Traffic chaos - for at least another two weeks.
Stone town centre has been suffering from major traffic gridlock this week due to contractors working for Severn Trent digging a large hole on the pavement at the bottom of Christchurch Way. Two lanes of traffic are being merged into one and the back up of traffic has blocked the entire one way system at times and caused queues back onto the A34 and out of town on the Longton Road.
On Tuesday evening Cllr. Joyce Farnham took 40 minutes to drive from her home in Airdale Road to collect a fellow councillor on the Cherryfields estate and then to the Council Chamber - a ten minute journey at worst in normal times. And I’m told that tempers became so frayed on Morrisons’ car park where cars could not get out that the police were called to calm things down. And town centre businesses who depend on delivering to customers - florists and chemists- have been severly affected.
So yesterday I spent ages on the phone trying to find out the facts. Eventually a very helpful lady at Severn Trent called me back to tell me some very bad news. What was originally thought to be a simple three day repair has turned out to be much more serious. The sewer has collapsed and the contractors anticipate the repair lasting “until at least the 29th of this month”. I pointed out that the repair was on the pavement and surely there was no need to close a lane. Not so - Health and Safety regulations require the lane closure and the hole will have to be extended in any event. More workmen? The contractor is obliged to carry out the work as soon as possible but there is a limit to how many workmen can work in the excavation, I was told.
This is very worrying. Next week the schools go back after the half term break and I dread to think what the problems will be like during the school run times.
My only thought was that because the lane closure was resulting in only half the normal volume of traffic going through the traffic lights on green, could the lights timing be extended? So I’ve spoken to the Highways Dept who are looking into the suggestion. Maybe it might help.
In the meantime, be warned! Stone is going to have traffic jams for at least a fortnight.
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