Looking to the future the county council remains committed to being open and honest with local residents around Four Ashes. I sincerely hope this ‘blog’ will play an important role in ensuring you have access to useful information.

If you have any questions about these proposals then please email comment@staffsprojectw2r.info. I will try to respond to the most frequently asked questions in future entries.

October 2009 – Traffic Update

Over the last year, Staffordshire County Council has been working with the Highways Agency to develop improvements that could be made to the junction where Vicarage Road meets the A5 in Calf Heath. The following provides a summary of the discussions that have taken place and an indication of the work that will go ahead.

In summary:

• The junction at the A5/Vicarage Road is being improved to allow for the greater predicted traffic flows.
  
  
• The Highways Agency has approved the new design on traffic flow and safety grounds.
  
  
• The new junction will be traffic light controlled; as a result it will be much safer than the existing priority junction.
  
  
• The new junction will not involve narrowing of the existing carriageway or the establishment of a one way system as implied.
  
  
• Local businesses and residents will benefit from having a better, safer junction. Traffic flow will not be adversely affected.
  
  
• The current junction arrangement is in effect 'one way' as 2 HGVs cannot use the junction at the same time. This causes HGVs on the A5 to queue whilst vehicles pull out from Vicarage Road or vice versa – an unsafe arrangement which also causes considerable queuing on Vicarage Road.
  
  
• We believe that traffic flows and waiting times, especially at peak times will be improved compared to the existing situation.

It is also worth noting that at various meetings with Parish Councillors and residents prior to the original planning application, the initial junction improvements Project W2R proposed were felt to be insufficient regarding safety. Many local Councillors and members of the public expressed a desire to see a traffic light controlled junction, which is now being proposed.

Further details, including construction and timescales for the traffic improvements, will be able during 2010.

If you have any questions regarding the improvements please call the information line on 0845 300 4430 or email comment@staffsprojectw2r.info.

Archived Blogs:

• July 2009 – Energy from Waste race narrows to final two
• April 2009 – Tenderers submit detailed proposals
• January 2009 – Feedback from the Planning Committee
• November 2008 – Staffordshire obtains planning permission for Energy from Waste Facility
• October 2008 – Shortlist for Waste Facility Contract
• July 2008 – Local Traffic Update
• June 2008 - The Last Few Weeks
• May 2008 - Starting the Ball Rolling