Plan to ease station congestion chaos mooted

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Jun 2007

Lib Dems are calling for improvements to the new station

Local Liberal Democrats have written to senior managers within Sheffield City Council's transport department and asked them to consider introducing extra short-stay car parking near the newly refurbished rail station.

Since improvements at the new station were completed there have been major congestion problems in and around the car park, pick-up point and taxi rank. However, the owners of the station Midland Mainline have failed to resolve the situation and the Council have not suggested any potential resolution.

Problems have recently intensified after the new owners of the nearby multi-storey car park ceased to offer free short-stay parking. There are only 12 short-stay car-parking bays at the station.

Lib Dems believe that, if acted upon, their request would ease some of the congestion. They believe that current levels of congestion are unacceptable and that urgent attention is needed to resolve the problem, which is problematic and creates a bad impression on new visitors.

Cllr Sylvia Dunkley, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Transport, said: -

"Whilst the improvements carried out to the station are welcome it's clear that the congestion problem that has been created needs to be resolved. At the moment users of the station are seriously inconvenienced, particularly around busy periods such as Friday evenings. The situation leaves a bad impression with visitors."

"I have written to the relevant council managers and suggested a positive way forward. At the moment there are only 12 short-stay car-parking bays. If extra short-stay parking is created it could relieve some of the pressure on the pickup and taxi rank area."

"I will wait to see how the council react to my suggestion, but simply sitting back and doing nothing is not an option."