Sheffield councillor calls for 20mph zone to be extended to shopping areas
A Sheffield councillor has successfully argued for three larger roads in Crookes to be included in a proposed 20mph zone.
Coun Minesh Parekh has called for the streets Crookes, Northfield Road and Lydgate Lane to be included in a Sheffield City Council consultation over bringing in a 20mph zone for the upper Crookes suburb.
Generally, larger roads are excluded because the 20mph speed limit is not actively enforced and the scheme are ‘sign only’. They rely on drivers largely abiding by 20mph signs in areas where speeds are already generally slower.
The council eventually wants to introduce 20mph roads to all city residential areas. The city centre is already 20mph only.
Crookes and Crosspool ward represernative Coun Parekh said: “Lydgate Lane is the main walking route to a lot of schools. That is not going to solve the crossing area but it will make it a bit easier.
“I’m really glad the main roads are in and I’d like to see it become a default for the council as well. In a local shopping district you want to see people drive at lower speeds because it makes it a nice place to be.”
Concern
The schools children walk to in the area are Tapton and King Edward’s lower secondaries and Lydgate Primary. Many students living in the area also walk via Broomhill to the University of Sheffield sites around the city centre.
Another key concern around road safety is making people feel happier to walk around the area. If agreed, the 20mph changes will make Crookes a more pleasant place to live and should also encourage better behaviour by drivers, said Coun Parekh.
“Anyone who spends time as a pedestrian knows it is nicer if you don’t have cars whizzing past you or to be waiting up to 10 minutes to cross the road.”
Coun Parekh said that benches have been installed in shopping areas for people to sit on and some cafes have outdoor seating areas. A community orchard being funded by the government’s Economic Recovery Fund will also help to give the area a greener feel, he said.
“You don’t want to be sitting outside a cafe with cars driving past at 30mph or more,” he added.
Consultation
Coun Parekh said a 20mph zone was introduced in part of Crookes several years ago and another covers Crosspool. This one will fill the gap between the two.
The roads that are already included in the public consultation are Arran Road, Bole Hill Lane, Brick Street, Bute Street, Chichester Road, Carson Road, Chesterwood Drive, Colchester Road, Crookes, Crookes Road, Cross Lane, Duncan Road, Elgin Street, Elm Gardens, Eyam Road, Forres Avenue, Forres Road, Hallamgate Road, Hawthorn Mews, Hoole Lane, Hoole Road, Islay Street, Longfield Road, Loxley View Road, Lydgate Lane, Lydgate Court, Midfield Road, Mulehouse Road, Nairn Street, Netherfield Road, Northfield Avenue, Northfield Close, Northfield Road, Pisgah House Road, Salisbury Road, Spooner Road, St Anthony Road, St Thomas Road, Stannington View Road, Stothard Road, Suthard Cross Road, Tapton Mount Close, Tasker Road, The Link, Tinker Lane, Toftwood Avenue, Toftwood Road, Truswell Avenue, Truswell Road and Woodfield Road.
There is also a separate consultation for a 20mph limit on Heavygate Road.
The consultation runs until February 19. Full details of the scheme are available at https://consultation.appyway.com/sheffield or on the council website at https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/roads-pavements/traffic-orders