Residents of Wolstanton have been asking individually for years that the chaos caused by the poor planning at Wolstanton Retail Park is addressed and nothing has happened. We raised objections and concerns when additional stores were added, when the link road was built and when the roundabout was redesigned. Now, together we are insisting that Staffordshire Highways, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and the private owners of Wolstanton Retail Park urgently address the ongoing traffic issues caused by the inadequate single entrance and exit of the Wolstanton Retail Park and the impact it has on the surrounding roads.

The current road layout causes major disruptions to the surrounding area, with long queues often forming at the roundabout, to the exit and leading to the retail park. This results in serious consequences for drivers and residents, including:

Excessive waiting times – Many individuals have been stuck for hours in traffic, often leading to delays in appointments, work, and daily activities.

Parking tickets – Due to the extended queues, drivers have been unfairly issued parking tickets while waiting to exit the retail park.

Health risks – Prolonged delays have caused distress, with some individuals becoming unwell during unexpected waiting times.

Unsafe roundabout design – Despite recent work, the roundabout and connecting lanes are poorly planned, creating bottlenecks in some areas and underutilized lanes in others, leading to frustrated and dangerous driving.

We are tired of these issues persisting and becoming more frequent. For years, we have objected to planning proposals that fail to address these concerns adequately. The current infrastructure continues to create daily problems for both residents and visitors to the retail park, making it increasingly difficult to enter or leave our homes and businesses.

We urge the local council and Highways Agency to work collaboratively with the private owners of Wolstanton Retail Park to find a viable solution to these traffic issues. The retail park needs an additional entrance and exit, the roundabout needs a redesign, with better planning to improve the flow of traffic, enhance safety, and ensure that those living and working in the area can go about their daily lives without unnecessary delays or risks.

We insist that action be taken as soon as possible to prevent further inconvenience and improve the safety and quality of life for all affected.