Fears of fatality spark school crossing petition

A petition calling for a pedestrian crossing on a road near several schools in Sheffield has been started by parents amid fears a child could be killed.

The petition, which has so far been signed by about 155 people, calls on Sheffield City Council to provide a safe crossing on Thornbridge Drive in Birley.

It was started with the support of Birley ward councillor Karen McGowan who said she had been working for the last couple of years to try and make the area safer.

Parent Rebecca Hudson said: "It's a daily worry on the school run that it's only a matter of time before a near-miss becomes a tragedy."

Started by parents of children attending Birley Primary Academy, the petition calls on the council to provide a crossing on Thornbridge Drive at the junction with Hopedale Road, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The petition states that there are "four educational establishments within a quarter-mile radius totalling 1,900 young people crossing Thornbridge Drive into Thornbridge Avenue and Thornbridge Road" as well as parents, carers and staff.

It adds: "There has not been a school crossing warden for two years, although this post has been advertised several times.

"Luckily there have been no fatalities but lots of near-misses, the most recent in October 2025.

"Something needs to change before a fatal accident happens."

Campaigner Kate Goddard said it was "frightening watching children trying to cross Thornbridge Drive every day with no safe place to do so".

"With buses and heavy traffic using Thornbridge Drive, it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt," she said.

"We really want the council to act now before it's too late."

Several initiatives had been introduced in the past to make the area safer, including parking enforcement sessions, McGowan said.

"These schemes would encourage children to walk to school safely, but without a safe school crossing point this isn't possible for most children," she added.

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