“M1 lane plan will threaten police officer and public safety”

IMMENSE danger will be posed to both police officers and the public if the idea of four lane running on sections of the M1 are given the go ahead, the Fed have warned.

Plans to turn the hard shoulder of the M1 in South Yorkshire into an extra lane between junctions 32 and 35a have been criticised by Jim Lucas, secretary of South Yorkshire Police Federation (pictured).

The Highways Agency wants some sections to have four lanes of running traffic 24 hours a day.

Mr Lucas said: “The dangers this poses to the public and those who work the road are immense. The danger is real. As far as I am concerned, consultation has been poor in-respect of this. I’m not a subscribing member of the flat earth society, and like many embrace change, but that change has to be for the better and not factor in elements of unseen danger.”

It is thought that currently more than 100,000 vehicles everyday use the stretch of road.

Reasons the force and the federation give for wanting to keep the hard shoulder in place include safety of people who break down. It is also feared it will also cause severe difficulties if police are trying to pursue suspects and it will also make it difficult for police cars, fire engines and ambulances to get to incidents and save lives.

Mr Lucas attended a meeting with MPs, the Highways Agency and the force in Barnsley on 19 September over the issue.

He added: “For many years the public have been used to the fact the hard-shoulder is there for emergencies. We were told if there is to be a change in the use of the hard-shoulder, the public need to learn that the motorway has changed.

“I made mention of the fact that members of the public could drive this section of road, turn off onto the M18 and still be under the impression that it was all lane running. Confusion would be rife.

“Those speaking in the audience were more on the side of caution over this idea.”

Ch Insp Stuart Walne is head of the Road’s Policing Group in South Yorkshire Police. He said: “Inevitably there will be circumstances when a collision does occur. And [this idea] presents a problem about how the emergency services – not just police – get to the scene. At the moment the hard shoulder provides that access.”

Meg Munn, MP for Sheffield Heeley, was at the meeting. She has previously described the plan as “a cheap way to widen the motorway”.

“I’m not against the use of the hard shoulder at peak times”, she said. “What I’m very, very concerned about is if you use the hard shoulder the rest of the time.”