'I don't see any negatives': Boy racers on Ecclesall Road to be halted by new 20mph zone as businesses react to plans
“Places that are more pedestrian friendly are better for business generally, you can see it on Sharrow Vale Road.”
Boy racers on one of Sheffield’s trendiest roads will be stopped in their tracks by a new 20mph zone.
A growing number of sports cars sometimes hit 60mph on Ecclesall Road, a shopkeeper says.
The popular street often sees crawling congestion during the day but can turn into a racetrack at night when the road is empty.
Now, Sheffield City Council is set to impose a 20mph limit on the busiest section, from Champs Sports Bar to Hunter’s Bar Roundabout.
It will be policed by ‘average speed cameras’ which track a vehicle at multiple points to calculate average speed across a set distance.
The tech is in a £1.42m safety package to be installed from January and set to include a new pedestrian crossing near the Porter Brook pub.
The government has given Sheffield City Council the money after the street was identified as one of 27 urban roads with the highest rates of road traffic collisions in the UK.
The measures were largely welcomed by shopkeepers and pedestrians for improving safety and creating a more pleasant atmosphere.
Sheffield City Council has previously said slower speeds reduce emissions and noise.
But one or two people thought they could slow already slow journeys - and the extra crossing was too near one at Nonnas restaurant, about 100 yards away.
Siobhan Smedley at Sister women’s clothes said it could make the environment more pleasant but could make bus journeys longer.
Kitty Evans of gift shop Mookau said 20mph in built up areas was a good thing.
She added: “It might make drivers think a bit more about the fact that cars are not the only road users.
“It will make pedestrians, cyclists and other road users feel a bit safer. I don’t see any negatives.”
Sam Iseard of Craft and Berry said Lamborghinis and other “very loud” supercars sped up and down the road at up to 60mph in the evening, which he hoped the 20mph would stop.
He added: “Places that are more pedestrian-friendly are better for business generally, you can see it on Sharrow Vale Road.”
But Andrew Louw, of Me Again hair salon, thought slower cars could cause congestion and create longer journeys for customers.
“It could put people off coming. Twenty is appropriate for side roads but not main roads like this.”
Louise McDonald, cleaner at the Porter Brook pub on Ecclesall Road, thought the new crossing near the pub was unnecessary because there was one 100 yards away at Nonnas - and it would wipe out several scarce parking spaces.
She added: “I’m a pedestrian and I feel well catered for, I don’t know why we need another. If they’ve got money to spend, clean the footpaths.”
But pals Janet Parkinson and Lynee Middleton said “the more the better.”
Janet said: “Disabled people are going to benefit from the extra crossing. And the 20mph limit is good too. Cars are crawling a lot of the time but sometimes they go too fast.”
Lynne added: “Congestion can’t be any worse than it is now which can make it difficult to cross. New traffic lights will help.”