Pledge on one-way system

A one-way system could be introduced in some of Cannock town centre's busiest streets to stop motorists causing a nightmare for residents.

County Council bosses have vowed to look at all options following pressure from residents and the culmination of a nine-year campaign.

A group of residents from the neighbourhood who had been involved in the campaign met Staffordshire County Council highways officer David Steptoe and county and district councillor Brian Faulkner to discuss the situation.

The general consensus was that a one-way system, going up Newhall Street, across Victoria Street and down Wolverhampton Road, would help alleviate the congestion.

The service road next to Avon Road could also be made one-way, probably uphill.

A weight restriction - to stop lorries which are delivering to town centre shops - could also be introduced, while Newhall Street could be made 'access only'.

Resident Philip Rainsbury, who has been campaigning for road safety measures to be installed in the roads for nine years, said: "This is a kind of island of densely-developed property.

"The houses have no drives and it is surrounded by pretty fierce highways. Now the traffic has grown it is bursting through the island of residential properties on carriageways that were meant for horses and carts."

Now Mr Steptoe will go back to council officers and produce a proposal for measures that could be introduced. The proposal could be ready to go out to residents for consultation in about a month, he said .

The changeover of parking laws from police to council control which comes in in 2008 means that a permit scheme could not be considered until then.

The group burst into spontaneous applause following the meeting.

"We are very very pleased. After so long of fighting for something that should have been done anyway, it is so good that we are finally getting somewhere," said Mr Rainsbury.

By Kate Hughes