The temporary pedestrian crossing on Christchurch Way will now be made permanent after a trial period.
The repositioning of the crossing, to alleviate traffic congestion caused by a new lane filter system on the ring road, has divided opinion in the town.
Staffordshire County Council will now be making the crossing permanent.
At the beginning of the trial in July, Stone county councillor Philip Jones said: “Although the new traffic system has helped to solve problems in Stafford Street and Lichfield Road, it has had a knock-on effect on Christchurch Way, particularly at certain times when traffic is leaving Morrison’s car park.
“By moving the pedestrian crossing along the road, vehicles will be able to leave the car park and join the main carriageway when the lights are on red. If this works, the team will look into making it permanent.”
However, many people in the town say that crossing Mill Street to get to Morrisons is now dangerous as a result of the crossing being moved. Have a look at the comments on this post when the new crossing was announced.
8 comments
Phil Ruscoe
There’s nothing like consultation, and this is nothing like it!
Cath
The new crossing & lights where they are are dangerous & only a matter of time before someone gets hurt especially now it’s getting dark earlier. Cars leaving the car park are eager to get out when the lights are on red so aren’t even looking for people trying to cross & cars going into the car park haven’t got enough warning that there is a crossing. Walking people need a better exit from Morrissions to make then use the new crossing aswell. I like so many others forget & end up crossing at the bus stop most of the time now- 4 way traffic lights would have been a better solution or just remove the island from the bottom of town & return it to how it was…….
Stephen
It isn’t just about the crossing – The whole scheme is ridiculous. On Saturday I had to queue all the way from past ABB to get towards the town – When finally getting to the start of the bypass ONLY the right lane was busy – What has happened is 2 lanes worth of traffic on the bypass now mainly sits in 1 – The left lane was empty – Before the changes 2 lanes of traffic could go round and a simple merge by the Swan pub was perfectly good allowing 2 lanes of traffic to go straight on – This scheme based on my opinion is going to create serious issues for Stone – It is now far easier not to bother coming into the town. How many cars turn left into Lichfield Road compared to the amount going straight on? I just think it should be admitting that it hasn’t worked – The money needs writing off and put everything back. I realise you won’t want to lose face and do this. I would hope that in the future the road is put back.
sue
I completely agree with you Stephen…the whole scheme is a farce. Educating drivers to merge in turn was all that was needed to make the original 2 lane system work.
philip jones
I agree that the crossing in Mill St was not ideal which I why I have insisted upon it being moved further into Mill St and converted to a zebra crossing. In addition measures will be taken to compel cars entering Mill St to drive slowly. All this has now been risk assessed and approved. Taken together, and fine-tuned after consultation, these measures should allow traffic to move more freely into and out of the whole town, eliminate the dangerous lane changes at High St/ Lichfield Rd and give safe pedestrian access into Morrisons.
sue
You are having a laugh…with two children in Stone schools and work based in Stafford I face the fiasco every working day…if proper consultation had been carried out in the first place there would have been no need to reposition the crossing. Just waiting for the accidents to happen even further back as cars from Stone road and those on the inner lane collide in the ever increased need to move over sooner..I’m not having a laugh at all.
Stephen
Well interesting comments from Philip Jones! – “County Councillor Philip Jones said he had received positive feedback about the new crossing, including a comment suggesting the majority of pedestrians were now using the new scheme”
I would be very interested in seeing a copy of this positive feedback – I have not heard anyone with a good word to say – It is dangerous and ridiculous.
I look forward to voting against people like Philip Jones asap.
Phil Ruscoe
Why can’t they put right the cock -up that caused this in the first place! In other words take away that ridiculous island at the junction of Stafford Street and Lichfield Road and let the traffic filter together and use both lanes. I never had a problem with that layout and people could filter in without issue.