Call by Sheffield parents for a crossing near school “before a fatal accident happens”
Parents of children at a school in Birley have launched a petition to get a safe crossing on a road used by almost 2,000 pupils.
Sheffield City Council Birley ward councillor Karen McGowan and three parents launched the petition, signed by 155 people, for a crossing on Thornbridge Drive near Birley Primary Academy School.
The petition asks the council to provide a pedestrian crossing on Thornbridge Drive at the junction with Hopedale Road.
It adds: “Thornbridge Drive and Thornbridge Road is a bus route. There are four educational establishments (within a quarter of a mile radius) totalling 1,900 young people crossing Thornbridge Drive into Thornbridge Avenue and Thornbridge Road along with parents, carers, grandparents and educational staff.
“This is in addition to local residents living here and going about their normal daily business of travelling to and from work etc.
“There has not been a school crossing warden for two years, although this post has been advertised several times.
Accident
“Luckily there have been no fatalities but lots of near misses, the most recent in October 2025.
“Something needs to change before a fatal accident happens.” Coun McGowan said: “As a Birley ward councillor I have been working for the last 2-3 years with my fellow councillors and the headteacher of Birley Primary Academy School to try to make this a safer place for our young people.
“We have done several things to try to make the area safe including doing initiatives with the children such as the good/bad parking scheme and Living Streets.
“These schemes would encourage children to walk to school safely but without a safe school crossing point this isn’t possible for most children.
“We have also had several parking enforcement sessions.
“I have also started the first Community Speed Watch scheme in the South East with residents and we have planned sessions to take place in this location in the near future. As you can see we are trying our best to deal with the situation.”
Frightening
Campaigner Kate Goddard said: “As a parent, it’s frightening watching children try to cross Thornbridge Drive every day with no safe place to do so. With buses and heavy traffic using Thornbridge Drive, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
“We really want the council to act now, before it’s too late.” Adele Bellamy said: “Parents do not feel safe letting their children cross the road due to there not being a safe designated crossing area, therefore increasing traffic of children being driven to school on an already busy road.
“A suitable pedestrian crossing would protect schoolchildren, improve road safety, reduce unnecessary risk and provide reassurance to parents and local residents. “ Rebecca Hudson added: “It’s a daily worry on the school run that it’s only a matter of time before a near-miss becomes a tragedy because drivers simply don’t have a clear, designated place to stop.
“The lack of a proper crossing feels like an accident waiting to happen.”
Tickets
The good/bad parking scheme was delivered at the school by council South East Local Area Committee officers. They showed pupils examples of good and bad parking.
They produced tickets and went out with a member of staff to hand them out to motorists parking both inconsiderately and well.
Coun McGowan said: “One parent told me her child said to her ‘you can’t park here mum, it’s not safe’!” The pupils received certificates at a Local Area Committee meeting.