Petition Requesting Road Safety Measures at the Junction of Stafford Road Fitzwalter Road Glencoe Road

 

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

 

REPORT TO CITY CENTRE AND EAST PLANNING

AND HIGHWAYS AREA BOARD

12 JULY 2004

                                                           

REPORT ON PETITION REQUESTING SAFETY MEASURES AT THE JUNCTION OF STAFFORD ROAD / FITZWALTER ROAD / GLENCOE ROAD

 

1.0             PURPOSE OF REPORT

 

1.1      To provide a response to petitioners.

 

2.0             BACKGROUND

 

2.1      Receipt of a petition, containing 112 signatures was reported to a meeting of this Board on 19 April 2004.  The petition organized by the Sheffield Green Party on behalf of the local residents and visitors from as far away as Rotherham, London and York is headed:

 

            “The junction of Stafford Road, Fitzwalter Road and Glencoe Road urgently needs improvements.  The Council have been wrong to shelve these.  We call on the council to review this situation and implement safety measures without delay.”

 

3.0             INFORMATION

 

3.1              The junction of Stafford Road, Fitzwalter Road and Glencoe Road is located just off the bottom of City Road within a 30 mph urban area. 

 

3.2              This configuration of crossroads and junctions coming together at one point gives rise to a complicated layout as can be seen in the location plan provided. 

 

3.3              Drivers on Fitzwalter Road have right of way across Stafford Road.  The junctions of Stafford Road and Glencoe Road are set back from Fitzwalter Road, and drivers negotiating these junctions are obliged to be more observant and exercise more caution than is usually needed at more straight forward junctions.

 

3.4              Fitzwalter Road, Stafford Road and Glencoe Road are mainly residential.  The Sheffield Wildlife Trust has its headquarters on Stafford Road, and employees and visitors park on the road during office hours. 

 

3.5        Two slight injury accidents have been recorded at the junction of Fitzwalter Road, Stafford Road and Glencoe Road in the 5 years ending 31 December 2003.  These were vehicular accidents caused by drivers failing to obey the ‘Give Way’ signs at the junctions.

 

3.6      Following a previous request to simplify the layout of this junction, a scheme was entered into the Council’s assessment procedure.

 

 

4.0      DISCUSSION

 

4.1      It would be feasible to alter the layout of this junction.  However implementing a suitable scheme would involve a considerable commitment of resources.

 

4.2      A scheme to simplify the layout of the junction was assessed in 2002 but failed to achieve a score high enough to be included in a programme of works.  The re-assessment of this scheme or the assessment of a new scheme would also fail to achieve a score that would result in its inclusion in a programme.

                       

4.3      ‘Give Way’ signs and road markings in place at the ends of Stafford Road and Glencoe Road are in good condition.  Delineation of the right of way on Fitzwalter Road is in place and also in good order.

 

4.4      There are many other junctions in the city currently experiencing a higher level of injury accidents.

 

4.5      It can readily be appreciated why drivers should be wary when using this junction.  It is complicated and there are visibility problems.  Very often however, it is the locations where drivers have confidence and are relaxed, where there is most risk of an accident.

 

5.0       CONSULTATION

 

5.1       The usual written notifications have been sent to the petition organiser.

        

6.0       ENVIRONMENTAL, FINANCIAL AND PROPERTY IMPLICATIONS

 

6.1       There are no known environmental, financial or property implications.

 

7.0       EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IMPLICATIONS

       

7.1       There are no known equal opportunities implications at this stage. 

 

8.0       CONCLUSION

 

8.1       Although it would be feasible to alter the layout of this junction, the previous request for safety measures failed to attain a score in the Council’s assessment procedure that would result in its inclusion in a programme.

 

8.2       It is appreciated that the petitioners are concerned about safety of the Stafford Road/Fitzwalter Road/Glencoe Road junction.  However, after reviewing the situation, the re-assessment of this scheme or the assessment of a new scheme would also fail to achieve a score that would result in its inclusion in a programme.

 

 

 

 

9.0       RECOMMENDATIONS

 

9.1       That the petitioners are thanked for bringing their concerns, about this location, to the attention of the Council.

 

9.2       That the request for the implementation of safety measures be refused on the grounds that there are other sites in Sheffield experiencing a higher level of accidents, and these locations would benefit more from expenditure on such measures.

 

 

 

John Bann

Assistant Head of Service – Transport and Highways

Development Services                                                                  

18 June 2004