Call for ‘common sense solution’ to hidden sign
A ROAD sign installed behind a tree in the centre of Leek town centre is causing major concern.
The turn right sign should be directing traffic coming along Bath Street to turn right up Derby Street, but is no longer visible.
Leek county, district and town councillor Charlotte Atkins, said she had received complaints from people who had raised concerns with her after cars were seen turning left down the one way system.
Councillor Atkins said: “As the sign is hidden by the tree, many car drivers turn left out of Bath Street towards the Nicholson Monument rather than right into Derby Street.
“It is a serious accident waiting to happen.
“Many people have raised this with me because they are so alarmed. It occurs on a regular basis.
“The county council stupidly placed the sign behind the tree, creating the problem.
“Councillor Darren Price and I have been trying to get the district and county councils to resolve this for months. That is why I finally had to raise it in a formal question to the Cabinet member at the county council.
“It demonstrates the complete failure of the two councils to work in partnership. Either the planter needs to be moved a few feet or a low level shrub should replace the tree.
“The planters were originally put in place by the county council and then transferred to the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. The planter and the tree were in place before the highways department placed the sign behind the tree.”
Councillor Price said that there had to be a common sense solution by moving the tree.
He said: “This is ridiculous and you could not make it up. I have been told it would cost a lot of money to move. But it has got to change. Vehicles are coming across Bath Street and some are turning left into the oncoming traffic coming up Derby Street.
“It is confusing, especially for visitors to the town. There seems to be no joined up thinking.
“It would be best to move the tree a few feet.
“There is an (alternative) location available for the tree and it would not be in front of a shop.”
Helen Fisher, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is just one of several signs and road markings which clearly communicate to road users that Derby Street is one-way.
“We’ll be talking to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council next week about resolving the issue.”