Footpath campaign revived online

A campaign for a footpath to be created next to a busy road by a school in a South Staffordshire village has been revived.

The call for a path to be laid along Saredon Road, Cheslyn Hay, is being renewed.

South Staffordshire District Councillor Nigel Caine has just posted an internet petition on Staffordshire County Council's website. The current path ends just after the entrance to Cheslyn Hay Primary School and Cheslyn Hay High School heading out of the village toward Middle Hill.

Councillor Caine said that it means people, including young pupils coming to the schools from Wedges Mills, are being forced to walk on a road, with a national speed limit, directly alongside the traffic.

He said: "We want to get a footpath from the top end of the road down to Cheslyn Hay Primary School and high school because it is national speed limit and single track and residents are saying there are around 30 or more families that walk along that stretch of road.

"The road at some parts is narrow and while there are foot refuges and grass verges to stand on to allow traffic to pass there is no permanent footpath.

"All we want is something that is a about metre wide which you can push a pushchair and walk along there safely."

The call for a footpath on the third-of-a-mile stretch of road was first made by councillors Nigel and Alita Caine in summer 2007.

A petition of 35 signatures was collected among the residents in Wedges Mills and submitted to Staffordshire County Council.

Councillor Caine said that he saw the new ePetition system on the county council website as a new opportunity to breathe life into the cause.

The ePetition can be accessed by logging onto www.staffordshire.gov.uk and people will be able to add their names until May 1.