Councillor labels resurfaced Sheffield road "death trap" claiming cars will skid downhill on loose gravel
“It is a death trap. No one wants to see a car skid downhill and hit someone”
A councillor claims a Sheffield road has been left a “death trap” by loose gravel following resurfacing work.
Contractors from Amey carried out repairs on Machon Bank in Nether Edge this week.
The work involved laying loose chippings from curb to curb along the full length of the 20mph residential street leading downhill from Moncriefe Road to Empire Road.
More work is expected until September 11, and contractors placed a temporary ‘Skid Risk’ road sign at the entrance to the street. It is understood the resurfacing will be carried out in two stages.
However, a ward councillor says the first stage of the repairs have created a “death trap” where cars are skidding while braking downhill.
Councillor Maroof Raouf [Green, Nether Edge & Sharrow], said: “I’m not sure why Amey chose Machon Bank as there were not many potholes here at all, so I’m not really sure specifically what they did.
“It seems they have roughened up the surface and laid lots of loose stones and chippings.
“Cars are now skidding at the end of Machon Bank where it goes downhill. They can’t grip properly.
“20mph is still quite a significant speed.
“It is a death trap. No one wants to see a car skid downhill and hit someone.
“I don’t know if it’s just not finished or it hasn’t bonded properly, but it needs to be fixed.”
It comes as Sheffield is 13 years into the ‘Streets Ahead’ contract, a 25-year-long agreement worth £2.2bn for Amey to manage and repair Sheffield’s roads.
However, in March 2026, Sheffield City Council called an emergency all-councillors meeting with Amey under the weight of complaints from residents, members and MPs about road repairs.
At the time, Councillor Raouf labelled Amey’s promises at the meeting to draft in extra repair teams “vague” and “aggravating”.
Speaking of the Machon Bank repairs, he said: “The good people of Sheffield deserve better.”
Sheffield City Council was contacted for comment.