Safety upgrade to reduce speeding and save lives

Traffic passing through Crow Edge would be slowed down, said Barnsley Council

A stretch of road outside Barnsley will have its speed limit reduced and parking restrictions imposed after numerous crashes, some fatal.

The A616 will see the 40mph zone through Crow Edge village extended, with 50mph buffer zones added to slow approaching drivers, Barnsley Council said.

"No stopping" zones will also be added, following complaints of vehicles parking on pavements.

The measures come after two people were killed at Hazlehead crossroads in the last five years, while the road has seen three major pile-ups between October 2023 and May 2024.

Crow Edge residents have raised repeated complaints about vehicles blocking pavements and obstructing views when pulling out onto the main road, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor James Higginbottom, cabinet member for environment and highways said: "These measures target the specific problem spots where bad parking causes danger and blockages, and we've planned for where parked vehicles might try to move to."

Some people had called for a stricter 30mph limit, but police had concerns about enforcing it, said a council report.

It stated the new 40mph/50mph buffer plan was the best achievable option.

It also said the parking restrictions for lorries would not affect on-street parking directly in front of homes.

The measures would cost about £68,500, paid for by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

The council said it would now make the legal orders needed and its highways team would carry out the work.

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