Is A525 decision near?

Campaigners are hoping that the final decision on the de-priming of the A525 from Newcastle to Whitchurch through Audlem will be made very soon. All three counties involved – Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire – have agreed to the removal of the road from the Primary Route Network and we are told the paperwork for final approval has been with the Transport Ministry for some time.

Cheshire endorsed the de-priming of the narrow winding road at the end of January this year and local residents were told the process should have been completed by the end of March. Then the time-scale moved to the end of June. Clearly, the re-organisation of local government in Cheshire and ministerial reshuffles in recent weeks have not helped the timetable.

One encouraging sign, literally, has appeared in recent weeks. A new directional sign has been erected near Keele University and Golf Club on the A525. It indicates the A525 is an ordinary 'A' road (black on white on the sign) rather than the 'yellow on green' signage for the primary routes recommended for long-distance heavy goods vehicles. Perhaps this is a sign of confidence in Staffordshire's highways department that the final approval is near.

Audlem campaigners have now written to local MP Stephen O'Brien to see if he could ask the Secretary of State for Transport to clarify the situation. Major roadworks are also scheduled to start in a week's time* on the A525 road in the centre of Audlem as a new sewer connection is made from Moseley's Yard.
*See update story published at 1.14pm today

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