Calls for urgent action at danger spot on busy road

PARISH councillors are to write to the chief executive of Staffordshire County Council following major concerns over two areas which need urgent attention.

Under urgent items at last week’s meeting of Kingsley Parish Council members were told that a pedestrian had been in collision with a vehicle in Holt Lane, Kingsley and that the escape road on the notorious A52 Whiston Bank was overgrown and could not be seen.

Councillor Julie Bull said: “There has been an accident in Holt Lane, Kingsley and a pedestrian has been taken to hospital. We should ask the county council to look at safety outside the school.”

Councillor Ivor Lucas said that the incident involved a child getting off a bus: “I have been told that the child is back at home and is not badly injured.”

Councillor David Fowler said that the area had a lot of congestion from vehicles parking.

The importance of making sure that the escape road was cleared was also viewed as an urgent item.

The bank, which is part of the busy A52, has been the scene of numerous incidents over the years.

An escape road was installed to slow down and stop runaway vehicles by filtering them away from the main road.

However this had become overgrown and not clearly visible.

Councillor Elsie Fallows said: “A lady pulled up on the escape road while she was on her telephone. You can’t see its an escape road as it is so overgrown.

“No one is taking any notice of us. We are being made to look like idiots.”

Councillor John Steele said that the parish council had done everything possible by highlighting the problem to the county highway.

He said: “Last time we had a concern we wrote to the county council’s chief executive.

“Another letter should be sent to him bringing the issue to their attention.

“We have done everything we can, now it is the county council’s responsibility.”

Councillors agreed to write to the county highways regarding the two issues and also the chief executive of the County Council.

Parish councillors also expressed frustration about gullies not being cleaned out.

Councillor Elsie Fallows said: “You can’t see many gullies as they have grass and weeds growing out of them.”

Chairman of the parish council, Ken Unwin, said: “There must be a schedule for cleaning out gullies in the county. They are clearly not doing it. It has become ridiculous.

“Who has the tender for the work? They should be done every year.”

Helen Fisher, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said: “This year we are investing an extra five million pounds in road maintenance, on top of an extra £5m spent last year.

“Work to keep our roads in a safe condition is prioritised and carried out as soon as possible and our gully emptiers continue to work full time across the entire highway network. The main roads in Kingsley are on an annual schedule and these will be visited in the next few months.

“Many schools have issues with people parking inconsiderately and there are a number of things that can be looked at to improve safety. These include, education campaigns to reduce irresponsible parking, road safety talks and activities with the children; and enforcement of existing parking restrictions.”