Pedestrian crossing call for busy Sheffield shopping area – “only a matter of time before there is a serious accident”
Pedestrian crossing call for busy Sheffield shopping area – “only a matter of time before there is a serious accident”.
The change.org petition, signed by 403 people, requests for a crossing on Sharrow Vale Road in Hunters Bar, between Stewart Road and Jarrow Road.
According to the petition, “Sharrow Vale Road is a local centre replete with stores, facilities, and two schools, and it is extremely popular with pedestrians.
“Crossing the road (even within the major center of this area) is difficult, especially during rush-hour traffic, such as when schools open and close and when people begin and end work.
“It is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident, unfortunately.”
Joe Freegard and Ed Maltby, neighbours, delivered the petition to Sheffield City Council’s transport, regeneration, and climate policy committee on March 18.
Joe Freegard informed councillors that the road is especially harmful for youngsters and those with mobility challenges.
“The region around the junction of Sharrowvale Road and Hickmott Road is especially dangerous since it is a traffic bottleneck.
“Because of the overwhelming quantity of vehicles, pedestrians are unable to hunt for gaps in traffic during peak hours and are forced to cross between idling vehicles locked in this bottleneck.
“Drivers are unable to see pedestrians attempting to cross the road adequately and are often moving their cars back and forth in an agitated manner in order to try and get through.”
Mr Freegard stated that the problem is compounded by the number of cars parking on double yellow lines on Sharrowvale Road. He stated that a bottleneck might span the length of the road and cause cars to behave recklessly.
“I’ve almost been ran over a couple of times, and I’m aware of other accidents and near-accidents caused by these concerns.
“The situation is particularly worrying for people with young children who are regularly forced to push prams between parked cars and in front of idling vehicles with agitated drivers in order to cross the road.”
Investment
Committee chair Coun Ben Miskell responded that the area is already benefiting from the Ecclesall Road Safety Improvement Scheme. The council is also investing £3.81 million in pedestrian crossings throughout the city.
The projects are:
Dyche Lane, near the southern junction of Batemoor Road;
Manor Lane is near Manor Park Road and Seaton Crescent.
Herries Road is near Parkwood Road North.
London Road connects Bennet Street and Boston Street.
Shiregreen Lane/Monckton Road intersection;
Glossop Road is near Brunswick Road.
Creswick Lane, outside Yewlands Academy.
Wordsworth Avenue leads to the Cookson Park playground.
Coun Miskell responded: “It does represent a significant investment but we’re busy working behind the scenes with the mayoral combined authority in order to be able to enlarge that pot as part of the Transport for City Regions settlement.”
Coun Miskell stated that the council aims to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on the city’s roadways.
He stated that the crossings budget for this year has already been spent, but pledged that the matter would be thoroughly studied and assessed in future years, a process that would involve ward councillors.
Coun Alexi Dimond advised that councillors and officers visit the property.
He further stated that all members should receive the invitation, as non-Labour councillors were not invited to the unveiling of South Yorkshire People’s Network of new buses and trams by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard earlier this week.
Councillor Miskell agreed to the site tour suggestion.
He stated that the invitations to the aforementioned event were the responsibility of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, but he thought it was a reasonable inquiry.
Coun Ian Horner requested that parking enforcement visit the area to address parking on double yellow lines, which was agreed upon.
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