Last week we reported that Sheffield city centre has lost 18% of its shops in the last five years – here is what you had to say about it

‘In the 80s it had life and energy’: readers react to Sheffield's struggling high street

Last week, a Guardian Cities article explored the steep decline in shops in Sheffield city centre and asked who was to blame. Reader reaction was swift and impassioned.

According to our analysis, in five years Sheffield has lost 17.8% of its stores – double the average among English and Welsh town centres, and the worst among big cities.

So why is the problem particularly acute in the steel city? Readers had many thoughtful comments.

Meadowhall, an out-of-town shopping centre which opened in 1990 and offers free parking, has long been cited as a contributing factor to the demise of shops in the heart of the city. Some blame the rise in online shopping, others a lack of vision by the city council. Local retailers, meanwhile, point squarely at high business rates.

Of the many thoughtful comments below the piece, here are some of the best – and some potential solutions.

‘It was always the independent stuff that made Sheffield city centre an exciting place to visit’

‘The answer is in more local, individual, specialist outlets’

‘During the 80s it was a colourful, dynamic place’

‘The tram to Meadowhall started the death of the city centre’

‘The main shopping centre can feel a bit underwhelming’

‘People are just changing the way they shop’



jark44

Sheffield City Council - yes they have had massive cuts to deal with but this is significantly exacerbated by poor and authoritarian leadership, a total lack of vision, seeming incompetence and very fraught local LP politics. They have completely lost the faith of most voters in the city.

Dr DeborahTalbot (@DeborahHTalbot) Total lack of imagination stalks our high streets. Obvious chain retail is dead. Let's have indies and live/ work spaces #highstreet https://t.co/MGO3xZLwWz

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