Northern gateway plans approved for Cannock town centre
Plans to create a new “northern gateway” for Cannock town centre have been approved by councillors – despite concerns that replacing a subway with a new crossing could make traffic issues worse.
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The subway under the A34 Ringway is set to be filled in as part of the town centre regeneration project – a move welcomed as a way to improve safety for pedestrians at night.
It will be replaced by a street-level toucan crossing in the detailed application approved by Cannock Chase Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (January 15).
The proposals given the green light also include a café, access ramps and steps.
Heather Sutton, a town centre business owner, spoke of existing congestion on town centre roads at peak times at Wednesday’s meeting however. She also questioned if traffic studies considered a wide enough area for the impact of a proposed toucan crossing at Ringway.
She said: “I’m here to ask that the fundamental changes to the road system do not have an irreversible and damaging effect on the road network. On a daily basis I see stationary, sometimes gridlocked, traffic when moving in and around Cannock.
“Business owners don’t wish to see any worsening of the existing road congestion. At the moment people can walk underneath to use a crossing – in future all pedestrian movements will take place at road level.
“Businesses depend on smooth running road networks. Additional congestion could not only have economic implications but could have environmental impacts in terms of noise and pollution.”
Cannock Chase Council was awarded £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund in 2021 towards town centre regeneration. Proposals include redevelopment of the former multi-storey car park and indoor market hall site to make way for a new cultural hub.
Cannock’s Prince of Wales Theatre, which is run by Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles, was due to be refurbished as part of the ambitious project. But it could instead close its doors for good as part of controversial savings measures being considered by the district council, which have met with strong objections from thousands of residents and arts supporters.
Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald raised concerns about the new disabled access ramps being used for skateboarding – and she also questioned the proposed café addition as well as future theatre provision. She said: “I want to understand why we are having another café put in the town centre when we already have four.”
Councillor Darryl Mawle asked: “Does it have to be a café or can it be put into another use an operator will want to use it for?”
But the committee was told that theatre provision was not part of the application being considered at the meeting.
The proposed toucan crossing will be an upgrade of the existing pelican crossing, the meeting heard. And the subway set to be removed had previously been affected by antisocial behaviour.
A report to the committee said: “One of the key issues within the application includes the effect of greater use of the new pedestrian crossing upon traffic flows along Ringway. This was the subject of detailed traffic modelling used to assess whether significant impacts upon traffic movements would result from the proposed removal of the underpass.
“The Highway Authority are legitimately placed to comment on the validity of the modelling submitted. It is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Highway Authority that the effect of the crossing on queuing would not be significant or exceed the threshold of causing severe road network impacts.
“The existing subway lacks natural lighting, is enclosed, with containment imposed by the entrances at either end being the only ways out. It is suggested this can lead to people feeling unsafe with a similar matter being mentioned by the Police ALO (Architectural Liaison Officer), who suggests the proposed surface crossing is welcomed as this was one of the findings as part of the Home Office-funded Safer Women at Night scheme.”
Councillor Sue Thornley said: “I will be glad when they bring the tunnel down – it’s a filthy place. There are beggars and there is urine everywhere.”
Councillor Jacquie Prestwood said: “When you have to go through the subway when it is dark – and at winter it is dark at 4pm – you don’t feel particularly safe going through it. When it is no longer there I think people will feel safer.”
