Should Sheffield have a Christmas lights switch on this year?

The Star, Sheffield

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00:00 So I don't remember the switch on really very much,

00:03 except that it was an exciting thing to do

00:05 with the whole of my family.

00:07 But these days I don't,

00:10 and I realised that COVID sort of scuppers most things

00:12 and the idea of just being in a big crowd

00:15 when it's cold and dark,

00:16 I don't find it exciting anymore.

00:18 I also think that in some ways, I know they try,

00:22 but the lights when I was little

00:24 seemed an awful lot better,

00:25 but maybe it's 'cause I was little.

00:27 So it's not gonna bother me either way.

00:29 - But do you think with other cities presumably doing it,

00:32 Sheffield should be, is in competition for custom?

00:34 - I don't think they're gonna get much custom

00:37 by switching on the lights, to be honest.

00:39 I think a market is a much better plan.

00:41 You know, I've got friends who are going to Manchester

00:44 for the Manchester market

00:45 and people are going to York for the York Christmas market.

00:48 And I know we run things in the Peace Gardens,

00:50 but whether it's big enough

00:52 or bright enough or attractive enough,

00:55 I mean, I'm deeply depressed

00:57 by how Sheffield has suffered over the years

01:00 and has not had the infrastructure money

01:02 that other cities have got.

01:04 But I don't know that switching on the lights

01:06 is gonna make any difference.

01:08 - It is a bit disappointing.

01:09 It's perhaps a sign of the times at the moment.

01:14 But yes, people will be more likely to come

01:17 if there are more things I think that happen.

01:19 - I think-- - But I like Sheffield.

01:21 - Yeah, I do.

01:22 I think it's a shame that there isn't a light switch on.

01:25 You know, yes, there's building works,

01:27 but there was last year and they had it.

01:29 And they need to encourage people into the city centre

01:33 and that seems a disincentive or to go somewhere else.

01:36 So I think it's a real shame.

01:38 - A missed opportunity, do you think?

01:40 - Yeah, definitely.

01:41 - Yeah.

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