31/05/2026
Thank you to those who support us, thank you to the media, thankyou to all the other businesses on Attercliffe that are objecting , let's all stick together.
‘Insane’ Council Plans Put 162 Year Old Pub At Risk of Permanent Closure
The Carlton Hotel Pub on Attercliffe Road, established in 1864, has survived two World Wars, the Sheffield floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, however, it faces almost certain closure due to proposals being put forward by Sheffield City Council and the Connecting Sheffield scheme.
The £23.5 million Connecting Sheffield project aims to link the city centre with the Lower Don Valley through new cycle lanes, upgraded crossings, and the introduction of a Red Route.
However, the disruption caused by the scheme has already led to the permanent closure of three long-standing family-run businesses in Attercliffe, while two major engineering firms are relocating, resulting in the loss of local jobs. With many more questioning their futures.
A major concern for the Carlton Hotel is the planned permanent closure of Oaks Green. One of the pub’s primary drinks suppliers has confirmed that it will cease deliveries if the closure goes ahead, stating that the new road layout and Red Route restrictions would make deliveries unsafe and impractical.
Although the council has proposed installing a loading bay as an alternative, the suggested arrangement has been heavily criticised. Under the proposal, delivery vehicles would be expected to perform a three-point turn at a busy junction, reverse up a one-way street, and back into a loading bay positioned close to both a pedestrian and cycle crossing. The council has also suggested that suppliers provide a second staff member to guide vehicles during deliveries.
The delivery company has described the proposal as “outrageous and dangerous” and insists that the only realistic solution is to keep Oaks Green open as a one-way street and relocate the crossing further away from the junction with Staniforth Road to a safer location.
Jim Callaghan, landlord of the Carlton Hotel for more than 18 years, fears the business will not survive the combined impact of the Oaks Green closure and additional council plans to restrict parking time limits at Kimberley Street car park, which is relied upon by both customers and staff.
Many residents and business owners are drawing parallels with the 2023 Lowcock Inquiry, arguing that genuine concerns raised by stakeholders are once again being ignored. Critics claim the council has adopted a “bunker mentality”, pushing ahead with the scheme regardless of the consequences for local businesses and livelihoods.
The Attercliffe business community is now united in calling for a judicial inquiry into the handling of the scheme. There are growing concerns that the process — from consultation through to implementation — has been marked by a lack of transparency, poor communication, and inadequate engagement with those most affected.
A similar scheme on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough has been ripped out and the area resurfaced, with parking spaces reinstated and bus stops to be repositioned.
The cycle lane had faced a backlash since it opened in 2022, with concerns over cyclists and pedestrians being injured and businesses branding it a "disaster".
An online and physical petition for Attercliffe is continuing to gain support, with hundreds of businesses, residents, and service users opposing the implementation of the Red Route and road closures.
Please show your support by signing and sharing the petition.
https://c.org/pkhdMYqRNM
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