A Dutch roundabout is coming to Sheffield - but what is it and how does it work?

Proposals have been drawn up to turn Kelham and Neepsend into an Active Neighbourhood as part of Sheffield City Council’s Connecting Sheffield project which aims to improve sustainable travel and create safer and more attractive travel routes into and around the area.

Plans would stop cars taking short cuts through the area via road closures, a priority bus route to improve travel time and a largely segregated lane for cycling.

And at the centre of the scheme is West Bar Roundabout – which will be redesignated as Sheffield’s first ‘Dutch-style’ roundabout.

But what is one? And how does it work?

They are called Dutch roundabouts – because they are extremely popular in the Netherlands – but they are few and far between in the UK.

Instead of cars, the roundabouts gives priority to pedestrians and cyclists.

Many come with pedestrian crossings on all entrances and exits – as well as dedciated lanes for cyclists.

A Dutch style roundabout installed in Cambridge last year has not been without controversy – with some drivers claiming it to be more dangerous than the conventional roundabout it replaced.

The full consultation for Kelham – Neepsend - City Centre can be found on the Connecting Sheffield website here: http://bit.ly/Neepsend-Kelham

You can also feedback your comments or request hard copy information by email: [email protected], by phone: 0808 196 5105 or in writing: Freepost, Connecting SHF.