Battle continues to remove 'temporary' traffic island installed in 2011
A councillor who has been campaigning to remove a “temporary” traffic island in Stone town centre for more than nine years has said her request to use her highways allowance on the project was turned down.
The island was installed at Christchurch Way’s junction with Lichfield Road in 2011 to tackle a bottleneck in the area. It cost £15,000 and was described as “easily removable” if necessary.
Following its installation there were several complaints of gridlock when shoppers were trying to leave the Morrison’s car park onto Christchurch Way, as well as concerns that emergency and delivery vehicles using the High Street were unable to turn right.
But then-county councillor Philip Jones said there had been a positive response to the scheme.
His county authority successor, Jill Hood, told fellow members of Stone Town Council this month that she was still trying to get the traffic island removed.
She said: “As a group of independent councillors we were promising during our manifesto we would have the splitter island removed and I carried that on.
“Tirelessly, for three years and three months, I have been trying to get somewhere with moving the splitter island. I have resisted offers of blowing it up or getting a digger to remove it – although it has been very tempting.
“It was my predecessor, Conservative councillor Philip Jones, who used his divisional highways programme money to have it put there as a temporary measure to see if it worked to reduce the congestion. Well, it definitely didn’t work and it isn’t working.
“I’m fortunate now to have the feasibility study regarding the island that was placed there in 2011 – yes, the ‘temporary’ splitter island. It comes with the recommendation by officers that it would be there for six months as a trial basis.
“When this analysis was carried out we had 11,000 people in the town. We now have probably between 16,000 and 18,000.
“I’ve asked if I can use my divisional highways programme money to have it removed and the answer is no. I did manage to get Church Street one-way, so that was some part towards easing the congestion – but nowhere near stopping the pile-up of traffic we have on the Longton Road every single day.
“I’m doing my best, but I think what we’re going to have to do is continue to knock on their door. I shall be calling on the county council to not just give us a feasibility study but to continue to work with me to remove the splitter island.”
David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council, said: “Our highways team have completed a feasibility study into the traffic volumes and patterns around Stone and the options available in terms of how to best manage the traffic flow.
“The report has been passed to local member Councillor Jill Hood for comment and once we have this we will discuss the options available.”
