shop owners and visitors have expressed frustrations after Fargate roads were cordoned off for construction.
Shop owners on Fargate claim business has been bad after the pedestrianised streets were blocked off for several months due to the ongoing redevelopment.
Visitors also said that the blockages have made it difficult to commute down Fargate, stating that the narrow makeshift pathways have caused jams.
“Fargate is a nightmare at the moment with all the construction,” tweeted a Sheffield resident.
A representative at a High Street shop said that sales have plummeted because the scaffolding outside the store almost completely blocks off accessibility and makes commuting difficult for wheelchair users.
Ali, the manager of an electronics store added: “Sales have gone down almost 70%. Before we would receive around 70 to 80 customers a day but now it has gone down to 20.”
Another shop raised concerns about vans parking on the pavements and obstructing the entrances, and another owner complained of dirty shop floors from people tracking mud and dirt in from the construction outside.
A holiday shop on Fargate, which opens annually for the holidays, has seen sales dwindle compared to previous years, with a saleswoman stating: “Due to the barricades, people think that the roads are closed.”
Abdul, a salesman, said that the barricades get shifted around often and the side with fewer barricades receives more footfall – unfairly affecting shops on the opposite side of the road.
He added: “There is a bump on the road outside our shop that has been worked on three times. I’ve seen many old ladies, people with prams, and wheelchair users trip over it.”
Meanwhile, visitors expressed fears over colliding with delivery drivers going and down the narrow walkways.
Ian, a shopper, said: “Now that the roads are narrower, it has become more dangerous. I’ve witnessed several near accidents.”
Construction began in April after Sheffield City Council announced a £15.8m plan, spearheaded by Sisk, to revitalise Fargate, which was once a premium street. The plans feature fresh landscaping, green planting, outdoor seating and lighting.
