Campaign for a Pedestrian Crossing

Dear Parents and Carers,

Two of our parents, Leanne Rhodes and Kim Smith, are leading a campaign to have a pedestrian crossing installed near school, at a location frequently used by both current and former pupils to cross a busy road. They are due to present their case at Sheffield Town Hall in September 2025, and are seeking as many signatures as possible on their petition before then.

As a school community, we are fully supportive of this initiative and of any proposal that improves safety and reduces the risk of accidents—especially for our pupils, past and present, and their families.

The Issue

Leanne Rhodes & Kim Smith

Our petition is addressed to Sheffield City Council, requesting the installation of a pedestrian crossing at the difficult-to-cross junction from Donetsk Way onto Sheffield Road. This area includes the Hackenthorpe tram stop, which is regularly used by school children travelling to and from school. Despite having a 40mph speed limit, there is currently no dedicated pedestrian crossing in this area. Pedestrians—including children and elderly residents—are forced to cross near the lights without any proper road safety infrastructure. There is no clear signal to indicate when it is safe to cross, making it potentially hazardous.

Given the proximity of two primary schools, we believe this location is not safe for any pedestrian, and especially not for vulnerable members of the community. The absence of a fatal accident at this specific location so far seems to be more a matter of luck than evidence of safety—particularly since there has been a fatality a short distance down the road. Our aim is to slow traffic, introduce a safe crossing point, and reduce the risk of serious incidents. A new crossing would help everyone—especially children and the elderly—feel more confident and secure when crossing this busy road.

If you would like to support this important initiative, you can sign the petition at the following link: https://chng.it/vDgJrMYF5b.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

F. Barratt
Headteacher