Richard Stevens

The major issues discussed at last night’s meeting of Stone Town Council included the following:

• Dial A Ride - Ian Bowen of Stafford and District Community Link gave an illustrated presentation explaining how the Dial A Ride scheme operates in Stafford. It was agreed to form a small working group to see whether a similar scheme might be formed in Stone.
• Police Issues - Sgt. Dave Wain introduced Stone’s new Acting Inspector Elliot Williams. It was reported that crime in Stone had fallen by 20% and that burglary had fallen by a third. Other local issues were also raised and discussed.
• Stonefield Traffic Management Scheme was also discussed. For more details, see my more detailed posting above.
• Increase in Car Parking charges - It was agreed that the Council would ask Stafford Borough Council to defer the implementation of the 300% increase in the long stay parking charges in view of the likly impact upon the Town Council’s free car parks in Northesk Street and at Crown Wharf and also in view of the total lack of consultation.
• Stafford Road ‘rat run’ - Cllr. Jill Hood raised her continued concerns at the number of vehicles using Stafford Road as a short cut to the A34 - many at high speed. It was agreed that the County Council should be asked to position a “No Left Turn except for Access” sign before the junction and that the County be asked to consider an engineering solution to the problem by blocking or restricting access to the A34.
• Musicfest 08 - Cllr. Steve Brookes reported that good progress was being made by the music festival committee for next year’s Festival and the Council agreed a pump priming grant to enable the organisers to apply for grants elsewhere.
• Civic Amenity vehicle - in view of the fact that the new Recycling site has now opened it was agreed that the monthly visit of the amenity vehicle to Westbridge Park was no longer required. This will result in a saving of over £800 a year.