Hillsborough residents to host public meeting on controversial transport changes

The meeting will get everybody's feedback to take to the council and “make as much noise as we can”

Residents of Hillsborough, Walkley and surrounding areas will gather next week to discuss Sheffield Council's controversial traffic plans, as their petition reaches 1,900 signatures.

Rebecca Oxley (left) and Sam Payne (right) say the trade of their pet shop would be affected | Sam Payne

placeholder image — Rebecca Oxley (left) and Sam Payne (right) say the trade of their pet shop would be affected | Sam Payne

Local residents are invited from 6pm to Hillsborough Trinity Church on November 3 for a public meeting to discuss Sheffield City Council’s traffic plans to ‘connect the Upper Don Valley’.

The proposals include changes to Fox Hill Road, Holme Lane, Leppings Lane, Middlewood Road, Langsett Road and Southey Green Road.

Plans involve new bus lanes and a 12-hour bus and tram gate that would block traffic heading into Hillsborough from the city centre.

It also includes new and upgraded pedestrian crossings, bus stops, pavements and walking routes, and changes to parking and traffic management.

The consultation report states: “Congestion and difficult junction layouts can lead to delays and unreliable journeys, with around 30 bus journeys experiencing delays through Hillsborough each day.”

While residents back some of the proposals, they say the majority, like rerouting a bus down a thin residential spur road off Loxley New Road, “make no sense”.

Leena Hiscock is concerned about disabled residents, school children crossing from the tram, and open car doors when a bus could come down the thin street | Iconic Media

They fear it could affect small businesses, create more dangerous walking routes and make traffic congestion worse.

They also feel that proposals don’t consider how people live and move around the area.

Loxley New Road resident Leena Hiscock said: “Whoever made this proposal has not spent a single second standing on the street.”

Sam Payne, owner of Better4Pets on Langsett Road, said: “They’ve obviously not driven on the roads that they’re sending traffic round, because if they are they'd see that they’re on roads that aren’t passable.”

Sam also criticised the survey wording, calling it “a joke” that doesn't give a proper chance to feed back.

“It’s saying do you think buses could be improved? So if you put yes then you’re more or less saying you agree with it.”

Sam said the lack of notice from the council, and the wording of the survey, have left residents feeling like they’re not being listened to | Sheffield City Council survey

Sam’s colleague Rebecca Oxley started a petition which has now reached more than 1,900 signatures, calling on the council to rethink its plans.

Sam said the aim is to try and get everybody's feedback to take to the council and “make as much noise as we can.”

A public consultation on the plans is currently taking place and runs until November 4.

A spokesperson for Sheffield City Council said: "We are glad to see so many people engaging with this project and taking the time to share their views.

"We recognise that some residents have raised concerns about elements of the proposals we are currently consulting on.

"We want to remind everyone that these proposals are early stage, and are not finalised plans – we haven’t made any decisions at this point.

Leena Hiscock lives in one of the terraced houses on Loxley New Road where the bus is proposed to be rerouted | Iconic Media

"The purpose of the consultation is to gather feedback from people who live, work and travel in the area to genuinely feed into the next stage of the project’s development.

"We would encourage anybody who has concerns, would like further information, or wishes to comment on the proposals to complete the consultation survey or contact the project team through the official consultation channels so we can fully consider their views as part of the process.

"Following the consultation, we will closely look at what people have told us so that we understand the impact of the proposals on the local community. We will also consider whether we need to make any changes to our initial proposals."

To attend the community meeting on Tuesday at Hillsborough Trinity Methodist Church arrive at 6pm for a 7pm start.