Two guest bloggers go head to head over one of the most controversial issues in the town at the minute – the changes to the Christchurch Way ring road. Thanks to David and Dan for their guest posts – have your say by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page, on the Little Bit of Stone Facebook page or on Twitter.
DAVID HAWBROOK
“It’s easier, more logical and more straightforward”
Perhaps I am just lucky or is that I have a good memory of what traffic was like in Stone before the changes. The current road layout in Stone is easier than it was, is more logical than it was and is more straightforward to understand than it was. I do accept that is easier for someone heading for the Lichfield Road and admittedly more difficult if Walton bound, but nevertheless workable. I travel through the town at least once a day and to date have never had a problem (no doubt I will now!).
What does frustrate me is being delayed in traffic through poor road discipline. For example drivers from Granville Square stopping at the top of Christchurch Way – why? It is not a “stop” junction. The idea is that cars should filter in as they progress down the bypass not wait at the top for a gap in traffic. The other irritant are those who pull out of Morrison’s, trying to get into the right hand lane when there is no gap for their vehicle – simple Highway Code ethics, they must wait and leave the left-hand lane free to move. In an ideal world, two lanes taking people away from the supermarket would be perfection, but we have to live in a real world.
I do however appreciate the difficulties for the Festival Committee as it has disrupted the parade – for this reason it should have been made a movable structure so allowance made for such events. The great people of Stone should recognise that their traffic problems are nothing in comparison with other towns in the country where it can take you much longer to pass through. Perhaps the best solution for all those of us able would be to take up cycling or use our feet, leaving the roads for those deserving and with no option. Time to focus on other more deserving issues in society.
DAN BIGHAM
“The new system is ill-thought-out and unconsidered”
The new ring road system is a blind alley that Staffordshire County Council have gone down. Once problems arose, without stopping to consider if they should turn back, they have carried on frittering away our money, making ill-thought-out changes to fix unconsidered faults. Was a thorough analysis of the original system carried out, including consulting the residents of Stone? Did they consider all of the knock-on effects from altering the system? I think we need answers to these questions.
The resulting public outcry over the changes – especially the motorists who are stuck on Morrisons car park – show that this due diligence wasn’t performed. Granted the old system had its faults. But as the saying goes, ‘The best solution is the least worst’. If the council could justify their decisions in altering the original system then it would go some way in answering the critics, but so far they haven’t been able to give a reasonable ‘excuse’ for their actions.
They have made the situation yet worse by acting hastily on alterations. The new siting of the pedestrian crossing has forced pedestrians to walk further and cross the road on a blind corner that most motorists take at a speed too high to stop in time for the Mill Street crossing.
Considering Stone is a market town and has been struggling recently with foot trade, the council should be doing all it can to make pedestrians’ lives easier. It won’t take long until somebody is knocked down on Mill Street crossing, I fear. God forbid it but will it take something serious for the council to wake up and smell the coffee?
18 comments
Mr T Rout
The problems with the new road system began with the implementation of the island at the southern end of Christchurch Way. I recall writing to this blog at the time saying that this would result in tailbacks up Radford Street as more traffic tends to go straight on to Stafford Street than turns left into Lichfield Street. My view hasnt changed, and I am regularly stuck in the right hand lane whilst the left hand lane is completely empty. Most traffic leaving Morrisons car-park also tends to want leave in the right hand lane causing more problems. I, and probably many other drivers have resorted to staying in the left hand lane, turning into Lichfield Road and picking up the A34 at Aston roundabout. Of course this means driving through a heavily populated area with schools and elderly peoples residences. I wonder if the residents of Lichfield Road have noticed an increase in traffic since the implementation of these changes.
As I see it the most cost-effective and expedient solution would be to remove the new island and allow two lanes of traffic to go straight on to filter in by the Swan, as before the changes. The road should be heavily marked to indicate the drivers should filter in turn and the junction of Mill Street where it joins Christchurch Way should be marked with two lanes.
I see that Cllr Jones has been reading this thread. I just hope he takes on board the views of the contributors and takes them back to SCC Highways Division for re-consideration.
Very frustrated resident
Why on earth do they not just speed up the cycling of the lights at the bottom of Christchurch Way,(they seem currently seem to hold the traffic way too long), phase them properly with the rest of the town and put traffic exiting Morrisons onto a traffic light system? Can it really be that hard to sort this problem out in 2012?
Dorothy Kirkham
Sorry David Hawbrook, but someone else’s problem being worse than yours is really a silly thing to say – try applying it to lots of everyday personal issues for instance. Don’t blame the drivers for the problems caused by this change in road layout.The real issue here is, as always, the consultation, trial period or whatever the county call it this time, is no such thing. Clearly from the outset they were going to implement their plan fully and permanently. Temporary island at the south end of Christchurch way? How much has now been spent on moving the crossing and erecting fencing? The county council does this repeatedly. They pretend to consult or take note of views but do not move one inch from their original plan. I have seen it so often in education and in social services. Our elected representatives have no voice or power to represent our views at all. What we get is patronising platitudes. In this case it is a fact that the crossing on the turn into Morrisons is extremely dangerous. It should not be there. It will be the cause of a tragedy.The people of Stone will know who is to blame for that tragedy when it happens and it won’t be the innocent driver. Can we have the name of the person responsible for this road system, now please, so we can make a note of it.
Pe
Jonty is being unfair. I spent an hour on Saturday with the police and with Morrisons manager. Some months ago together with a highways engineer I consulted with Morrisons over the re-location of the pedestrian crossing on Christchurch Way. The present problems have arisen due to incorrect timings of the traffic lights and these will be corrected. But as David says all small towns have to contend with increased traffic. If the lights are held on stop to let out the Morrisons traffic then through traffic will wait longer and so will traffic entering the town from Lichfield Road. The County Council is trying to reach a workable compromise embracing traffic flows, road safety and pedestrain access.
Philip Jones
County Councillor for Stone
Nick
I second what Stemorgan says, but full marks toi you Mr Jones for engaging in the debate.
A mistake has been made, and attempts to resolve it by throwing more of OUR money at it have failed.
Perhaps you could now consider representing the views of those who elected you, instead of defending the poor decision making of county council staff, from who we – their paymasters – are entitled to better; or do our views only merit any importance at election time?
Little Bit of Stone
Thanks for engaging and entering the debate here Cllr Jones
Stemorgan
Mr Jones – Why not just admit that the whole thing is a disaster – The whole traffic network is now far worse than before anything was done. You appear to seem happy with it ? What you have done to Stone Town Centre is crazy – Why not listen to the people who vote – You are there to represent the people – Not waste more and more money to “fix” something that didn’t need changing. When you say present problems the whole thing has been a problem ever since the system was put in ! Simple logic – 2 lanes of traffic before most of them going straight on forced into 1 lane now – Does this make sense ?
Nick
I thought that in theory this was a good idea when it was first suggested.
However, the reality has been completely different, and it must have been clear to SCC that their ‘experiment’ had been a failure.
Instead of admitting this, they have kept tinkering with it (at our expense), it still has not worked, and the situation now is even worse than when the experiment started.
Unfortunately, it seems that our so called ‘experts’ in the Highways Department are nothing but arrogant know it alls, who will not admit to a mistake. The whole county is littered with their attempts to improve traffic flow, most of which have had exactly the opposite effect
Monopod.org.uk
I find quite a lot
Chloe
Perhaps a petition might work! A morrisons employee could catch people stuck on the car park and get them to sign, the people in the traffic have plenty of time! 🙂
Mel
I agree – It really needs sorting ASAP.
On the Saturday March 3rd I entered Morrisons at about 11 AM for a small shop. Shopped. Left the shop about 12 AM. I was with my two young sons. My car was right at the back and seeing the stand still traffic (and hungry sons), took my sons for lunch (leaving frozen food defrosting in boot), took our time, got back to the car at 1 PM. Tried to drive out. It took another hour to get out! In this time my 4 year old was crying for the toilet (apologies to the other shoppers that I could not let through!) Got out at about 2 PM – 3 hours later from what should have been a small shop. I’m not bothering to go there again until the traffic chaos stops.Friday 16th March evening – accidentally drove home along dreaded bypass, meaning that I was late in fetching my poor son from an evening football match at Stafford. How dangerous!
Saturday 17th March – needed petrol. Having now learnt my lesson did not go to Morrisons petrol station as I would have been delayed.
Morrisons and the town centre will lose money if this mess up is allowed to continue!
Stemorgan
Hmmmm.. So the defense of the road system by David is a complete none entity – The title ”
It’s easier, more logical and more straightforward” but no explanation at all how this is achieved — This is a title but straight away he goes on to talk about something else – Sorry I am no writer but what on earth is he on about? Sorry Jamie this is your site but a load of garbage – I have a much better idea – Get the relevant people who implemented the system and get them on to the ring road when it’s busy – I am happy to explain to them what the issue is. Angry – yes I am, it is crazy – I nearly ran a poor sole on crutches over on the new zebra crossing as I came round the bend – It is ridiculous that the system has been implemented – there is no defense to it – I can not understand any support – Simple logic of 2 lanes of traffic being forced into 1 plus the traffic coming off Morrisons is obvious – If I was Morrisons Manager I would be telling the council what I think – To be honest I think they have but nothing will change until the people in Charge do – Please Jamie find out who is responsible – Then I suggest a campaign to inform them that they blundered big style – If they don’t listen a campaign to vote them out asap. It is not in my interest to waste time discussing and they shouldn’t be defending the indefensible. Put it back to the orignal road system or what would be even better is to extend the Pedestrian area to include up to Gorgeous – This would mean more shops and a better town center – Redirect the traffic another way.
Jonty
Being a Morrisons employee I can assure you that our managers have (and are) frequently in touch with the council regarding this issue and are equally as frequently ignored.
Robert Ayres
The traffic system in Stone was better when the traffic was running through the High Street than it is with the current system. Stone town council have yet again made a mistake to the detriment of the town and its trades people. Well done guys.
Little Bit of Stone
Hi Robert. Thanks very much for your comment. Just wanted to clarify that it’s Staffordshire County Council who are responsible for roads and who have made the changes to the ring road
Kate Osiecki
Has anyone encountered a problem with the pedestrian crossing at the bottom of the high street? At least three times a week I use this crossing to get to the frank Jordan centre where my 3 yr old son attends nursery. . This crossing has awkwardly placed signs from which to check if its safe to cross. . There is no beep anymore and many a time I have been caught out. . Worryingly I have seen elderly people cross when the crossings are on red. . And I have often wondered what help this set up would be to a person with visual impairment?
Grant Bigham
The new system is ridiculous, I really don’t understand why it needed to be adapted to begin with. Ok the original system wasn’t perfect by all means but the problems have increased ten fold. As Jack mentioned, Morrisons staff help to stop traffic to allow people off the car park, on two Saturday’s I have seen community police officers stopping traffic, purely because the new traffic lights don’t do there job well enough or aren’t synchronised with the traffic lights at the bottom of town, so there is never enough space for traffic leaving Morrisons to get out and across the road into the right lane. Car’s can’t just sneak out like they would beforehand.
It’s simple, what has anyone gained from the changes in comparison to the problems the changes have caused, was it worth it?
Jack Taylor
I have to be brutaly honest on this one i was at the farmers market this month and as a SIB member i saw a morrisons worker stoping the traffic and letting morrrisons traffic out. Also, it seems the majority of people are happy with it they are very unhappy and some reports show people are taking 1.5 hours to get out of the car park. i believe the council have done this all as a way or cheapening the dilema and should spend the money more wisely. But thank you both ho have said ur side of the story and thank you for co-operating!
Jack Taylor