Rotherham East proposed network improvements

Overview

In Rotherham, we want to provide everyone with a choice in how they travel. This ensures car ownership is never a barrier to education or employment, our most vulnerable road users are well protected and comfortable, and children can stay safe whilst travelling independently.

We have been exploring ways to make walking, wheeling, cycling, and using public transport safer and more accessible for everyone. Our aim is to give people more choices in how they travel while improving safety and convenience.

We have received funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). Funding was awarded for proposals at Fitzwilliam Road and St Ann's Roundabout (we will refer to this as the ‘primary scheme’), as well as additional solutions suggested by the community for the neighbouring streets (we will refer to this as ‘neighbourhood streets’).

The funding requirements state that designs must: promote decarbonisation by providing improved options for public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling. You can read more about the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement and what this means for how we deliver here in What we do - South Yorkshire MCA.

The proposed ideas include:

• Safer and more welcoming crossings at St Ann’s Roundabout – replacing the old subways with well-placed crossings to make getting around easier and help people feel safer.
• A more attractive town gateway – improving the look and feel of St Ann’s Roundabout with landscaping and design, making it a more inviting entrance to the town centre.
• Smoother pavements – fixing uneven, narrow and damaged pavements to prevent water from pooling and to make it easier for everyone, including people using wheelchairs, mobility aids, and pushchairs.
• Safer crossings – upgrading crossing points along Fitzwilliam Road so that people can cross easily and safely.
• Better cycling routes – connecting up existing cycle lanes and adding more protection to keep cyclists safe.
• Improved bus stops – upgrading all bus stops to include shelters and seating, making waiting for the bus more comfortable.
• More reliable buses – introducing bus lanes near the roundabout to help buses run on time and improve journey times.

As the ideas progressed, we have been listening to your feedback. Between November 2024 and May 2025, we carried out engagement to gather feedback on sustainable transport improvements for Fitzwilliam Road and St Ann's Roundabout as well as gaining feedback on what other interventions people might like to see to support safe and attractive options for sustainable travel in their neighbourhood. This built on prior engagement carried out on perceptions of sustainable travel infrastructure. 

The main benefits of the scheme will be:

Helping to grow Rotherham’s economy inclusively and sustainably

Currently many people in Rotherham cannot easily access work and learning opportunities and ill health is stopping many people from working. The scheme will widen the number of places people can work and learn while improving people’s health to get back to work. The scheme will also help to grow Rotherham’s economy while reducing carbon emissions by encouraging people to walk, wheel and cycle for short journeys. 

Helping create safer, better places

Many people don’t feel safe walking, wheeling or cycling and many of our neighbourhoods often don’t feel welcoming. The scheme will make our roads and streets safer to use while enabling people to walk, wheel and cycle, while making them feel happier about their surroundings.

Help our residents be happier and healthier

1 in 4 people in South Yorkshire do less than 30 minutes' activity a week, and this number is higher for women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds and lower income groups. Air pollution contributes to 5% of all deaths in South Yorkshire, with children particularly impacted by air pollution from car exhaust fumes. The scheme will promote exercise, which can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer, and lower the risk of early death by up to 30%. It will also assist in creating safe routes that enable people to choose to walk, wheel or cycle for regular short journeys, especially the school run, help to reduce air pollution and improve the health of children.

Other similar investment in walking, cycling and wheeling infrastructure in South Yorkshire have delivered uplifts in cycling of anywhere between 75% and 212%, and in one scheme 37,400 cycle journeys were made in the first six months. 

This consultation includes descriptions of the proposed Rotherham East scheme. For a more detailed look at this scheme, please open the pdf files on the scheme page. 

For information on Rotherham’s Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Investment Plan see our Walking, wheeling and cycling strategy.

You may be interested in reading about South Yorkshire’s SYMCA Bus Service Improvement Plan.

These consultation pages can be accessed in multiple languages by changing the language of your browser. 

Funding for the scheme was secured from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) as part of the Local Neighbourhood Complementary Transport Programme (LNCTP).

The Local and Neighbourhood Transport Complementary Programme - RMBC is supported and part funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. The Mayor and MCA have a shared purpose to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire, to work together to unlock the potential of South Yorkshire people, businesses and places and ensure they prosper. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority can be contacted: 0114 220 3400, https://southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk, or enquiries@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk. 

Why your views matter

The consultation will allow us to effectively answer and address residents' questions and concerns. By taking part in this survey, you agree with the following statement:

I understand that I am under no obligation to complete this consultation and I am willingly providing this data to be used for this specific survey. I consent to Rotherham Council using my information for this purpose. I also understand the results will be published in an anonymised way and I will not be identifiable.