Content

11.1

The Committee
considered a report of the Executive Director-City Futures
detailing the
consultation response to the Experimental Traffic Order for
Division Street, to report the receipt of objections and set out
the Council’s response.

 

 

11.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the
Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:

 

 
Approve that the
Experimental Traffic Order be made permanent. Objectors
will
then be informed of
the decision by the Council’s Traffic Regulations team.
The
order will be made
permanent by way of a Traffic Regulation Order which
makes
the provisions of
the Experimental Traffic Order permanent, in accordance with
the
procedure set out
under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
 

 

 

11.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

11.3.1

The prohibition of
driving on parts of Division Street creates a safer environment
for
cyclists on this
section of Division Street. Before driving was prohibited,
people
could not cycle
safely with a high flow of traffic travelling along the route and a
lot of
parked cars. The
changes made significantly reduce the number of cars
travelling
along Division St
creating a safer cycling environment. This should help
encourage
more people to
cycle along the route and through the city centre.

 

 

11.3.2

The prohibition of
driving on parts of Division Street creates a safer environment
for
pedestrians. There
is not enough space for groups of pedestrians to stay on
the
pavement on the
closed section of Division Street. This becomes a safety issue
in
busy periods with
pedestrians often having to walk on the road, increasing the
risk
of conflict with
motor vehicles. The changes allow pedestrians to safely walk
through
this section of
Division St.

 

 

11.3.3

Since the changes
were implemented, many street cafes along the closed section of
Division St have taken the opportunity to offer outdoor seating.
This was initially in response to covid restrictions however many
have continued to offer this since
restrictions have
been eased. This has allowed them to increase their capacity
and
improves the local
street scene.
 
The scheme is also
a good strategic fit with the key aims of the third core
objective
of the Sheffield
Transport Strategy (2019):
 
• Sustainable
safety, safe walking and cycling as standard
• Improved air
quality and working to manage congestion
• Improving
poor health and poor access to jobs and services

 

 

11.3.4

Having considered
the response from the public and other consultees it is
recommended that
the Division Street ETRO be implemented as, on balance,
benefits of the
scheme in terms of safety and sustainability outweigh the
concerns
raised. It is also
recommended that a re-deployable enforcement camera is
installed
to enforce
restrictions in the pedestrianised area. It is also recommended
that a
review of the
changes be undertaken once the Kangaroo Works construction
has
completed.

 

 

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.4.1

Considering the
objections received, consideration was given to recommending
the
removal of the
modal filters and allowing motor vehicles to drive along all of
Division
St again. However,
such a recommendation could result in many of the
benefits
outlined in the
report such as improved safety for cyclists and pedestrians
and
space for outdoor
seating being lost.
 

11.4.2

Consideration was
also given to implementing a westbound one-way
restriction
through the
currently pedestrianised section of Division St, keeping half of
the road
pedestrianised or
for outdoor seating. However, such a recommendation
would
increase the flow
of traffic travelling along Division St and reduce safety
and
accessibility for
cyclists.

11.4.3

Consideration was
also given to re-instating the original one-way on
Westfield
Terrace to
southbound. However, such a recommendation would result in
traffic
travelling east on
Devonshire St having to make a U-turn when at the junction
with
Westfield Terrace.
This option could be re-assessed once the Kangaroo Works
construction has
finished.
 

11.4.4

Consideration was
also given to fully pedestrianizing the section of Division
St
between Rockingham
St and Westfield Terrace. However, such a recommendation
would remove access
to the private car park on Canning St. This option could be
re-assessed once the Kangaroo Works construction has
finished.