Sheffield: Council drops speed bumps from new 20mph zone

A new 20mph zone in Sheffield will feature only signs and paint, not physical traffic calming measures like bumps

Traffic calming measures such as speed bumps will not be fitted to a new 20mph zone in Sheffield as they cost too much, the city council has said.

The new zone would only feature traffic signs and road markings due to government cuts, the council said.

In a letter to residents, transport planner Lisa Blakemore said the council could "no longer afford such schemes".

Physical traffic calming was too expensive to create and maintain in 20mph zones, the council said.

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According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Ms Blakemore wrote in her letter to Crosspool residents that speed humps had previously been installed in 20mph areas to keep speeds low.

However, she added that "while those schemes have been very successful, they are also very expensive".

A new advisory 20mph scheme outside Lydgate Infant School in Crosspool would not feature any physical traffic calming measures such as bumps or chicanes, Sheffield City Council said.

A new 20mph zone will be put in place outside Lydgate Infant School, but with no physical traffic calming

Ms Blakemore told residents: "Cuts to the funding we receive from central government for transport-related projects mean we can no longer afford such schemes."

Funding from a Local Transport Plan had been cut, leading to the council considering how it could continue to roll out lower-speed zones to more areas.

'Less expensive'

Ms Blakemore said new 20mph limits in Sheffield would be indicated by traffic signs and road markings only.

"This is less expensive and allows us to reduce speeds in more residential areas," she added.

Flashing lights outside the school would remind drivers of the advisory limit during busy pick-up and drop-off times, she said.

In response to a Freedom of Information request in 2019, South Yorkshire Police said it would not enforce 20mph speed zones and confirmed no drivers had been prosecuted for exceeding those limits.