Residents voice concerns over A34 traffic

Residents living along a stretch of main road in Stoke-on-Trent are upset by the sheer volume of traffic coming past their properties and say it is getting worse.

The A34, between Trentham and Hanford, is one of the main roads in and out of the city and residents say that in recent months the situation has been exacerbated by various roadworks - the most recent being a lane closure coming off the Hanford roundabout into Trent Vale. New works are set to start on 2 February.

Resident Maxine Clarke said of the traffic: "It's a problem every day, I have to queue to get out [of] my drive."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been contacted by the BBC for comment.

Clarke has been left feeling frustrated at what she describes as a lack of communication about works in the area.

She said it was not only a question of traffic volume but speed.

"When the traffic is cleared [motorists] just zoom past here, so it's either a back-up of traffic or they just think it's a racetrack."

Patrick Pepper, who lives on an estate near to the road, said: "It never used to be like this - the past couple of years it's got more than 50% extra traffic.

"They need some form of diversion, especially with the build-up we get at Hanford roundabout."

The works from 2 February are to repair the central reservation on the route between tourist attraction The Monkey Forest and Trentham Gardens.

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