A POTENTIAL ‘death trap’ for motorcyclists which has failed to have its resurfacing issues rectified despite promises is in urgent need of addressing, according to fed-up locals.

Picturesque Brook Hill Lane, near Dunford Bridge, has been included on Barnsley Council’s highways resurfacing programme since 2023 but its ‘patchwork-like’ asphalt remains as was.

Motorcyclists have bemoaned its state - and warned it’s an accident waiting to happen given the area’s popularity with two-wheeled enthusiasts.

Mick Drewry and Paul Birch-Garth, of Dunford Bridge, told the Chronicle the road is in urgent need of resurfacing - and warned the winter will exacerbate its deteriorating condition.

“The road’s condition appears to be acceptable to the council’s highways department,” Mick said.

“Despite being promised that this road would be on the 2023/24 works programme, it has been overlooked yet again.

“This is a council purporting to be serious about road safety but they have a total disregard for two-wheeled vehicles - this road is a potential death trap for motorcyclists.

“I have started exiting Dunford Bridge via Windle Edge and the Woodhead Pass when heading for Penistone or Sheffield.

“Despite being statistically a more dangerous road, Woodhead Pass feels safer to ride on than Brook Hill Lane.

“Would this be the case for a road in the town centre or closeby?

“This council is town-centric when it comes to spending - when I asked for a breakdown of ward spending per capita across the borough I was told this information wasn’t available.

“If I was an elected member, I would want to know why this information is being suppressed, for I’m sure somebody in its finance department would know.

“The council has no motorcycle policy - at just one per cent of road traffic, motorcyclists account for 21 per cent of all road fatalities.

“Deaths rose by eight per cent last year, compared with a drop of six per cent for pedal cyclists and by five per cent for car occupants.

“Motorcycle deaths per mile travelled are 42 times higher than for car occupants.

“Most of these motorcycle fatalities occur on rural roads such as Brook Hill Lane but that particular statistic is of little interest to the council, it seems.”

Annual statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) for last year show 508 recorded casualties in Barnsley and nine deaths which, collectively, is an 18 per cent increase on the previous year’s figures.

South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership staff are continuing to deliver ‘Vision Zero’, which aims to reduce the amount of serious collisions by 50 per cent in the next five years.

However, Paul said not enough protection is in place for motorcyclists.

“I’m a scooter rider, which is my only form of transport, and I have been affected by the state of the road for over two years now,” he added.

“I have had one scooter which has been badly damaged and my current scooter has suffered damage requiring repairs.

“The road is also a danger to injury and even life - I am having to ride on the wrong side of the road in two places in order to miss the potholes.

“The problems with the road are getting worse and with winter coming I genuinely fear for my safety.

“A few years ago, the National Grid created a heavy vehicle traffic flow, with added to the problem.

“I was informed that they regularly checked the road with Barnsley Council taking pictures of any wear and tear and if there was any damage money would be given to the council to make repairs.

“No repairs were carried out.”

Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, confirmed the road’s status had been reassessed.

“We have reassessed Brook Hill Lane and it will be in the 2026/27 resurfacing programme, subject to budget funding.”