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Stafford's £16m road scheme on display
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Staffordshire Newsletter | Posted: November 05, 2014
Mark Winnington and Mike Heenan at the road exhibition
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AMBITIOUS plans to cut traffic congestion in Stafford town centre have gone on display.
The £16m Stafford Western Access Route is designed to reduce bottlenecks by bypassing the railway station area with a direct link between Newport Road and Foregate Street.
Members of the public had the chance to examine Staffordshire County Council’s preferred route for the road at an exhibition at the town’s Oddfellows Hall.
The exhibition was launched by Mark Winnington, county council cabinet member for the economy and infrastructure, and Stafford Borough Council leader Mike Heenan.
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Councillor Heenan told the Newsletter the scheme was long-overdue.
“It will be a much-needed improvement for traffic movement on the west side of Stafford,” he said. “It will not solve all the town’s traffic problems but it is a step in the right direction.”
Councillor Heenan said the scheme, combined with building work to provide new shopping and leisure facilities and the expansion of MoD Stafford were all signs of “a go-ahead town”.
“It is unfortunate that infrastructure improvements mean disruption, with the current closure of Tixall Road being one example,” he said.
But the end result will be modern facilities, better roads and a growing town.
“You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs, and it is good to see so much construction work going on in the time, even though it does cause some inconvenience.”
And Councillor Winnington said the Western Access Route was designed to improve traffic flow while causing minimum effect on Stafford’s character.
“We are working around the medieval layout of Stafford town centre, not cutting a swathe through it, so we can have modern roads with minimum disruption,” he said.
“The future of the county town is a high priority for both councils, and we are keen to work together to bring high quality development and well-paid jobs to the area, not just any jobs.”
The planned route runs from the Newport Road via Castlefields, through the former Saint Gobain factory site to Doxey Road, then behind Sainsbury’s to join the A34 at a widened junction next to Halfords.
The county council will be doing environmental surveys over the next few months and submitting a planning application for the road next spring.