Council to speak with residents over road issue
Parking and pedestrian safety are concerns in Moorlands village
OPTIONS to help ease parking on a major road which runs through a rural Staffordshire Moorlands village are to be considered.
Parking and the safety of pedestrians on the busy main A52 road which runs through Kingsley have previously been debated by parish councillors.
At the last meeting of Kingsley Parish Council parking options were discussed for vehicles parking on The Green, which forms part of the A52 highway.
Councillors were also concerned that vehicles leaving Cheadle Road onto the A52 were causing major problems with visibility, as was the access for emergency and utility vehicles.
Councillor Ken Unwin said: “Parking is a big issue in Kingsley.
“We have to be careful how we approach this. Utility vehicles are unable to get in.
“We need to consult the public about who this affects.”
Councillor Ivor Lucas said that a permit scheme could be looked at.
He said: “There was a system for visitors who parked in Johnson Crescent. This however, is a different situation, but people have to live there.”
County councillor for the area, Councillor Mike Worthington, said: “There is no room on the road, but people will not pay for a permit.”
Newly-elected chairman of the parish council, Councillor James Aberley, said: “Staffordshire County Council is looking at us coming back with a preferred option to take it to residents.
“We will consult with people on The
Green about it before going to the county council.”
Councillor Elsie Fallows said that if cars were moved from the junction of The Green with Cheadle Road then vehicles would park further down the road.
She said: “I can’t see this working as vehicles would park down the road and buses would not get through.”
Councillor Martyn Hordern said that the parish council needed to ask the public what they want.
He said: “The council needs to ask the public as something needs to be done or people do not get their bins emptied.
“Whatever you do, it will upset someone. There is already a problem in Holt Lane. At some point another problem area will pop up. The council should have bought the community centre.”
Councillors agreed to consult the public before going to the county council with an option.”
■ The parish council has also received a complaint over speeding vehicles through Froghall.
The council is also concerned over pedestrian safety in the area which attracts many visitors to the railway.
Speaking at the last meeting, Councillor Ken Unwin, said: “We have written to Churnet Valley Railway to try and support us, but they have to look at the legal side of putting up signage.
“The Froghall tourist attraction brings in a lot of people. There is concern that a lot of visitors are on the bridge which is next to a bad bend. There is no speed limit in the area. Signage is required to make drivers more aware.”
Councillors agreed to discuss the issue with highway officers at a meeting planned with them in June.