A new county council plan aimed at better coordinating roadworks and managing traffic across Staffordshire could affect how disruption is handled on roads in Stone over the coming year.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet was asked on Wednesday 15 April to agree the Traffic and Network Management Plan, known as the TANMP, which sets out how the authority manages its highways network and carries out its legal duties as the county’s highway authority.
The council says the refreshed plan is intended to support better coordination of works, reduce unnecessary disruption and help keep people and goods moving on the road network. It also says the approach is about making the most of time spent working on a stretch of road, so that more work can be completed in one go and repeat visits can be reduced.
That could be especially relevant in places such as Stone, where roadworks, utility works and temporary traffic measures can quickly have an impact on busy routes through and around the town.
Councillor Peter Mason, cabinet member for strategic highways, said
“Our road network plays a vital role in everyday life in Staffordshire, from getting people to work and school to supporting local businesses and communities. We know that roadworks and temporary disruption can be frustrating, which is why this Traffic Network Management Plan sets out how we will manage activity on our roads more carefully and consistently.
“By improving coordination, strengthening oversight and planning works more effectively, our aim is to reduce unnecessary disruption, keep Staffordshire moving and make sure our highways are managed in a way that puts residents first.”
The report says the plan is informed by other existing county council policies, including the Local Transport Plan, the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan, the Winter Policy, and the On Street Parking Policy and Strategy.
It breaks the council’s approach into three broad areas, understanding the network, managing the highway network, and managing traffic demand. That includes road classification, coordination of activities, planned events, unplanned disruption, car parking and bus lane enforcement, intelligent transport systems, traffic signs and traffic regulation orders.
The report describes the TANMP as an operational plan that supports delivery of the Local Transport Plan and the council’s duties under the Traffic Management Act 2004 and other legislation.
It also notes that no specific legal or financial changes are proposed, with the document instead setting out how existing responsibilities and functions fit together.
That means the plan is more about how Staffordshire County Council organises and oversees road and traffic management across the county, rather than announcing a major new scheme for any one town.
For residents in Stone, the real test is likely to be whether the promised better coordination leads to fewer overlapping roadworks and more predictable journeys on key local routes.
