A major UK city has given the green light to banning motor vehicles from travelling down a key road to promote cycling and walking.
In the latest cabinet meeting, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council proposed to introduce road closures and waiting restrictions through traffic regulation orders.
Members signed off on plans to stop cars, vans and lorries from travelling along Fitzwilliam Road in a bid to support cyclists and pedestrians.
The A635 "Active Travel Scheme" is an initiative between Barnsley Council, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and their partners to improve the state of streets for all road users.
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The new initiative will help cyclists and pedestrians
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It aims to improve off-road safe cycle routes, enhance links to residential areas and improve access and awareness of active travel routes.
Councillor James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, said the measures were part of the Department for Transport's Transforming Cities Fund.
This is a £2.45billion grant scheme designed to help local authorities invest in public and sustainable transport infrastructure across English cities.
He added that local authorities were asked to submit proposals to approve walking and cycling routes in South Yorkshire.
Higginbottom, who represents the Wombwell for Labour, added: “The scheme involved the widening of the footway along the A635 Doncaster Road between Stairfoot Roundabout and Hollygrove Roundabout in Goldthorpe to create a shared use walking and cycling way
"To further improve the active travel provision it is proposed to close Fitzwilliam Road to motorised vehicles," Barnsley Chronicle reported.
He clarified that residents, visitors and delivery vehicles would have access to their properties, aided by the construction of a turning head.
The carriageway will be converted into shared a cycle and pedestrian route as vehicular access will be permitted by a "lockable bollard".
Council documents state: "If there are no objections to the proposals the Head of Highways and Engineering and the Head of Legal be authorised to make and implement the Order."
A parking ban is also being trialled in the city to curb congestion and protect children and parents outside of a busy school.
Two primary schools will be targeted as part of the trial which could see vehicles banned at pick-up and drop-off times after parking became an "increased problem".
A provisional six-month trial would see parents prevented from parking on two roads between 8am and 9.20am and again from 2.30pm to 5pm.
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Parking on some popular roads could also be banned
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The council added that the scheme could be adopted permanently if the six-month trial was successful in "improving overall road safety for children and parents".
