£25m bypass set to open

Final preparations are being put in place today for the grand opening of Rugeley's brand new £25 million bypass.

Hundreds of locals, community groups, businesses, and charities are set be involved in the opening celebration tomorrow.

The main attraction will be a huge vehicle cavalcade travelling along the new carriageway headed by a Napoleonic guard of honour and followed by local developer Fred Pritchard's Aston Martin, which appeared in the James Bond film Die Another Day.

It is set to start at 1pm from the start-line close to the flood relief arches on Station Road.

The parade will then cruise into the centre of the celebrations at 1.40pm, when Staffordshire County Council leader John Taylor will give an address before cutting a symbolic cake

The crowds will then be entertained by the Rugeley Power Station Band.

Other attractions will include a Taste of Rugeley marquee full of locally produced food, street entertainers, horse-and-carriage rides, canal boat celebrations, a bouncy castle, face painting and magic shows.

The day kicks off in the morning with a walk along the new road through neighbouring meadows. Walkers will meet at the Power Station Road site office at 10.30am to start the ramble.

Mr Taylor said the event would celebrate every aspect of life in Rugeley. He added: "The whole community has made the bypass come to life. It will connect Rugeley to a new era of prosperity."

Once the celebration is over on Saturday afternoon, the final checks will get under way to ensure the road can open to vehicles next week, possibly Monday if the checks are OK.