Road safety improvements finished at Cannock blackspot

Staffordshire County Council has now finished a two-month project outside Asda, widening a segment of Avon Road and creating a dedicated right turn into the 24-hour shop.

The £90,000 scheme comes after there were five accidents on the route in 2014.

The Asda supermarket opened in 2005 and there have been regular road collisions ever since due to the additional traffic to the area.

Councillor Mark Deaville, cabinet support member for highways, said: "The improvements to widen the road and the introduction of a right turn only signal at the traffic lights will make the area safer for motorists when using the junction.

"Cannock's Asda store is very busy and unfortunately in 2014 there were five collisions at the Avon Road junction with the car park."

He added: "This was five too many and that is why we have made the improvements.

"Keeping our roads safe remains a top priority for us and our roads continue to be amongst the safest in the country.

"This is something we are proud of and have worked hard to achieve, and we continue to work with local communities and our partners to keep our roads safe."

As well as improving safety in the area it is also hoped the scheme will save money.

The council estimates that each road collision resulting in personal injury costs the taxpayer around £130,000 due to the public resources needed, including police to investigate incidents and the NHS to treat patients.

Avon Road was the only project for Cannock Chase in the county council's capital improvements programme for the year but the scheme was welcomed.

Councillor George Adamson, leader of Cannock Chase District Council, said safety improvements to the area were 'long overdue'.