Parliamentary petition to be launched for safe crossing on busy Staffordshire A-road
A campaign to bring a safe crossing on the A34 has stepped up with campaigners addressing a public meeting demanding a crossing be installed on the busy road. Now due to lack of action a parliamentary petition will be launched to gain attention from the government.
In April a petition, signed by 824 residents, was presented to Staffordshire County Council demanding a crossing. Early estimates show that a new pedestrian crossing would cost £200,000.
However since then no action has been taken on the residents’ 30 year fight for a safe crossing to be installed.
Addressing a meeting of Swynnerton Parish Council campaign leader Josie Windsor said: “A pedestrian crossing isn’t about the speed of the traffic – it is about the speed of old people, children and disabled people trying to cross the road.”
Josie pleaded with Cllr Sean Bagguley, who is the Reform Councillor for Stone Rural North, “do we have to wait until someone is killed, what price do we put on public safety? Please, please ask the county council to reconsider our petition.”
The crossing has also received support from Stafford borough councillor Alec Sandiford. He said: “It’s simply not fair that our residents are being denied a safe way to cross this road. A pedestrian crossing here isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, and the council’s inaction is putting lives at risk.”
Commenting on the issue, Dr Allison Gardner MP, said: “I find it astonishing that the county council seems to steadfastly refuse what is a very simple common-sense solution, namely, to create a pedestrian crossing at the junction on Winghouse Lane.
“What is even more frustrating is that less than 2 miles away at Trentham there are 2 crossings in close proximity to each other. The question arises, why can’t the residents in Tittensor have the same safety measures as those in Trentham?
“Following last night’s meeting I shall be stepping up my pressure on the county council to think again and come up with an urgent answer to that question. As well as pressing the crime commissioner Ben Adams to act now on the speeding traffic.
“A crossing in this village is long overdue and I can promise constituents in Tittensor of my full support, I will be starting a Parliamentary petition to bring it to the government’s attention.”
Speaking previously a spokesperson for Staffordshire County Council said: “Safety is an absolute priority to us and so we will of course carefully consider and evaluate this request. This would need to form part of the next local transport plan to be taken forward as soon as resources allow.”
