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Amphitheatre opening to mark regeneration project milestone
AN AMPHITHEATRE designed to host public events, with views out over Sheffield city centre, is set to be officially opened next week, marking an important milestone in a vast regeneration project.
South Street Park, which lies on the slopes behind Sheffield railway station, will be officially opened with a “grand parade” on Saturday, September 17.
As well as the amphitheatre, the £800,000 park includes new paths and lighting to the railway station and what is thought to be the UK’s first city centre arboretum, or living tree collection.
More than 100 trees of 18 different species – the result of a grant from South Yorkshire Forest Partnership and individual donations – are being planted.
Next Saturday, musicians and performers will gather in the city centre at noon before walking through Sheffield railway station – over the controversial pedestrian footbridge – to a formal opening ceremony at the amphitheatre.
This will be followed by a diverse programme of music, dance and theatre events until 4pm.
Simon Ogden, head of city development at Sheffield Council, stressed that the opening of the park was only the first phase in a wider regeneration scheme, which will see Sheaf Valley Park – of which South Street is part – stretch from Victoria Quays through Park Square roundabout to Norfolk Park.
“We hope to get started on another phase within the next couple of years”, he said.
“South Street Park lies on a steep slope, which has housing areas such as Park Hill and Norfolk Park on the top, and the railway station at the bottom.
“Local people told us that there wasn’t a convenient pedestrian route to the station, so the park contains a new set of steel steps which connect Norfolk Park with the back entrance of the back entrance of the railway station.
“There’s also a wheelchair and pram-friendly route which hairpins its way up the hillside.”
Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore will lead the procession to mark South Street Park’s opening.
She said: “This is a great addition to Sheffield’s wonderful collection of parks and another city centre space which we hope can be used by Tramlines and other events.
“It is also a great place to come and just enjoy one of the best views over the city and right out to the edge of the Peak District.”
Coun Leigh Bramall, Sheffield Council’s Cabinet member for environment and transport, said that the new park “only goes to highlight the importance of keeping free public access over the station bridge.”
The Residents Against Station Closure campaign group, which led the protest against the installation of ticket barriers at Sheffield railway station which would have prevented non-passengers from using the station footbridge for access, has lent its support to the opening event.
East Midlands Trains had planned on installing the barriers to prevent fare dodging, but the move came in for heavy criticism and was blocked by Sheffield Council, which said that the barriers would alter the character of the railway station, which is a grade two listed building.
The Sheaf Valley Park project was devised in 2005 as part of a wider strategy to improve the Sheaf Valley, with funding coming from bodies including the Europe, Central Government Housing Corporation and developers of housing schemes in the area.
Jeanne Foster, from the Friends of Sheaf Valley Park said: “After five years of hard work we are excited to see the completion of this first phase which greatly improves access to and from the station and tram for local people and creates a marvellous space for performances and events.”
Mr Ogden added that the official opening precedes the exhibition of entries to the Forgotten Spaces competition, which opens at the Crucible later this month.
He added: “South Street is a great example of a previously ‘forgotten’ space which has now been spectacularly brought back into use.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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