Local residents are urging Sheffield Council to address a hazardous junction lacking pedestrian crossings for decades
Sheffield: Residents and campaigners are really pushing for the council to fix a dangerous junction on a busy road. It’s been a problem for ages, and they’re fed up.
The spot where Carter Knowle Road meets Ecclesall Road South, near the Prince of Wales pub, has no pedestrian crossing. One local remembers how it was back in the 1960s and says it’s only gotten worse since then.
Now, some locals, along with a council member, are calling on Sheffield Council to step up. Cllr Peter Gilbert, who represents Ecclesall, says the junction is terrible for pedestrians. This is surprising since the council recently claimed Sheffield is pedestrian-friendly.
He warned that if crossings aren’t planned well, people will just avoid them, which doesn’t make the city pedestrian-friendly at all. He said, “Local residents are here today to tell the council we want action on this junction and others like it to keep pedestrians safe.”
“Everyone is a pedestrian at some point,” he added. Cllr Gilbert mentioned he’s already brought this issue to the council’s attention and talked about a £1.6 million safety initiative for Ecclesall Road funded by the government. He appreciated the new safe crossing at Psalter Lane but said the Carter Knowle and Ecclesall junction is still being ignored.
Tessa Lupton, a local Green Party activist, shared her worries about crossing the busy junction, especially for families. She said, “It’s scary. If I had my kids with me, I’d be really worried about their safety.”
She pointed out that there’s no safe way to cross, which is especially tough for visually impaired folks, despite some tactile paving. “How can they cross safely?” she asked.
Ten-year-old Adam Bull, who lives nearby, said he wouldn’t even try to cross because of speeding cars. He mentioned how dangerous it is when one set of lights is red and the other is green, saying, “It’s just extremely dangerous to try and cross.”
His dad, Tom Bull, wishes his kids could go out on their own but feels that issues like this hold them back. Cllr Ben Miskell, who heads the transport committee at Sheffield City Council, said they aim to reduce serious injuries on the roads to zero. He noted that adding pedestrian crossings is part of that plan, even if it slows down traffic.
“We’re focusing on the most dangerous spots in the city to make them safer for walking and cycling,” he said. He understands residents’ concerns and assured them that the council will look into improving safety at that junction soon.
