Town centre improvements to make it easier for walking and cycling

Cllr David Williams

The temporary improvements are part of the county’s local cycling and walking infrastructure plan to encourage more people to travel this way, improve safety, and improve town streets.

Improvements will be carried out in Burton, Cannock, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford and Tamworth. 

Work will include temporary widening of pavements for both pedestrians and cyclists, cutting back vegetation, reduction in some town centre speed limits, and some changes to public areas and street furniture.

David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council said:

“These temporary improvements are all part of our wider plans to get more people walking and cycling for leisure and for getting to and from work, school or college. In the short term this will make it easier for people to get around safely to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus. But, longer term it will all help to improve people’s health and wellbeing, combat climate change, reduce air pollution and improve people’s access to jobs and education.

“More people have been walking or cycling as a result of the coronavirus crisis and we want to see this continue as life starts to get back to normal.

“Over the last five years over £7million has already been invested in walking and cycling routes in these six towns. These temporary improvements, along with future schemes outlined in our local plan to improve sustainable transport will all help build on this success.”

The following improvements will be carried out during august:

• South Walls, Stafford: Widening of the northern footway to provide a 2-way cycle track from Queensway to Cope Street.
• Chell Road / Broad Eye, Stafford: Widening of footway to allow social distancing, particularly at pinch points caused by bus stops.  Also, work to cut back and clear overhanging vegetation to maximise usable footway width.
• Albert Road - Lower Gungate, Tamworth: Widening of footway, provide give-way control at Albert Road/Marmion Street junction
• Church Street, Tamworth:  Widening of footway into adjacent layby on northern side to allow social distancing particularly where retail queues may be forming.
• Bridge Street - High Street, Newcastle: Temporary suspension of some pay and display parking to widen footway
• Lichfield Street, Burton: Widening of footway, and vegetation clearance to facilitate social distancing
• Station Street, Burton: One-way operation of Station Street from Worthington Way to Guild Street, temporary widening of footway on both sides of Station Street.  Diversion route provided along Guild Street, Horninglow Street, Wetmore Road, and High Street.
• St Peter's Bridge, Burton: Speed limit reduction to 30mph over the bridge, and advisory cycle route on the road.
• Greenhill, Lichfield: Widening of footway between Greenhill Mews and George Street junction
• Conduit Street, Lichfield: Widening of footways on both sides at canopied shop fronts.
• St John Street, Lichfield: Extension of the 20mph zone along St John’s Street and The Friary. Widening of pavements by temporary build-outs with give-way priority and alterations to street furniture layout along The Friary.