City planners have confirmed that barriers will soon be installed on Ryhope Street South to prevent drivers from blocking pedestrian access to local stores and amenities.
Cllrs Martyn Herron and Usman Ali, Labour councillors for Ryhope Ward, have been campaigning to have barriers installed on the popular road for the past 12 months.
Working alongside Lindsey Leonard, Labour’s candidate for Ryhope Ward in May’s upcoming local elections, the trio have seen their persistent campaigning finally come to fruition, with work on erecting the barriers set to begin over the coming months.
“We’re delighted to have finally secured the barriers required to prevent people from blocking access to these key local amenities and businesses,” Cllr Herron said.
“For years, problem parkers have not only blocked access for pedestrians using the walkways but have caused dangerous obstructions on what is a key bus and commuter route.
“When I stood for election last year, I did so on a promise of making Ryhope Ward a safer, better place to live and work and this is a great example of how we’re working closely with residents and local businesses to do just that.”
Lindsey Leonard, who is also a governor at a local school and a trustee of a nearby charity, added that she is thrilled with the result and believes it will make “a huge difference to the lives of residents.”
She added: “Ryhope Street South has long been plagued by problem drivers and this will go a long way to finally addressing the issue.
“The centre and shops are visited by hundreds of people each week and the ballades put in place initially to deter people from parking illegally on the road just haven’t served their purpose. In fact, they’ve made it worse by increasing the risk of accidents on the road itself.
“By erecting the new barriers, which will make both the paths and the roads safer, it will provide a huge boost to local residents. It will make it safer for those visiting the community centre, the nursery and school, doctor’s surgery and local stores. It’ll make a huge difference to our community.”
Cllr Usman Ali announced his defection from the Conservative party to Labour during last week’s full council meeting, stating that the move would be ‘the best decision for the people of Ryhope’.
He added: “I’ve worked closely with Cllr Herron on a number of issues over the past 12 months, including the campaign to improve Ryhope Street South, so we are thrilled to announce that we have secured these improvements.
“Speaking to residents regularly, I am constantly reminded of the challenges facing our community and I firmly believe that, working closely with Martyn and Lindsey, we can help drive real positive change for residents that will be felt for generations of local people to come.”
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