'Utterly intolerable': Yorkshire residents demand crossing at ‘frightening’ junction
Residents have warned that crossing a busy Yorkshire road has become “utterly intolerable” and poses a “glaring threat to public health and safety”, as a petition calling for an urgent pedestrian crossing was presented to councillors.
The petition, signed by 100 local people, was heard at a full council meeting on January 14, urging Rotherham Council to install a safe crossing point on A6089 Packman Road, where traffic converges from five different directions close to Brampton Ellis Junior School.
Lead petitioner Clive Hickman told the meeting residents had lived with increasing danger at the junction for decades, as traffic levels on the B6089 had grown “to what is now quite a frightening level at peak times”.
“We’ve lived in Brampton Bierlow for almost 50 years, and over time have seen traffic grow significantly,” he said. “Over 18 months ago, we submitted this written case to our RMBC. In all that time, there’s been little light at the end of the bureaucratic tunnel, barely a flicker.”
The junction connects Packman Road with Manor Road, Brampton Road and Regency Road, close to Brampton Ellis Junior School.
Petitioners say it is the only school on a main road within a radius of around two to two-and-a-half miles without a permanent safe crossing, apart from a school crossing patrol officer who is only present for limited periods.
Mr Hickman said the petition reflected the experiences of a wide range of residents who cross the road daily.
“The 100 petitioners are all local residents, pensioners, some not so nimble and using walking sticks, bus users, parents with children, grandparents with grandchildren and dog walkers,” he said.
“Some know what it’s like to cross with a pushchair and a dog, and one petitioner is an amputee using a mobility scooter.”
He said residents’ anger stemmed from two key issues: traffic merging from five directions, and the lack of a safe crossing near the school.
“It will not surprise you to know that we and many other local residents find the situation utterly intolerable,” he said.
Mr Hickman also recalled a fatal road traffic collision at the site more than 20 years ago.
“A retired nurse had to administer emergency first aid to a casualty lying in the road at that location,” he said. “The victim did not survive, and traffic has increased exponentially since then. A known dangerous hotspot has only got worse.”
The petition calls on the council to install a safe crossing point, such as a pelican crossing, warning of an “impending and serious risk” if no action is taken. It also notes that new housing development on Pontefract Road is likely to add further pressure to the junction.
The Mayor, Councillor Rukhsana Ismail, confirmed the petition met the threshold for consideration and said it would be referred to the council’s executive director for regeneration and environment, who will provide a written response.