On Thursday 19^th April, people gathered to open the new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the A527 at Chatterley Whitfield.  This was an important event, not just for the communities around Chatterley Whitfield, but also for people who live across North Staffordshire and beyond.

It’s important because the bridge will form an integral part of the national cycle network which runs not just through Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, but through the rest of the country as well. English Heritage and Advantage West Midlands funding mean that Stoke-on-Trent will be linked to a fantastic web of cycle routes that connect our area with points from Land’s End to John O’Groats. I hope that local people will start using this route for day trips and longer holidays, as well as for getting around the area for work or study. I am also hoping that the route will bring more tourists to North Staffordshire: we already welcome visitors arriving by canal and green tourism is a huge growth area.

The new bridge over the road is also a step to improving road safety in a part of our constituency where we have seen too many accidents.  I have been working to get some major improvements to the roads around the constituency, including maintance to Bagnall pavements and traffic calming in Endon. Improvements are being made, but it is important to remember that almost 10 people die per day on our nation’s roads and that in Staffordshire there are still over 300 deaths and serious injuries per year – 300 too many.

So better roads and facilities are a big start: we can’t let fears over road safety stop people walking and cycling.  Education on road safety is also a big start – and I am very pleased to read about what Staffordshire County Council is doing with all groups of road users.  Young drivers, riders, school children and experienced drivers alike all should do what they can to see where they can reduce the dangers posed by the roads. 

With the evenings getting lighter through the spring, it is also noticeable how much safer it is to be out on the roads later in the day. This is why I hope that the Private Members Bill to change summer time hours will eventually make it to the statute book. By taking the clock forward for one hour in winter energy would be saved and traffic accidents would fall.

If you live in Stoke-on-Trent North and would like to know more about what I am doing to assist in improving road safety, then please be in touch.  I am always happy to hear from constituents.