'Vital to keep checking on accident blackspot'

THERE aren’t many drivers around Newcastle-under-Lyme who don’t know the A500 Audley slip road - a stretch of road that’s become an accident blackspot.

- Adam Jogee - MP for Newcastle

CONSTANT PROBLEMS: Police and accident investigation teams at the scene of an accident on Alsager Road/A500 slip road.

Near-misses and collisions are now all too familiar, and residents have every right to be worried about their safety.

In recent months, I've heard from many people who use this junction every day.

They've told me about cars ending up in ditches, about having to brake suddenly to avoid a crash, and about the sense of dread that’s crept in whenever they approach it.

When people are telling you they feel unsafe, it’s important to listen - and even more important to act.

This particular junction, where the slip road joins Alsager Road, is shared between Staffordshire County Council, who have responsibility for Alsager Road, and National Highways, who manage the slip road itself.

I've raised this issue again and again - writing to both the county council and National Highways to press for action and make sure local concerns are not ignored.

At every stage, I’ve made clear that this junction simply isn’t fit for purpose.