City suburb set for speed limit cut to 20mph

A 20mph (32 km/h) speed limit is set to be introduced on roads in a city suburb following a public consultation.

Officers have recommended Sheffield councillors approve plans to cut the speed limit in Netherthorpe as part of the authority's strategy to improve road safety in residential areas.

A report to be considered by councillors said that, so far, 65 "sign-only" 20mph areas had been introduced in Sheffield, in addition to 12 child safety zones, with a further six schemes currently under way.

The report noted that there had been an "unusually low" response to the public consultation over the Netherthorpe proposal, with only three emails in favour of the proposal and two against.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the report stated that the low number of participants in the consultation could be "for a number of reasons".

"Having looked at the address data, the area is predominantly flats/HMOs, and we tend to receive less interest in schemes (except for parking schemes) from student areas," it said.

The council said it was aiming to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions, lower people's fear of accidents, and encourage more sustainable travel.

Sheffield City Council's transport, regeneration and climate policy committee is expected to make a final decision next Wednesday.

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