Letter: Vision of an ‘experience’

“Cleansing” The Moor of Market Traders, The Star, passim. I agree that it is a disgrace that our market traders have been removed from the Moor. The Moor was one of the very few longer streets in the city centre where one could get on with what one could call normal shopping.

Why is the council doing this to shoppers and our unfortunate market traders?

There’s no necessity for it, none whatsoever, as far as I can see.

The only reason of which I can think is to turn the totality of the city centre into its vision of an “experience” rather than a shopping centre.

I recently had occasion to walk from Orchard Square to Moorfoot. Yes, some of it is fine, and I do indeed see the point of it, and I’d gladly shop elsewhere if necessary (and possible.) There are plenty of cafés, outdoor dining and street food outlets, as well as residences and hotels. As an “experience” it should be great. If it works, that is.

What our council hasn’t realised is that everyone is going to be in reduced circumstances in the coming years. Will we be able to support this “experience?” I very much doubt it.

Already students and other young people are getting drinks in at home of an evening, before venturing out to an entertainment venue where they imbibe just one or two drinks. This economical practice even has a name now: “front-loading.”

I really don’t see this vision of the city prospering for long. So, councillors, please may we have our normal shopping centre back? And our market traders? And, come to that, our bus stops?

Of course, because of Internet shopping and the increase in overheads for shop-owners, there will still be empty shop units. I say, turn them into residential accommodation. There’s a housing shortage! If I know this, and my fellow Star readers know this, why doesn’t the Government know this? Why doesn’t the council know this?

Ruth Grimsley

Oak Park, Sheffield, S10