Road safety concerns have been highlighted following an incident on Chell Street, outside of Central Forest Parks.
Road safety concerns have been highlighted following an incident on Chell Street, outside of Central Forest Parks.
Works were completed on Tuesday 5 December, following flood-risk preventative measures being put in place. The area was set up with traffic management and a cordoned-off portion of the highway, this was to allow the newly laid tarmac and new drainage system to set.
Between 3pm and 7pm, the traffic management lights were moved, but the cones and barriers were left in place.
Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability advised: “I am at a loss for words as to how and why a member of the public would remove the safety measures in place, that are there to not only protect all highway users but the workforce and the completed works.
“Important drainage fixes had taken place over a week, to help reduce and stop any risk of flooding on that route. We won’t know the extent of the damage to the area until the next heavy downpour, where we will have no choice but to redo the works, ultimately closing the road again, at a cost to the tax-payer. This, at a time of such intense pressures on the public purse is infuriating.”
“I cannot stress how irresponsible it was to remove the safety features before the road was set and we are incredibly thankful that no one was injured.”
Tarmac needs on average, three and five hours to cure and given the freezing temperatures, the traffic management was set to stay in place until 0600am the following morning.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council would like to remind all highway users that safety measures are put in place around worksites for a very specific reason, the safety of all users.
CCTV in the area is now being reviewed and action will be taken on those who removed the traffic management.
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