Strong winds blow metal sheet from Sheffield tower block into path of Supertram

A Sheffield supertram crunched into a sheet of metal which had blown off a nearby tower block into its path.
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The tram hit a panel which had dislodged from a Netherthorpe tower block during strong winds on Saturday lunchtime.

Sheffield Council says it is investigating how the panel became loose and is replacing it as soon as possible.

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Former councillor Peter MacLoughlin, who lives on the 14th floor of one of the tower blocks, says it’s not the first time it’s happened.

Peter MacLoughlin is concerned a metal sheet which blew off a Netherthorpe tower block on to Supertram tracks could have caused serious injuryPeter MacLoughlin is concerned a metal sheet which blew off a Netherthorpe tower block on to Supertram tracks could have caused serious injury
Peter MacLoughlin is concerned a metal sheet which blew off a Netherthorpe tower block on to Supertram tracks could have caused serious injury

Peter, who caught it on camera, said: “I heard what appeared to be loud scraping noises coming from the Supertram tracks and when I looked out of the window, I could see that a tram was struggling trying to move forward.

“It had somehow got tangled with a large heavy metal sheeting underneath the carriage.

“The driver got out and tried to pull the metal sheeting from underneath the tram but couldn’t do it.

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“He went back into the tram and after about five minutes or so got back out of the cab, tried again but was still unable to shift it.

The metal sheet had blown off a nearby Netherthorpe tower block on to the Supertram tracksThe metal sheet had blown off a nearby Netherthorpe tower block on to the Supertram tracks
The metal sheet had blown off a nearby Netherthorpe tower block on to the Supertram tracks

“He got back into the tram cab then reversed the tram back towards the tunnel at Brookhill roundabout. The metal sheeting caught an object on the side of the tram track and managed to dislodge from underneath the tram.

“The driver then got out of the cab and removed the heavy metal sheeting on the side of Netherthorpe ring road and proceeded on his journey.”

Former councillor concerned about safety

Mr MacLoughlin, who has lived in the tower block for 34 years, added: “This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened along Netherthorpe Road.

A Supertram driver trying to remove the sheet of metal which had blow off a nearby tower block at Netherthorpe (image: Peter MacLoughlin)A Supertram driver trying to remove the sheet of metal which had blow off a nearby tower block at Netherthorpe (image: Peter MacLoughlin)
A Supertram driver trying to remove the sheet of metal which had blow off a nearby tower block at Netherthorpe (image: Peter MacLoughlin)
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“Some years back it was metal sheeting from the tower block cladding due to very high winds. It does beg some real safety questions.”

A spokesman for Stagecoach Supertram said no one had been injured.

“Our driver had to free it and then our infrastructure team came and took it away. No one on the tram was in any danger and there was no damage to the tram. It was a very minor routine operational issue.”

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