Staffordshire County Council has put the closure of the A34 gap by Whitemill Lane on hold after a campaign by local people – and says it wants to hear residents’ views on what should be done to improve road safety there.
Campaigners said closing the junction opposite the fire station would cause extra traffic on Manor Rise and the flat-roof estate, as well as on to Eccleshall Road. Two public meetings were held in Walton and they were backed by Stone MP Sir Bill Cash. The county had highlighted the number of accidents at the junction involving vehicles turning right into and/or out of Whitemill Lane – 10 personal injury accidents between 2009 and 2013.
But it now says it will “consider all options” for the junction.
Cllr Mark Deaville, Cabinet Support Member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council, said: “We are currently exploring ways of improving road safety on the A34 opposite Whitemill Lane and are asking local residents for their suggestions. This is an important area of work and we will consider all options following our detailed discussions on this matter. Keeping our roads safe is one of our top priorities and Staffordshire is now in the top two counties in England for road safety. Our roads are also the safest they have been since records began in 1984 which is something we are proud of and have worked hard to achieve.”
Stone town and borough councillor Jill Hood said: “Without exception, every resident was in a celebratory mood when they heard the gap closure had been put on hold. One of the banners that had been made read ‘It’s not just about cornflakes’ – county councillor Ian Parry had infuriated the meeting of 150 people as he said having to eat your cornflakes earlier was a great inconvenience. Many people pointed out we were all against the gap closure because traffic would be pushed on to the Air Ministry Estate creating a rat run. The estate houses many children who attend the three local school in the areas and it was strongly felt that the traffic would endanger the lives of those children.”
