Latest from the council

TRO's etc recently received:

South & East Community Assembly

Various increased parking restrictions including Bunting Nook, Granville Rd, Hemsworth & Warminster Rd, High St & Stone St Mosborough.

South West Community Assembly

Various increased parking restrictions including Abbeydale Rd South (nr, Dore Station/PnR site)
Baslow Rd/Hillfoot Rd (Totley) new Loading Bay for co-op @ Brooklands Ave, Ringinglow Rd @ Bents Green, Little Common Lane off Abbey Lane, various other locations
New Sheltered Parking @ Lydgate Lane

The general principle that is being adopted is that there should be no parking to at or near road junctions. As this improves sight lines & reduces vehicle movements it makes the roads the safer for all users, so I support these on principle.

Can provide scans of these paper docs on request.

Bridleways, Ecclesall Rd

The latest communications from the Council:

The application to extinguish Bridleways 77 & 79 (between Redmires Rd & Lodge Lane) and turn them into footpaths  has been turned down. This was hotly fought by local mountain bikers and the Friends of the Peak District.

On Ecclesall Rd, there will be some additional parking restrictions, most notably at the junction with Greystones Rd.  The proposals have been toned down following a campaign including local residents
and cyclists. The principle that capacity improvements are only going to provide temporary respite and that encouraging people to car-share, use the bus, walk or cycle is the way forward seems to have been accepted.

Also a new pedestrian island on Birley Spa Lane.

Ecclesall Rd

Had a useful meeting and ride along Ecclesall Rd with David Whitley, the council officer in charge of the Ecclesall Rd 'Smartroutes; project. We went through the list of Cyclesheffield proposals for the route and some of them look as though they could be progressed.

With the ones that caused us most concern, the proposal to create a right-turning lane at Greystones Rd is likely to be dropped. The outbound bus lane between Hunters Bar and Rustlings Rd is likely to go, but we expect to see at least a cycle lane here instead. This could be linked with a toucan crossing to get cyclists across to Rustlings Rd and a route through Endcliffe Park using the wider paths at the Hunters Bar end and the access road leading to Rustlings Rd. The inbound bus lanes will probably stay. Suggested that Gisborne Rd be closed to right-turning traffic, and to right turns onto Ecclesall Rd - drivers wanting to access the Greystones area would then have to use Tullibardine or Ringinglow Rds.

We looked at a crossing between Psalter Lane and Glenalmond Rd as well as the junction with Collegiate Crescent, which is more tricky.

Overall I felt we were being listened to and that cycling was being taken seriously as a form of transport, but don't hold your breath for improvements as in the current financial environment they might be a long time coming! 

Ecclesall Rd

The letter we've sent with regard to the Ecclesall Rd "Stupid Routes" proposal can be viewed via this link.

Rother Valley Connect 2 Scheme

The next letter I've opened states that my objection/representation (translates as "letter of support") for the Connect 2 scheme will be made available for the Public Enquiry, which has come about as a result of the dispute between a landowner and the Council, and it looks as though I will be called to give evidence at the enquiry. Exciting times!

TRO - Shiregreen 20mph Zone

Now this is more like it  - a TRO introducing a 20mph zone for the whole of the Shiregreen Area (excluding Bellhouse Rd) I'll be writing to support this as I believe it will make the whole area safer, increase levels of walking and cycling and improve air quality as well as having a positive effect on social cohesion.

Ref is TR/37/071

TRO Children's Hospital & George St

- Voucher Parking Bay outside children's hospital
- no loading or waiting on Clarkson St & parts of Durham Rd
 - A loading only bay on George St.

No problems with any of that - anything that creates a bit more order out of the chaos in this area has to be a good thing.