Rotherham MP slams Greasbrough junction upgrade that ‘failed to improve traffic’
The crossroads where Coach Road meets Main Street and Potter Hill was remodelled in 2021 - but the council has now confirmed the changes haven't worked as planned
Rotherham MP Sarah Champion has hit out at the council after officials admitted a major junction upgrade in Greasbrough has not improved traffic flow, despite being designed to fix long-standing congestion on the B6089.
The crossroads where Coach Road meets Main Street and Potter Hill was remodelled in 2021, replacing the old mini-roundabout with traffic lights, dedicated turn lanes and a new layout aimed at improving safety and easing bottlenecks. But residents say queues have only worsened, and now the council has confirmed the works haven’t delivered the expected benefits.
In a letter to Ms Champion, Rotherham Council’s strategic director for regeneration and environment, Andrew Brammidge, said the upgrade had “not had the desired effect of increasing traffic capacity.” He suggested that more drivers than expected are now travelling through the junction from the north, overwhelming the new layout.
The council also pointed to wider research showing that junctions across South Yorkshire are performing below predicted levels because drivers often leave larger gaps and react more slowly at traffic signals than engineering models assume, meaning actual traffic flow can be around 18% lower than predicted.
But the MP said the response was ‘simply is not good enough’.
She wrote: “Deeply disappointing response from RMBC… The council acknowledge that the ‘improvement’ works at the junction have failed to improve traffic flow, but offer no solution. This simply is not good enough.”
Mr Brammidge said the issue would stay on record for future review, but warned the council does not have the capacity to investigate or redesign the junction at present.
Ms Champion said she will continue pressing the council, alongside Greasbrough ward councillors, for further action.