Concerns over speeding on residential Sheffield street

Harcourt Road at Crookes Valley was given a 20mph limit several years ago but residents say drivers are either ignoring it or are unaware of the signs.

Richard Ward said: “There are a lot of people with small children on the road and there is also a large footfall from the university.

“Quite a lot of drivers are doing 30-40mph and occasionally there’s people doing 50-60mph.

“Last April I asked a PCSO to come and speak to me about community monitoring, where the police give you a speed gun and help you check the vehicles. If anyone goes over the limit they get a letter advising them of their speed. After that meeting I never heard any more from the police.

“The signs aren’t in a very good position and one repeater sign is blocked by a tree so I think some people don’t realise they have entered a 20mph limit.

“There are no physical barriers to stop people going up to 60mph. A lot of money has been spent on doing the roads so while they were doing that, they should have thought about putting in traffic calming.

“I understand there is a limited budget but some of these drivers are going at criminal speeds and it really needs to be addressed.”

Sgt Adam Wood from the Broomhall and Upperthorpe neighbourhood team said police took reports of dangerous driving very seriously.

“Vehicles driving at speed or in an antisocial manner can have a real impact on communities.

Areas with a 20mph limit have that restriction for a reason, it may be that there is a school nearby, or the area is pretty built up.

“It’s to keep road users, pedestrians and residents safe and there really is no excuse for ignoring this limit and placing yourself or others at risk.”

Sgt Wood is meeting Harcourt Road residents and said his team was supporting an operation to target hotspots for antisocial driving.

Sheffield Council was unavailable for comment.