Fears grow over future of city athletics stadium

Those who use Sheffield's only public athletics track have shared their fears over its future after it was closed due to safety concerns.

City Athletics Stadium's track on Woodbourn Road was closed on 6 April after it failed to meet the required standard for shock absorption, according to operators Sheffield Hallam University.

In February it emerged the stadium had lost its permission to hold competitive events, with the latest development leaving athletes in "complete limbo", according to one coach.

The university said it had taken the "precautionary decision to temporarily suspend use of the track", with it working to "put the necessary measures in place to safely reopen the facility".

The closure was announced after a recent independent assessment of the track, with Sheffield Hallam contacting coaches and athletes from local clubs on the day it closed confirming they would have to train elsewhere.

The university confirmed in February that their UK Athletics TrackMark accreditation to host competitive events at the track had expired in October.

UK Athletics had warned the leaseholder as early as 2022 that the track would need to be relayed before any future accreditation could be given, the BBC understands.

A UK Athletics spokesperson said: "In January 2025, Sheffield Hallam was informed that the track would not be accredited beyond the outdoor season unless it was resurfaced, which means it can no longer be licensed for competitive events at the stadium."

When Don Valley Stadium closed in 2013, Woodbourn Road was earmarked as the facility to continue to host events and for local athletes to train.

But Tom Grantham, a PE teacher and former athlete with City of Sheffield and Dearne Athletic Club, criticised a lack of "strategy" in the site's future.

"They've not communicated very well at all and seem to just want to close access to everybody using it," he said.

"It's completely devastated local runners in the community."

Phil Howson, a committee member for Dronfield Running Club said: "In the 13 years since they've run Woodburn Road there has been a huge boom in road running with Parkrun.

"What should be the centre of the Sheffield running community has been let to wither and die due to bad choices."

John Wood, chair of City of Sheffield and Dearn Athletics Club, said the closure had forced his athletes to temporarily train at the Herringthorpe Stadium in Rotherham after both the university and Sheffield City Council had taken their "eye off the ball".

A spokesperson for the council said: "We are working with Sheffield Hallam University to find a solution."

Tom Bailey, a coach with Hallamshire Harriers, described the closure as leaving athletes in "complete limbo".

"We can't plan sessions for future events - the English schools track championships are coming up in July and the young athletes need qualifying times and track time to get ready for that."

Sheffield-born Olympic sprinter Imran Rahman, who represented Bangladesh at the Paris Olympics, has also had his training disrupted and has been travelling to Loughborough to train.

"As soon as you hit the ground your ankle kind of collapses or it feels very harsh on the Achilles and knees," he said.

The BBC understands that Sheffield Hallam and the council are working to reopen the track by the end of April on the understanding that athletes accept the shock absorption is below the required standard, with no date on when it will be relayed.

The university informed the BBC in February that they were not in a "financial position" to commit to the "level of investment" required to "meet the standards required" for official accreditation.

When approached for an update on whether the council would pay for resurfacing, a spokesperson said: "We are working with Sheffield Hallam University to find a solution.

"Sheffield City Council does not have the capital to fund the necessary works."

In a statement on their website, Sheffield Hallam said: "Following a review of the assessment and advice on next steps, it is clear that we need to develop a revised risk assessment and potentially introduce additional measures to allow safe use.

"To support this, we are seeking independent external expertise to undertake a risk assessment, alongside progressing our own internal risk assessment."

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