Calls have been made for a speed camera to be erected in Derrington due to speeding motorists using it as a ‘rat-run while the Newport Road is closed.
Deputy county council leader Councillor Rob Simpson says the volume and speed of traffic – which includes buses, coaches and HGVs – is risking the safety of children, OAPs and horse riders in the area.
He is asking for a temporary speed restriction to be enforced along the route; beware of horses signs and the reinstatement of grass verges damaged by the increased traffic.
Councillor Simpson, is set to make a formal request for action to be taken at Staffordshire County Council’s full council meeting tomorrow.
He will also urge the council to recover the costs from David Wilson Homes, which is carrying out the development on Newport Road responsible for the 10-week road closure.
Councillor Simpson says a request should be made to the the Staffordshire Camera Partnership to position mobile speed unit along the along the route.
He also wants an investigation into the possible implementation of a temporary speed restriction along Billington Lane, Derrington Lane, Blackhole Lane and Long Lane.
He said: “Due to the present closure of the A518 Newport Road, most of the traffic from the villages to the west of Stafford borough is rat-running through the lanes of Derrington and through Doxey. This is only natural as it is significantly shorter in time and distance than the official diversion.
“However the volume and speed of traffic, which includes buses, coaches and HGV vehicles is having a detrimental effect both on the safety and amenity of the Derrington and Doxey communities.
Traffic speeds are creating potential issues of pedestrian safety to the children and OAPs of the area and also to the numerous horse riders in the area.
Additionally the buses and HGVs are having a detrimental effect on the grass verges in these narrow lanes, most notably at the junction at Blackhole/Long Lane, Derrington and at Aston corner, but generally along the whole route.”
The news comes as councillor Barry Stamp said he is writing to Staffordshire Highways to get the grass verges reinstated. Highways bosses have said they will seek to restore them to their original condition once the Newport Road is open.
One Comment
Horse, stable door and bolted springs to mind. This should have been done as an integral part of the plan when the first pen was put to paper regarding the Newport Road roadworks. A video system that records every vehicle using this route using this route in order to charge them for damage done to the roads is far better than than a speed camera.