Call for chicane or 20mph limit on ‘scary village road’
Footpath extension is also mooted
THE safety of pedestrians on a busy main road which runs through two Moorlands villages has raised serious concerns.
At the last meeting of Kingsley Parish Council pedestrian safety was highlighted as becoming a problem on the narrow pavements on the A52 which runs through the centre of Kingsley and also in Froghall when there are special events taking place at the Churnet Valley Railway station.
Councillor John Steele said: “In Kingsley some parents can’t walk on the pavement as the HGVS are so close. People do not feel safe. It is very scary.
“This is a problem. One answer could be a 20mph speed limit through the village or to make a chicane. Another idea would be to extend the footpaths.”
Councillor Alison Pooler said that a chicane in the village of Hilderstone had been successful.
She said: “Parents are complaining as vehicles are so close to their children. They do come quickly. The most complaints are that HGVS should slow down.
“Chicanes do slow them down. Road safety is paramount.”
County councillor for the area, Councillor Mike Worthington who was present at the meeting, said: “This is the main A52 and there is no room to extend the pavement. Vehicles parked on the roadside do slow traffic down, it’s all about statistics.
“There are a lot of cars parked on the high street and you can’t push a pram past. Road width is a problem, but a chicane would slow vehicles down. I will bring up the issue with Staffordshire County Council highways.”
The parish council received a complaint over speeding vehicles through Froghall.
Councillor Elsie Fallows said: “It is a seasonal thing in Froghall. Before
Christmas people were walking all around the area to go on the trains. It was so busy and there were people everywhere.
“It takes place when there is something special on at the railway. There needs to be some traffic calming measures.
“We should write to Churnet Valley Railway to look at putting up signs when events are on. We cannot dismiss it.”
Councillors agreed to write to the railway asking them to put up some cautionary signage either side of the A52 when events are taking place.