Cannock A34 drivers face three weeks of delays

Motorists were today asked to be patient while a £50,000 scheme to improve Cannock bus station goes ahead. Work will start on Monday and is scheduled to last for three weeks.

While buses will still be able to get and in and out of the site, it will take longer to do so – having a knock-on effect on other traffic in the town centre. County councillor Pat Corfield said today: "Staffordshire County Council is carrying out essential safety work at the bus station."

"This is on behalf of the district council.

"This will involve improving the bus lanes and making crossings safer for pedestrians.

"Work has been programmed to take place during the school holidays so there is less disruption and will start on Monday.

"It should take around three weeks and we'd ask bus users to bear with us during this time.

"Buses will still be able to get in and out of the station, it may just take a bit longer then normal."

The safety scheme comes following the death of 74-year-old Ann Draper in an accident at the station, when she was being pushed in a wheelchair by her 76-year-old husband Ray.

The couple were hit by a reversing coach at the bus depot, off Stafford Road. The pensioner died on August 20.

The inquest at Cannock Coroners' Court last August heard how the coach had not been able to park where the driver Gary Morgan wanted, because of parked cars and a minibus.

Mr Morgan said he had needed to move the bus to allow Mrs Draper to get on to the vehicle from a higher part of the kerb.