The controversial changes to the ring road in Stone have cost Staffordshire taxpayers almost £67,000. The figures were revealed in a Freedom of Information request to the county council.
The new traffic island at the junction of Christchurch Way and Lichfield Street cost £15,610
The relocation of the pedestrian crossing on Christchurch Way then cost £14,706
The new pedestrian crossing on Mill Street then cost £24,040
The barriers on Christchurch Way, which try to stop people crossing where the pedestrian crossing used to be, cost £12,454
A grand total of £66,810
In other ring road news, Stone Town Council’s general purposes committee voted against a proposal to ask the county council to reinstate the previous arrangements for the ring road.
The member’s item from Jill Hood was debated at the meeting but was defeated. Cllr Hood, as well as Rob Kenney, Mark Green, Geoff Collier and Cathy Collier. Voting against the member’s item were Philip Jones (also Stone county councillor), Jill Piggott, Tom Jackson, June Price, Joyce Farnham, Mike Shaw, Sue Shaw, Margaret Goodall and Mike Williamson.
A Little Bit of Stone reader Nick Tucker wrote: “I feel outraged that our elected councillors have put party politics ahead of common sense and, far more importantly, the wellbeing of our town. We elected them to represent us, not play power games to the detriment of our town, its people and economy.
“Moreover, having given their implicit support to the new road layout, they have also seriously diminished the value of the well-subscribed petition to the county council. We are entitled to far better from our Town Council. Let’s hope they have a rethink.”
You can still sign the petition online, which calls on the county council to make urgent changes to the ring road, here
5 comments
PeterC
The reason given for the change was cars changing lanes and the potential for accidents. I cannot recall a serious accident on Christchurch Way and exactly the same position exists on Crown Street. All this has done is cause congestion on the Ring Road and gridlock Morrisons car park. The ‘above ground’ nature of the traffic island was so it could be easily removed if it didn’t work which it clearly doesn’t.
Mr T Rout
Thanks for the name check on that report Jamie/Jack!
Biggles22
What an absolute joke, the councillors need to buck their ideas up and actually DO THEIR JOB instead of pussy-footing around.
Jon Cook
Shocked to see that the Mill Street crossing cost £10k more than the pedestrian crossing!
Have those who voted against Jill Hoods proposal give any reason?
Jamie Summerfield
I think the cost for the Mill Street crossing reflects the fact that it was installed (way too close to the junction) and then had to be repositioned further up Mill Street