The Active Neighbourhood in Walkley

In Spring 2022, we put traffic filters, pedestrian crossings, and one-way systems in place to begin the trial of the Active Neighbourhood in Walkley. We put these measures in place on a trial basis. On Wednesday 20 September 2023, Sheffield City Council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee reviewed the outcome of the trial of the Active Neighbourhood measures in Walkley and approved proposals to make the measures permanent.

Designing the permanent measures

As part of our design process, we're offering you the opportunity to share your thoughts on the appearance and design of the following permanent measures:

• The two one-way traffic filters on Greenhow Street
• The traffic filters on Matlock Road, Highton Street and Fir Street

Please note the crossing and one way filter at Heavygate Road is already agreed and is being built in advance of the measures listed above.

Drop-in sessions

We have arranged two drop-in sessions so you can share your thoughts. These sessions will focus on the appearance of the measures, not their function.

The drop-in sessions have not been arranged to review the Active Neighbourhood trial or to consider the removal or alteration of these measures.

If you would like to get involved, please come along at any time during the drop-in sessions to look at options and speak to a member of the team.

The drop-in sessions will take place

at Walkley Ebenezer Methodist Church, Greenhow Street, S6 3TP

• Tuesday 26 November 9.30am to 11am

and

at St Mary’s Church Walkley, Howard Road, S6 3RX

• Tuesday 26 November 6pm to 7.30pm

Crookes permanent crossing

Construction programme and night working

The main kerbing works to make the temporary crossing permanent will be from 5 August 2024 to 30 August 2024. We will do most of the works between 9:30am-4pm, Monday to Friday, although we may need to do some weekend working.

We will need to do surfacing works during the night, from 9pm to 5am. We are anticipating these works will start in the week commencing 2 September 2024, taking up to 4 nights, but please be aware that this is weather dependant. Further information will be provided closer to this date.

Managing disruption

We understand that the works will cause some disruption. To minimise this, we will do most of the works in off-peak times during the week and will ensure the road is clear during busy periods such as the morning and evening commutes.

For the four nights we need to work, we will do all we can to reduce the impact on local residents. We apologise in advance for any disturbance this may cause.

Following the trial of the Active Travel Neighbourhood in Crookes and Walkley, we are making three of the pedestrian crossings that were part of the trial permanent.

During the consultation, we received positive feedback about the crossings, with most supporting making them permanent.

On Crookes, the current temporary crossing is located between the junctions with School Road and Carson Road, helping pedestrians to cross Crookes as the main road running through the centre of the Crookes area.

The nearest alternative crossings are a substantial distance away in each direction.

The new permanent crossing will be signal-controlled so pedestrians can request to cross. We will keep the red surface and hump so cars don’t encroach into the crossing area.

We’ll install high-friction surfacing each side of the crossing to help prevent cars skidding when braking in wet weather.

We will in-fill part of the section of the lay-by next to the crossing, where the zig-zag lines are at the moment towards Crookes. This will create a wider pavement next to the crossing, but will remove one parking space to help visibility between vehicles approaching the crossing and pedestrians using it. The permanent crossing will also move around three metres further towards Crookes centre so one of the signal poles can avoid a current manhole.

Why are we using a signal-controlled crossing?

We’ve chosen a signal-controlled crossing on Crookes because of high traffic volumes in this area.

Signal controlled crossings use traffic lights, meaning pedestrians can cross safely when traffic stops. Sensors can also adjust crossing times for people who may move a little slower, or for large groups.

Lights will stay green, for traffic, when people aren’t waiting to cross. Sensors will be able to identify where people have requested to cross but have crossed before the signal stops traffic. In these instances, the signals will stay ‘green’ for traffic to help keep traffic flowing.

Audio signals and tactile paving will make crossing easier for people with hearing and visual impairments too.

Layout plan of the Crookes Crossing

Crookes and Walkley Active Travel Neighbourhood to be made permanent

On Wednesday 20 September 2023, Sheffield City Council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee considered proposals to introduce the active travel neighbourhoods in Crookes and Walkley on a permanent basis.

Reports to the Committee outlined the schemes’ delivery, their impact and public consultation results, and the Committee approved the proposals to implement the schemes permanently.

The Crookes scheme includes:

• Changes to vehicle access on parts of Hands Road and Newent Lane
• A School Street allowing access for pedestrians and cyclists only – except for authorised vehicles and permit holders – at Westways Primary School, which affects Mona Avenue and Mona Road during school drop off and pick up times
• No waiting at any time on parts of Cobden Place, Cobden View Road, Hands Road, Leamington Street, Matlock Road, Melbourn Road, Mona Avenue, Pickmere Road, Romsdal Road, Sackville Road, Slinn Street, Townend Street and Warwick Terrace
• No waiting Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on part of Western Road
• Amendments to permit holder parking places on Crookesmoor Road
• Pedestrian crossings at Crookesmoor Road and Crookes (near School Road)

The Walkley scheme includes:

• Changes to vehicle access on parts of Fir Street, Highton Street and Matlock Road
• One way on parts of Greenhow Street and Heavygate Avenue
• No waiting at any time on Camm Street, Greenhow Street, Heavygate Avenue, Highton Street, Matlock Road
• Pedestrian crossings at Heavygate Road

You can view the report that the Committee considered online, and there is more information in our news release.

We’ll publish more information on the permanent schemes here and our programme of works soon.

Traffic monitoring data document

In order to monitor and evaluate the success of the active neighbourhood, we’ve conducted traffic monitoring surveys at a number of junctions around the route and the surrounding areas. These surveys capture the movements of motorised vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians between each arm of the junction.

We have also worked with The Floow, specialists in black-box telematics data, to better understand traffic flows around the active neighbourhood. This data includes journey times, estimated traffic flows, traffic speeds and concentrations of through traffic.

Document 1: Crookes and Walkley: Overview vehicle count

Document 2: Crookes and Walkley: Overview pedestrian and cyclist count

Document 3: Crookes and Walkley: Junction vehicle counts: School Road, Crookes Road and Conduit Road

Document 4: Crookes and Walkley: Junction vehicle counts: Heavygate Road and Northfield Road

Document 5: Crookes and Walkley: Junction vehicle counts: Walkely Road, South Road and Greenhow Street

Document 6: Crookes and Walkley: Overview: Pedestrian crossings

Document 7: Crookes and Walkley: Traffic movement flow data

Document 8: Crookes and Walkley: Journey times: Crookes Road and Crookesmoor Road

Document 9: Crookes and Walkley: Journey times: Northumberland Road, Springvale Road and School Road

If you would like to see the raw traffic monitoring data from which we produced the Traffic Monitoring Data Documents shared on this web page, please get in touch with us by email or call us on 0808 196 5105.

Face to face perception survey report

In order to monitor and evaluate the success of the Active neighbourhood, we’ve conducted perception surveys of residents, active travel route users and local businesses.

View the report summarising the methodology and results of this survey.

Online perceptions surveys

The face to face perception surveys were also adapted and put online through the Connecting Sheffield website for anyone to provide feedback.

View the report summarising the results of this survey.