by Abi Hall

A petition to turn a road in front of a primary school into a designated school street in South East Sheffield has been launched. 

Continual problems regarding traffic on Thornbridge Avenue, Birely Ward has caused disruption and puts the children who are walking or biking to school at risk, according to a community campaigner. 

Thornbridge Avenue is a one-way residential street directly in front of the Birley Primary Academy which nearly 600 students attend. 

The petition proposes to make the road a restricted access zone during school times due to its traffic problems surrounding the school.

David Cronshaw, 57, Birley Ward, founder of the petition said: “By making it a school street, it will hopefully make people park further away and walk in”. 

There are concerns about the idea such as bus routes, resident’s access and how it can be enforced but Mr Cronshaw is adamant there is a way to make it better and safer for everyone involved. 

Currently, parking enforcement officers give out warnings and fines across the four primary schools in the Birley Ward area. 

There are many different options of how the street could function such as residents permits and cameras to enforce it yet there are still a lot of questions about how feasible it is in this situation.  

Karen McGowan, Birley Ward Labour Councillor said: “Every school and location is different and that is why there is no single solution but I believe several small things will help to support our work”.

If this petition goes through, it would be the first school designated road in East Sheffield despite there already being 12 within the city which are working well. 

If you would like to sign the petition, it can be found on Sheffield’s city councils e-petitions web page.