And the speeds keep dropping...,

TRO's Just in:-

Loxley Rd 40 MPH Speed limit (Down from 60  - also 30mph zone extended.)
Worrall Rd 40 MPH Speed limit  (Down from 60)
High Green North   - 20MPH Zone (Area-wide)

I'll be writing to support these, of course. 

20's plenty for Woodthorpe!

Just in: TRO's for a 20mph scheme in Woodthorpe (an estate in Mosborough) & Low Edges.

AND: Walkley Traffic Review: A whole wodge of changes in this area, which I expect our Walkley Active Travel Corridor friends will want to have a look at.

Thoresby to Watersmeet Rd

Have had a Cycle Tracks Order in for the above route. This will create a neat little route linking Forge Valley School to the Rivelin Valley area and is part of a Bike It initiative in the area. The route avoids the thoroughly nasty Holme Lane. Should you wish to send in a letter of support, contact me for details.

New stuff- Blackburn Valley, Halfway

Got another wodge of new stuff from the dinosaurs at the Council (Traffic Regulations and Legal Services: the only departments left who can't get it together to send you an email) Both good news anyway:  An Order confirming the status of Butterthwaite Lane to Loicher Lane as a Bridleway, another step forwards for the Chapeltown Greenway: and Old Lane Halfway, parking restrictions that will stop people from parking on the Connect 2 walking and cycling scheme connecting Killamarsh with Halfway tram terminus. Sadly, you won't be able to take your bike out to Halfway to use this cycle route, this being due to the intransigence, backsliding and idiocy of Stagecoach Supertram  Ltd, who as ever are very happy to profit from public investment as long as they don't have to contribute to it. (My views in this respect are my own, not necessarily those of the CTC.)

What the council's up to

Another wodge of stuff emanating from the Community Assemblies arrived today. Mostly they extend or introduce no waiting restrictions at junctions. I always support these because I think keeping junctions free of vehicles makes them safer for cyclists.

Of note is a proposal to block off Smithywood Crescent to motor vehicles. This is the last cut-through between Chesterfield Rd and Abbeydale Rd, so well worth doing.

Home Zones, 20mph zones

Some new TRO's coming through in the wake of the Council's decision to restrict 20mph zones to School areas (where they are least needed) and on-request via Community Assemblies:-

Scowerdons  - Netherwood Ave, Fenton Drive & Newhill Lane
Bradfield School - Speed Cushions & Plateau
Finchwell (Handsworth) 20MPH zone. 

A bumpy ride in Stoney Middleton

I've just waded through a decision of the Planning Inspectorate regarding a byway from Stoney Middleton to Eyam, which is to be scheduled as a Byway Open to All Traffic. This clearly would make it available to for off-roaders to wreck. The decision is 17 pages long, but the nub of it is that the road has been open to "mechanically propelled vehicles" since 1759 and therefore should remain so. The fact that there were no mechanically propelled vehicles in 1759 is apparently not relevant. The report also says "there is no need for me to address the issues raised by the objectors regarding the alleged nuisance that would arise by virtue of use by motor vehicles." So another bit of the Peak District remains open to be destroyed, along with the peace and tranquility of the residents, by four-wheel drives and off-road motorcycles. What a travesty. 

TRO's

These just in:

Arundel St Enhancement Scheme. Includes a plateau at the Arundel St/Charles St junction and a contra-flow cycle lane on part of Charles ST (Which is odd because I thought there already was one)

Notre Dame High School. A new building will replace a current car park. Parking restrictions are being introduced in the neighbouring streets to limit the effects of additional on-street parking. This area is notorious for congestion caused by schoolkids being delivered by their parents in Chelsea tractors.

Foxhill & Main Rd, Darnall   -medical centres. Measures to control parking and reduce speeds in the vicinity of the new medical centres currently being constructed.

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.