‘A STEP in the right direction’ has been taken at a crash hotspot - after Barnsley Council began work to reduce concerns following a councillor’s call for action.

Huddersfield Road, one of the main routes into Barnsley from junction 38 of the M1, has a 50mph speed limit but a blackspot on the route - Birthwaite Hill - has been discussed by the police and council in recent months.

Although police have said they will carry out anti-speeding operations on the road, the hill does not lend itself to any hand-held camera devices and so the main stretch off the M1 is the only suitable location - hundreds of yards away from the main area of concern.

The hill’s left-hand bend, before the road goes into Darton, has caught dozens of motorists out in recent years - leading to a number of crashes, some of which have been fatal - and the council began work there this week.

A temporary speed restriction of 30mph has been put in place to enable workers to safely cut back vegetation and carry out improved drainage work.

However, chevrons are being placed on the road’s downhill section, while a 50mph sign - positioned just yards after an electronic indicator which warns drivers to slow down for the bend - will be altered to avoid confusion.

Count Linda Burgess said: “It’s very good news and something we’ve been working towards for years. The work is being done over the summer and it should be completed by September.

“That 50mph sign, which causes so much confusion, is the key, but chevrons are also welcome because they all help to slow the traffic down in time for the left-hand bend.

“Cars carry a lot of speed on the main straight off the M1 roundabout and then up Birthwaite Hill. They go down, again at speed, and fall foul of the bend.

“I think this will slow people down as it warns them of the danger.”

However one resident, who did not wish to be named, said more money needs to be spent on the main stretch off the motorway - before the hill - to warn motorists about the history of incidents.

“Many drivers are still in motorway mode when they exit the M1 and head towards Barnsley,” they told the Chronicle. “They see a straight road and immediately do 70mph.

“I’ve lost count of the amount of crashes, some of which have been fatal, on Birthwaite Hill. It’s terrible on a morning as there’s always a backlog of traffic just over the brow of the hill.

“It’s extremely dangerous but there needs to be a warning way before they even get to the hill.”

A council spokesman confirmed the work has begun and the temporary speed restriction will be in place until August.