All change for Hillsborough danger spot

All change for Hillsborough danger spot










By Sarah Dunn
A ROAD safety scheme designed to make it easier for pedestrians to cross the main road through Hillsborough, where 22 pedestrians have been hurt in five years, has been given the green light.
The aim is to cut accidents on Bradfield Road between Hillsborough Corner and the roundabout at Owlerton Green, where 28 people have been hurt since 2003.

Pedestrians were involved in 22 of the incidents, and six were classed as serious. The main problem was people crossing without using the pedestrian crossings.

Sheffield Council traffic management manager Simon Botterill told a planning meeting: "The options are to control the pedestrians and try to get them to cross at the identified controlled locations. Currently they seem to be crossing away from there and are struggling with traffic moving in two or three lanes."

The £150,000 plan includes:


Improving crossings


Installing a new, uncontrolled crossing point near the Hawksley Avenue junction,


A barrier rail elsewhere to channel pedestrians away from more hazardous places.



There will be a night-time taxi rank, a red road surface to mark the shopping area for motorists, limited waiting daytime parking and unlimited overnight parking near the Owlerton Green roundabout.

A redundant petrol station access will be closed and the mouth of Hawksley Avenue narrowed to make it easier and safer to cross, with removal of off-peak parking opposite Hawksley Avenue, which restricts traffic flow towards Hillsborough Corner.

Hillsborough ward councillor Steve Ayris had concerns about the proposals .

Issues included the potential problems for large goods vehicles if Hawksley Avenue was narrowed, and the impact this could have on traffic backing up, and the paid parking bays in Bradfield Road which he said most people thought should be 'banned altogether.'


The barrier railings were a
little over the top, he said. He feared potential night-time disorder at the taxi rank .

But the recommendations were passed by councillors on the planning board.

How effective this will be is something for you lads on the road to judge and post your thoughts back to us.