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Petitions received 2023/24

 
Answer:

Date received: 18 May 2023
Signatures received: 12
Name of petitioner: Dudley Taylor / Rosemary Raynbird

Petition response:

RE: Receipt of Petition – Parking Restrictions (Monks Walk)

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents regarding the request regarding the request of Parking Restrictions on Monks Walk, Gnosall. I can advise you that receipt of the petition will be reported to County Councillor Mark Winnington.

Inconsiderate parking in residential areas is a common concern raised with the Council. We fully understand that nuisance and illegal parking can cause road safety problems, congestion, and inconvenience to residents. 

In the absence of any parking restrictions, there is very little that can done to prevent people from parking on the public highway and often agreement must be met between residents in order to resolve these social problems.

The police also have powers that can be used to move vehicles which are parked in a way that causes obstruction to highway users should they deem this action necessary. They have powers available to them to identify vehicle owners and also issue on-the-spot fines.

However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the driver to be aware of where they are parking and to consider if in doing so they are parking illegally, inappropriately or hazardously. 

The County Council is responsible for the introduction of new parking restrictions however our budget is limited, and this means that only a small number of sites across the county can be prioritised for funding each year, usually through the local County Councillor’s Divisional Highway Programme (DHP). 

Proposals for permanent restrictions often do not receive the required majority of support from residents, as these affect everyone living in the street including their visitors, carers, or tradespersons. 

The introduction of parking restrictions such as double or single yellow lines requires the formulation of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which is the legal framework that allows restrictions to be enforced. A TRO to protect a junction or even a small section of highway as suggested can cost thousands of pounds and involves several months of planning, owing to statutory and public consultation that must be carried out.

Our local highway officers have investigated Monks Walk and checked our online records to show similar reports for parking issues at this location and they are not aware of any other reports from the community concerning parked vehicles in this location and the Council presently has no plans to investigate the issue further.

In the meantime, dangerous, obstructive or illegal parking are all matters which the police can tackle as they have powers available to them to identify vehicle owners and issue on-the-spot fines if necessary.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Keeling
Community Highways Manager

Answer:

Date received: 22 June 2023
Signatures received: 337
Name of petitioner: Olga G Glass

Petition response:

Dear Mrs Glass,

RE: Receipt of Petition – Road Safety in Burton

Firstly, I would say that it is fully understandable to me why you would have aspirations regarding the maintenance of your local road network, and I appreciate the time you have taken to contact the Council with your concerns.

Often our repairs can involve temporary works intended to make areas safe, whilst permanent repairs are carried out at a later time.

In order to keep the public highway safe, urgent and high priority defects around the county are resolved in a matter of days as we will always prioritise our resources to firstly tackle the problems on the network which pose the greatest risk.

However, this does unfortunately mean that lower priority issues are not always dealt with as quickly as we would prefer, and I am sorry if this has not been properly communicated to you earlier.

All road surfaces deteriorate due to use and weathering and severe weather conditions can accelerate the deterioration of roads.  Reactive maintenance work, which is aimed at keeping the roads safe, is identified by a comprehensive system of highway inspections that categorise each defect based on the risk it presents to the travelling public. 

If you remain concerned over any localised individual road defects in Burton upon Trent, these can be reported using the 'Report it' pages on our website at www.staffordshire.gov.uk or by using the My Staffs App.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Rayson
Community Highways Manager

Answer:

Date received: 19 July 2023
Signatures received: 104
Name of petitioner: Mark Bullock (Stapenhill Parish Council)

Petition response:

The response is available on our modern.gov webpages.

Answer:

Date received: 20 July 2023
Signatures received: 1175
Name of petitioner: Nigel Yates

Petition response:

Dear Mr Yates, 

RE: Receipt of Petition – Parking Charges at Greenway Bank Country Park 

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents regarding the request regarding the Parking Charges at Greenway Bank Country Park.  

Staffordshire County Council Cabinet agreed to extend car parking charges on the county council’s countryside estate in March 2019 as part of a range of financial sustainability measures at country parks.  A further Cabinet decision was made last year to retain the management of the countryside estate in-house and to focus on maximising the benefits the estate delivers to our communities across the Council’s strategic priorities – through nature recovery, supporting health and wellbeing and supporting local business opportunities.   

The countryside estate provides a great facility to support healthy outdoor activity and mental wellbeing and there has been a growth in use of countryside sites as a result. During the pandemic, countryside sites saw unprecedented levels of use. This is positive for health and wellbeing, but it does place pressure on the sites and their infrastructure.  Visitor use and impact on green spaces requires active management across the whole countryside estate and is not an issue restricted to Cannock Chase. To support healthy activity, and to be able to make that offer more inclusive for all residents, requires significant maintenance and improvement works on the sites, at a time when costs of materials have increased. 

The decision to introduce car park charges on the countryside estate therefore remains key to ensuring their sustainability. Monies generated are ring-fenced to enable the council to better maintain countryside car parking facilities and to invest surplus in the wider management of the sites. This includes works to enhance accessibility and enjoyment, and conservation work to benefit the environment.   

The council is very mindful of cost of living pressures for our residents and measures are in place to reduce the impacts. Car parking charges at new sites will be phased in with an initial voluntary period. An annual permit will also be available covering all sites – the current cost is £36 per annum – less than 10p per day – significantly reducing the cost for regular site users. Blue badge holders park for free.  

Before parking charges are brought in at any new sites, assessment work will be carried out through our Highways department to consider safety issues on adjacent highways which could arise from displacement parking.  This work will propose measures required to address these issues and there will be public and stakeholder consultation to ensure people can have their say. 

Yours sincerely, 

Sarah Bentley 
Head of Environment and Countryside

Answer:

Date received: 20 July 2023
Signatures received: 418
Name of petitioner: Brocton Parish Council

Petition response:

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: Receipt of Petition – Brocton Cross Roads

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents regarding the request regarding the Junctions at Brocton Cross Roads. I can advise you that receipt of the petition will be reported to County Councillor John Francis.

Staffordshire County Council has a statutory responsibility to study road collisions in its area and act as appropriate to reduce their numbers. One study that is currently being undertaken is a route review of the A34 from Queensville Island to Brocton crossroads. This review is still ongoing however once the investigation has concluded, The Council will share its findings with the local Parish Council and the County Councillor.

All road safety considerations across the county are supported through the collation of objectively measured data which is used to design appropriate solutions. This data might include traffic speeds, traffic volumes and road traffic collision data involving personal injury - where this has been reported to the police.

If a pattern of treatable collisions emerges then remedial measures, proportionate to the accident problem, will be proposed and prioritised against other locations across Staffordshire.

Details of how we use objective data to make informed decisions about road safety improvements, as well as information on how these are funded, are available on our website at the following address:

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Highways/roadsafety/Issues.aspx

In the meantime, you may wish to consider the advice and guidance available on the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership website at www.staffssaferroads.co.uk which aims to provide support to tackle anti-social driving in our communities.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Rayson
Community Highways Manager

Answer:

Date received: 6 September 2023
Signatures received: >5000
Name of petitioner: Kieran Newey

Petition response:

The petition has met the threshold to be discussed at a meeting of the County Council. 

View the agenda, minutes and webcast on our modern.gov webpages.

Answer:

Date received: 12 October 2023
Signatures received: 2
Name of petitioner: Alan and Sue Rogers

Petition response: 

I refer to the petition signed by local residents regarding the request regarding the use of Shaws Lane by heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs). I can advise you that receipt of the petition will be reported to County Councillor Kath Perry.

The increase in HCV traffic flow has been reported to the County Council and discussions are ongoing with County Councillor Kath Perry.

Cllr Perry commissioned a traffic survey on Shaws lane to determine traffic speed, volume and the number of HCVs using this route. The survey took place from 11th September to 25th September.

Following receipt of this petition this matter has been referred to the Staffordshire Freight Forum meeting which will take place in December. The forum will consider recent traffic data, the local information provided within the petition and provide recommendations and guidance where appropriate.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Keeling
Community Highways Manager

Answer:

Date received: 12 October 2023
Signatures received: 38
Name of petitioner: Mrs Kathleen Wheatley

Petition response:

I refer to the petition signed by local residents regarding the request regarding the condition of Chancery Drive. I can advise you that receipt of the petition will be reported to County Councillor Philip Hewitt.

Firstly, I would say that it is fully understandable to me why you would have aspirations regarding the maintenance of your local road network and I appreciate the time you have taken to contact the Council with your concerns.

In order to keep the public highway safe, urgent and high priority defects around the county are resolved in a matter of days as we will always prioritise our resources to firstly tackle the problems on the network which pose the greatest risk.

However, this does unfortunately mean that lower priority issues are not always dealt with as quickly as we would prefer, and I am sorry if this has not been properly communicated to you previously.

All road surfaces deteriorate due to use and weathering and severe weather conditions can accelerate the deterioration of roads.  Reactive maintenance work, which is aimed at keeping the roads safe, is identified by a comprehensive system of highway inspections that categorise each defect based on the risk it presents to the travelling public. 

Chancery Drive is a concrete road which will be why the perceived condition would be different to other roads you may encounter in Staffordshire. Our engineers have a database of the concrete roads that we are responsible for throughout the County as these are maintained differently to other roads. This database is kept so we can keep track of the condition of the carriageway and ensure it is safe. At present The Council currently relies on routine inspections and maintenance to keep concrete roads safe such as ad-hoc pothole repairs.

As part of our continued aim to look at innovations in the construction industry we are in early dialogue with our principle resurfacing contractor regarding a new product that they would like to trial in Staffordshire that treats concrete roads. Multiple roads have been submitted to ascertain the feasibility of this treatment including Chancery Drive.

The long-term aim with this trial is to see if this product can become a further preventive treatment specifically for those difficult concrete roads that become overlooked when considered for surface dressing. If these trails are successful we can incorporate ad-hoc repairs of any previous treatments to a concrete constructed road and then apply this new product, but firstly we need to undertake the trial and review any outcomes. There is no date at present for when this trial will take place. In the interim pothole repairs have been undertaken on Chancery Drive to make the road safe.

Yours sincerely

Mark Keeling
Community Highways Manager

Answer:

Date received: 12 October 2023
Signatures received: 1045
Name of petitioner: Mr Whitehouse

Petition response:

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents for a safer Chester Road, by way of improved road safety at the junctions of Lazy Hill, Gravely Lane and Main Street.

Staffordshire County Council takes road safety extremely seriously and as such we welcome communication from local residents offering suggestions to improve areas that are of particular concern to them.  All road safety improvements across the county are supported through the collation of objectively measured data which is challenged and rationalised.

All reported personal injury collisions across the County network are continually reviewed by a dedicated team. The routine analysis of the collision circumstances and contributory factors (such as speeding) identifies sites and routes where mitigation measures can be taken to reduce the number of people injured on our roads.

Staffordshire County Council has liaised with Walsall MBC and we understand they undertake an annual road safety review and that the junctions highlighted by the petition are encompassed in one of four sections of the A452 Chester Road due to be considered within their next road safety review which is expected in early 2024. We will endeavour to work collaboratively with Walsall MBC following this and will continue to liaise with them in relation to concerns raised by the local community.

In the meantime, local Highways officers will assess the elements of the road network in this area that fall under Staffordshire County Council’s responsibility, to ensure for example that signage, road markings and other highway infrastructure are all adequately visible and appropriately maintained.  

Further information on how Staffordshire County Council considers requests for road safety improvements can be found on our website at the following link: Road safety issues - Staffordshire County Council

Yours sincerely,

Garry Hunt
Community Highways Manager – Lichfield & Tamworth

Answer:

Date received: 25 October 2023
Signatures received: 12
Name of petitioner: Residents of Swinfen Broun Road

Petition response:

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents regarding parking on Swinfen Broun Road, Lichfield.

Thank you for detailing the particular concerns in relation to parking issues and for also proposing potential mitigations, such as the deployment of bespoke signage during local events. A multi-agency approach to issues relating to events will be beneficial and the local Highways team is currently in discussions with local County and District Councillors to offer support with any solutions already being explored by Lichfield District Council.

With regard to parking issues generated by the nearby school and other non-residents, details of the Council's responsibilities for enforcement, as well as answers to common concerns about parking, can be found under the highways section of our website: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Highways/Parking-and-enforcement

The local Highways team have recently discussed the petition with County Councillor Colin Greatorex as part of his Divisional Highway Programme but there are very few appropriate solutions that do not involve permanent restrictions. Restrictions may not be supported by all residents as they would affect all visitors and carers and tradespersons for example, and they also usually involve significant costs to the Local Authority.

The local Community Highways Manager Garry Hunt would be happy to arrange an informal visit with the petition organiser to discuss the general issues here and potential solutions in greater detail. Garry can be contacted via garry.hunt@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Answer:

Date received: 14 December 2023
Signatures received: 6
Name of petitioner: Mr Syed Hussain

Petition response:

RECEIPT OF PETITION – Ceasefire in Palestine Request

‘I refer to the petition, signed by County Councillor Syed Hussain and local residents, requesting that Staffordshire County Council contact the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, and relevant authorities, and urge them to promptly initiate a ceasefire in Palestine and provide humanitarian aid.  

Staffordshire County Council and our partners strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community. Our thoughts continue to be with those affected by the horrific loss of life and suffering in Israel and Gaza, both across the world, and in our communities here in Staffordshire. 

The county council echoes the statement by the Prime Minister The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP to the House of Commons in which he shares a message of solidarity with the Middle East against terror and the further spread of conflict.  

We fully support the UK Government’s position in both standing resolutely with Israel in defending itself against terror and with the plight of Palestinian civilians. 

The Government’s stance remains clear; there is a need to act in line with international humanitarian law and take every possible step to avoid harming civilians. It recognises that too many lives have been lost, that people are suffering terribly with a growing humanitarian crisis, and that Palestinian people too are victims of Hamas.  

We firmly believe the Government is focused on doing all that can be done to support reaching a sustainable ceasefire that would result in lasting peace in the region. 

Furthermore, the county council supports the UK Government’s efforts to work with relevant international authorities; to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza; to further focus on determined diplomacy that recognises the hard realities on the ground and delivers help now; to ensure that determination remains to prevent escalation, all whilst also investing more deeply in regional stability and in the two-state solution.  

 

We commend the UK Government’s continued work, together with international partners, in this area.

 

During these difficult times, the county council will continue to take the Government’s lead, navigating the issues with understanding, solidarity, and the shared hope to keep alive that vision of a better future, against those who seek to destroy it. ‘

Answer:

Date received: 12 December 2023
Signatures received: 48
Name of petitioner: Mr Stephen Gough

Petition response:

The response is available on our modern.gov webpages.

Answer:

Date received: 22 December 2023
Signatures received: 9
Name of petitioner: Mr Mark Sutton

Petition response:

The response is available on our modern.gov webpages.

Answer:

Date received: 10 October 2023
Signatures received: 4
Name of petitioner: Daniel Lee Maycock

Petition response:

The response can be viewed on our modern.gov webpages.

Answer:

Date received: 5 February 2024
Signatures received: 320
Name of petitioner: Jonathan Gullis MP

Petition response:

RECEIPT OF PETITION – Re-surfacing Gloucester Road & Newchapel Road, Kidsgrove

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents regarding the request regarding the request for resurfacing for both Gloucester Road & Newchapel Road, Kidsgrove. I can advise you that receipt of the petition will be reported to County Councillor Burnett.

There are currently no surface works planned for the periods 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. However, I would like to bring to your attention that we do have member-funded and maintenance works scheduled for Gloucester Road and Newchapel Road in Councillor Burnett's area. The current scheduled dates for these works are 29th April 2024 and 1st May 2024 respectively. Please be aware these dates are weather dependent, and we may not be able to commit to them if there are inappropriate weather conditions at that time.

Regarding Gloucester Road, we currently undertake quarterly inspections with the last inspection conducted on 19th December 2023. No new works were raised during that inspection and all outstanding tasks that were identified are scheduled for delivery under the member-funded scheme as mentioned above.

Newchapel Road undergoes monthly inspections, with the last inspection conducted on 28th February 2024. During this inspection, four high priority issues were raised and completed on 28th and 29th February 2024. All other works scheduled for delivery under the member-funded scheme, except one requiring a road closure, are progressing accordingly.

We are actively monitoring these situations and working to ensure that necessary works are carried out in a timely manner.

Yours faithfully,

David Greatbatch

Community Highways Manager

 

Answer:

Date received: 8 February 2024
Signatures received: 381
Name of petitioner: Lottie Mellor

Petition response: 

The response can be viewed on our modern.gov webpages.

Answer:

Date received: 8 February 2024
Signatures received: 59
Name of petitioner: Colton Parish Council

Dear Colton PC,

Receipt of petition – Colton Parish

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents regarding the request regarding flooding issues in and around Colton Parish.

The Council are aware of flooding concerns and our Community Highways Team have been working with Councillor Cox to identify drainage solutions. The gullies within the Parish have been cleansed as part of both cyclical works and targeted additional investment. The roads that were cleansed as part of the additional investment were also prioritised by Cllr Cox.

This work did identify some issues within the drainage system at this location which requires further investigations by our drainage specialist. The plans at present are to explore the relationship between local watercourses and flooding events, and the responsibilities of other third parties such as the Environment Agency and water authorities. This investigative work will take time because council resources are extremely limited and we receive many flooding/drainage concerns across our vast road network.

Thank you once again for your petition and for bringing this matter to our attention.

Yours sincerely

Garry Hunt

Community Highways Manager

Answer:

Date received: 22 February 2024
Signatures received: 174
Name of petitioner: Paul Torrance

Dear Mr Torrence,

Receipt of Petition – Add Railings or Bollards for Pedestrian Safety to French Avenue / Allton Avenue Junction

I refer to the petition, signed by local residents regarding the request regarding implementing railings on French Avenue. I can advise you that receipt of the petition will be reported to County Councillor Alan White.

Implementing pedestrian guard rails or bollards on a junction can cost thousands of pounds and can involve several months of planning. Due to the scale of this work The Council does not have the resources to carry out these works through routine maintenance.

Community requests or concerns in relation to parking issues can be considered and investigated through the Divisional Highway Programme (DHP). The solution may not always be constructing guardrails however, the DHP can help to provide an indication of potential costs for future works or be used to gain public feedback through informal consultations. Each County Councillor is allocated a small annual fund to prioritise and deliver solutions to locally important issues. Delivery may include the construction of small engineering works or feasibility studies into potential solutions to the concerns raised.   

They may consider funding further investigation into your concerns in the future, if the matter is considered a Local Community Priority over other similarly sincere highway concerns within the division. We are unable to confirm if  an issue will be prioritised nor are we able to inform individuals of the status of their reported issue on an ongoing basis.

Thank you once again for your petition and for bringing this matter to our attention.

Yours sincerely

Garry Hunt

Community Highways Manager

Answer:

Date received: 2 April 2024
Signatures received: 1
Name of petitioner: Chris Shepherd

Petition response:

The response can be viewed on our modern.gov webpages.

Answer:

Date received: 1 March 2024
Signatures received: 161
Name of petitioner: Vivien Wang

Petition response:

Petition closed with Staffordshire County Council, due to being a Parish Council issue. 

Answer:

Date received: 4 March 2024
Signatures received: 0
Name of petitioner: Natalie Crosby

Petition response:

This petition was rejected. Our response is available on our modern.gov webpages.

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