Exclusive:Parking crackdown on streets around Sheffield's Northern General Hospital announced
A consultation is ongoing
Plans have been put forward to prevent streets around a Sheffield hospital being clogged up by staff and visitors.
Sheffield City Council says the proposals it has put forward are aimed at addressing “obstructive parking” around the Northern General Hospital, which has been an issue for years.
A consultation website launched by the council explains how a variety of changes would be made around Firth Park, adding that one of the priorities are to: “Make connections to important places stronger, like the Northern General Hospital and key local centres.”
If approved, the changes - which are part of the Connecting Sheffield: Northern Communities scheme - would prohibit waiting at any time on parts of Barnsley Road, Firshill Avenue, Firshill Crescent, Firshill Glade, Hucklow Road, Longley Hall Grove, Longley Hall Rise, Longley Hall Road, Longley Hall Way and Norwood Avenue.
It would also limit parking places along Firth Park Road and Stubbin Lane to a maximum stay of one hour with no return within two hours between 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday.
Loading will be prohibited along parts of Barnsley Road, Firshill Crescent and Hucklow Road, with loading spaces on Firshill Crescent only being accessible between 8am - 9am and 2.45pm - 3.45pm.
Meanwhile, vehicles would only be able to turn left from Hucklow Road onto Barnsley Road and right from Barnsley Road onto Hucklow Road.
A consultation document from the council adds: “The introduction of no waiting at any time restrictions on parts of these roads is considered necessary to tackle obstructive parking that narrows the carriageway and restricts the free movement of traffic.
“The restrictions will also remove double parking on the footways, which are regularly blocked by parked vehicles leaving pedestrians with little or no footway space.”
Find full details of the council’s proposals online here
Parking has been a problem at and around the Northern General Hospital for years, with staff members parking on the streets to avoid having to pay to use the car park.
Visitors unable to find a space on the hospital car park, or to avoid paying, also use side streets to park or wait.
Other complaints raised by visitors have included a lack of public transport options.
MP Gill Furniss has already launched a petition calling on the Supertram network to be extended to Northern General Hospital, while the council’s proposed road changes include adjustments that are hoped to make bus travel more reliable.
Parking and waiting restrictions are intended to clear up bus stops, while bus shelters on Spital Hill and a roundabout next to Firth Park Library will be moved.
It is also hoped a new yellow ‘no stopping’ box at Spital Hill will improve traffic flow, with a consultation document adding: “Spital Hill is one of the busiest locations on the route between north Sheffield and the city centre.
“We are proposing improvements to help buses and other authorised vehicles travel more reliably, reduce delays and improve access to public transport facilities.”
Anyone wishing to comment on the plan is advised to get in touch with Sheffield City Council by November 5.
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