RESIDENTS have hit out at a “ridiculous” planter barricade introduced in a residential area, saying it has turned the street into a ghetto.
The planters have been introduced by Sheffield City Council as a traffic calming measure as part of their Active Neighbourhoods scheme.
Due to the scheme several side streets in Crookes and Nether Edge are to be closed to prevent them being used as “rat runs” as well as encouraging people to walk and cycle more.
Disgruntled local motorist, Jake Beech, 27, awoke to find his parked car damaged by a driver trying to negotiate the tight turn.
Posing next to his blue Peugeot 306 with its smashed offside brake lights and scraped paintwork, IKEA worker Jake told The Sun Online: ”Because of these planters someone has crashed into my car which was parked here on the bend. It happened since they were put here on Sackville Street - it didn’t happen before.
“I’m obviously not happy about the traffic calming measures or the accident. There had never been any accidents before.
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“I didn’t know the planters were going to be put there, nobody said anything.
“A lot of people are not happy and find it an inconvenience. People are expecting parcel deliveries from companies and are having to meet them in the middle of the street because the drivers cannot get to their homes.”
Local resident James Vickers has now launched an online petition on Change.org against the implementation of the measures, claiming the road closures will "result in reducing a vibrant area to a closed off ghetto."
The council’s plans were branded “ridiculous” by another local Thomas Howe.
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He said: "It is not going to make the area any more eco-friendly, in fact it will have the opposite effect with cars funnelled into already busy through ways and idling in traffic jams. It would also cause the local residents no end in misery."
More planters are sitting on pavements waiting to be placed on other sections of the roads, making it even more tricky getting from A to B as the new barriers are not showing up on sat navs so alternative routes are also not being suggested.
Sex therapist Katie Bain, 48, lives on a nearby street also effected by the pop-up traffic calming measures.
Katie said: ”We are supposed to getting our planters, we live down the road, but the council has deferred ours because of some of the comments against them.
“I’m a bit in two minds about them. I can see the benefits but people are not aware what routes they can now take. When I have been here in Sackville Street, where my mother lives, I have had to direct confused drivers because they have not understood how to get through to where they need to be.
“Partícularly online, there are a lot of strong opinions against them.
“There was no real warning. I know there was a consultation, but then it was wow! they are suddenly here.
“And most people drive and they are finding themselves asking, how do I got to where I want to go?
“I think of the council had put some guidance in place to explain how to get through the system it might have helped with the change.”
Care driver Samson Muluahrahan, 21, was dropping off carers in the area and was find the new obstructions making him late for drop offs and pick ups.
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Samson said: ”They are cropping up everywhere, every corner I turn there are more and more of them.
“They are making my job very hard to do, I really am not a fan of them.”
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