Friends group brands Sheffield dual carriageway plan 'deeply damaging’ and ‘contradictory to carbon, transport and air quality targets’

The group insists that claims a new road behind Sheffield station would improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions are merely ‘unqualified rhetoric and empty aspirations’.

They say South Street Park will be ruined and air quality harmed, especially for residents at Park Hill flats which is undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Sheffield City Council has a £1.5bn plan to transform the area to meet climate change commitments and make the most of HS2.

A new half-mile, four-lane road would replace tram tracks behind Sheffield station and a new route laid along Pond Street.

Traffic would be banned on Sheaf Street to promote walking and cycling and help the council ‘address the climate emergency’. The authority has promised to be carbon neutral by 2030.

But the Friends claim the proposal contains ‘not a single shred of technical or quantitative analysis’.

And they have responded with a petition against the plan stating: ‘We are concerned that for many residents, this Development Framework would increase air pollution, increase carbon emissions and substantially diminish a vital city centre green space.’

The statement adds: ‘Whilst there will be disagreement about the merits of HS2, it is accepted that these major structural interventions must be managed to have a positive economic impact on the city but this document does not address enough of the key issues in sufficient detail.

‘In particular, there is no acknowledgement of Sheffield City Council’s Transport Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan which point to the need to reduce car journeys for achieving both its own and the UK Government’s targets. It is profoundly disappointing that the primary focus of the document is an inner ring road.’

A council report on the scheme states: ‘Moving the tram to Pond Street opens up the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a new Inner Relief Road route to the east of the station.

‘Changes to the road network will reduce congestion, improve air quality and safety and provide capacity where and when needed.’

It adds: ‘The realignment of the road and tram network is seen as the critical component to making this transformational change.’

The 20-year plan would be Sheffield’s biggest ever. It was approved by Sheffield City Council in March and is set to go out for public consultation.

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