Staffordshire County Council
Local Authority / Fire Service
Action Planned
Staffordshire County Council is considering cutting back vegetation, installing additional road signs and markings, installing a gate/barrier at the footway, and a possible speed limit reduction to mitigate pedestrian incidents on Eastern Way. They will prioritise solutions alongside their annual road safety programme. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Walker,
Re: BL Storey (Deceased) A460 Eastern Way, Cannock
I refer to your Regulation 28 report regarding the inquest into the death of Brogan-Lea Storey and your comments concerning the A460 Eastern Way, Cannock and the footpath through the wooded area of Mill Hayes and Hawkes Green Nature Reserve.
This letter is in response to the matters of concern recorded in section 5 of your report, which states the track along which Brogen-Lea walked is well-used and is bisected by a busy road with traffic travelling at speed, and details your concerns that there is nothing to:
1. Warn drivers about the prospect of pedestrians crossing
2. Warn pedestrians about the road ahead
3. Prevent pedestrians walking into the road
4. Allow pedestrians safely to cross the road.
To date, the following action has been taken in response to the concerns raised:
• The extent of Highway Maintainable at Public Expense has been established and contact has been made with Cannock District Council regarding the ownership and maintenance of the adjoining footpaths.
• A site visit with representatives from both Staffordshire County Council and Cannock District Council took place on 20 August 2024, to review the layout of the site and consider the pedestrian usage along the footway on the west side of the A460 and along the off- highway footpaths through the wooded areas.
• Research and analysis of historical road traffic collisions has been undertaken within the section of Eastern Way between the Hayes Way Island and the Hemlock Way/Hawkes Green Lane Island of approx. 340m in length, which includes the area of footpath intersection where this tragic incident occurred
Mr N Walker Assistant Coroner Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Coroners Service Stoke Town Hall Stoke on Trent ST4 1HH
Accident Investigation Unit
Staffordshire County Council Staffordshire Place 1 Tipping Street Stafford ST16 2DH
During the last complete 5 years (2018-2022) and including any reports we have received from Staffordshire Police since, there have been two other (slight injury) collisions on the full stretch of road, neither of which involve a pedestrian, or display a treatable pattern.
Current consideration is being given to a number of actions that may mitigate further pedestrian incidents from occurring at this location:
• Cutting back of shrubs and trees to improve visibility for pedestrians, highlight traffic signage, and enable pedestrians to be clearly seen by motorists from a distance.
• Installation of additional road signs and associated road markings along Eastern Way to advise drivers of the potential presence of pedestrians.
• Installation of a gate / barrier where the footway joins Eastern Way to warn pedestrians of the main road ahead (working in collaboration with Cannock District Council).
• A possible speed limit reduction from the current 50mph limit down to 40mph.
As part of our statutory functions and commitment to our communities and road safety, Staffordshire County Council routinely monitors personal injury collision data reported on the public highway to identify accident clusters and trends. Any treatable pattern of accidents identified will have proportionate remedial measures put forward for funding and will be prioritised against other locations around Staffordshire. Consideration of the actions highlighted above will continue over the next few months and any appropriate mitigating solutions identified at Eastern Way will be prioritised alongside our annual programme of road safety schemes.
I hope the information provided within this letter is useful. Please let me know if you require anything further.
Re: BL Storey (Deceased) A460 Eastern Way, Cannock
I refer to your Regulation 28 report regarding the inquest into the death of Brogan-Lea Storey and your comments concerning the A460 Eastern Way, Cannock and the footpath through the wooded area of Mill Hayes and Hawkes Green Nature Reserve.
This letter is in response to the matters of concern recorded in section 5 of your report, which states the track along which Brogen-Lea walked is well-used and is bisected by a busy road with traffic travelling at speed, and details your concerns that there is nothing to:
1. Warn drivers about the prospect of pedestrians crossing
2. Warn pedestrians about the road ahead
3. Prevent pedestrians walking into the road
4. Allow pedestrians safely to cross the road.
To date, the following action has been taken in response to the concerns raised:
• The extent of Highway Maintainable at Public Expense has been established and contact has been made with Cannock District Council regarding the ownership and maintenance of the adjoining footpaths.
• A site visit with representatives from both Staffordshire County Council and Cannock District Council took place on 20 August 2024, to review the layout of the site and consider the pedestrian usage along the footway on the west side of the A460 and along the off- highway footpaths through the wooded areas.
• Research and analysis of historical road traffic collisions has been undertaken within the section of Eastern Way between the Hayes Way Island and the Hemlock Way/Hawkes Green Lane Island of approx. 340m in length, which includes the area of footpath intersection where this tragic incident occurred
Mr N Walker Assistant Coroner Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Coroners Service Stoke Town Hall Stoke on Trent ST4 1HH
Accident Investigation Unit
Staffordshire County Council Staffordshire Place 1 Tipping Street Stafford ST16 2DH
During the last complete 5 years (2018-2022) and including any reports we have received from Staffordshire Police since, there have been two other (slight injury) collisions on the full stretch of road, neither of which involve a pedestrian, or display a treatable pattern.
Current consideration is being given to a number of actions that may mitigate further pedestrian incidents from occurring at this location:
• Cutting back of shrubs and trees to improve visibility for pedestrians, highlight traffic signage, and enable pedestrians to be clearly seen by motorists from a distance.
• Installation of additional road signs and associated road markings along Eastern Way to advise drivers of the potential presence of pedestrians.
• Installation of a gate / barrier where the footway joins Eastern Way to warn pedestrians of the main road ahead (working in collaboration with Cannock District Council).
• A possible speed limit reduction from the current 50mph limit down to 40mph.
As part of our statutory functions and commitment to our communities and road safety, Staffordshire County Council routinely monitors personal injury collision data reported on the public highway to identify accident clusters and trends. Any treatable pattern of accidents identified will have proportionate remedial measures put forward for funding and will be prioritised against other locations around Staffordshire. Consideration of the actions highlighted above will continue over the next few months and any appropriate mitigating solutions identified at Eastern Way will be prioritised alongside our annual programme of road safety schemes.
I hope the information provided within this letter is useful. Please let me know if you require anything further.