items tagged with Forsbrook

Yesterday evening at a packed meeting of about 150 people, at Forsbrook Village Hall, Bill Cash MP chaired a meeting, joined by County Councillor Ian Parry, to demonstrate the local concerns about the A50. At a vociferous meeting, the Highways Agency faced a barrage of questions and deep public dissatisfaction with the way in which they have handled the A50 fences which have not been completed or did not work properly.

 

It remains the case that the road surface, with massive lorries and ever-increasing traffic gave rise to such noise that many people in the room could not sleep at night and had to retreat into their back bedrooms. Many could not sit out in their gardens, have barbeques or any peace and quiet.

 

Bill Cash cross-examined the Highways Agency who claimed that this was down to the Labour Staffordshire County Council in the 1970s. It was pointed out that much had happened since then and money had to be spent on solving the problem – not talking about theoretical issues. There is a massive noise interference which has to be dealt with. 

 

Bill Cash asked the Highways Agency why the official documentation designated the A50 in this area as “low priority” whereas other areas less affected were given higher priority. He asked on whose advice the low priority status had been given but was told by the Highways Agency that they had contributed to that advice, which Bill Cash condemned and asked for full details on that advice and the criteria which had been applied. A petition was circulated at Bill Cash’s suggestion and he will raise the issue in Parliament with a parliamentary petition, once all the names are in. 

 

The meeting lasted two hours.