Penistone Road plan must be for all

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 10th Dec 2007

Lib Dems want measures to tackle congestion

Local Liberal Democrats are calling on Sheffield City Council to ensure that new plans for a busy main road guarantee that journey times are improved for all. This week the Council is set to bring forward proposals to bid for improvements to Penistone Road, which is a major route for people in the north of Sheffield. Options on the table include junction improvements, a new park and ride and a bridge over the River Don.

Liberal Democrats, who represent many of the areas affected by the proposals, believe that measures to tackle congestion on the busy route are essential. However, they want to avoid making the road more congested for normal cars - as has been the case in other council 'improvements' such as at Woodseats.

Lib Dems have called for council officers to ensure that there is no loss of road space for the motorist so that journey times for both public transport and the motorist can be reduced.

They also believe that a new bridge connecting Claywheels Lane to Middlewood Road is essential to allow a new through route to the north, and therefore relieve pressure on busy junctions in the Hillsborough area.

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

"Improvements to the Penistone Road corridor are long overdue so this report will be welcomed by people in the north of our City. Congestion on this busy road can be a real nightmare for local people and commuters, its essential that these works make things easier for everyone regularly using the route."

"We want to avoid another Woodseats situation where council improvements actually made things worse. There should be no loss of road space for the motorist so that journey times for both public transport and cars can be reduced."

"It's also essential that the option of a bridge over the River Don at Claywheels Lane is taken up. This would go some way to easing the pressure in the Hillsborough area as it would provide another through route to the north."