Long queues outside Sheffield tip branded 'extremely dangerous'

Household waste recycling centres across the city remain open but only for essential visits where residents are unable to store items safely at home.

That has not stopped lengthy tailbacks forming outside the centre on Blackstock Road in Gleadless Valley, where residents complain that the line of cars waiting to get in frequently stretches some 200 metres to Overend Road and beyond.

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More than 100 people have signed a petition, launched by Sally Dale, of Gleadless Valley TARA (tenants and residents association), demanding action.

“Local people are contacting the TARA regularly to complain that they have nearly had accidents because of the queuing traffic - on Tuesday, the buses had to be rerouted as they could not travel safely down there,” states the petition.

“It's extremely dangerous now, and this is during the lockdown but once travel gets more fluid, the more congested and dangerous Blackstock Road will become.

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“A lot of parents cross the road in this area to take and bring their children to and from school, and as the Government is now stating children can start going back to school, we are very worried whether it will be a car crash first or something far more serious.”

Veolia – which manages rubbish for Sheffield Council – has said it is ‘unacceptable’ for customers to queue outside recycling centres, which it warned would only remain open if residents ‘behave responsibly’.

The number of people using the city’s recycling centres at any one time has been restricted to enable social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a police Q&A, a carer said she had rung police three times in one day due to concerns over traffic queuing on the blind bend to access the Blackstock Road recycling centre – once because someone nearly crashed into her.

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Police said they had been in touch with councillors regarding the issue but unfortunately South Yorkshire Police did not have enough officers to permanently police the queue.

The Star has contacted Sheffield Council and is awaiting a response.

To view the petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/make-blackstock-road-safe.