Major disruption as A53 blocked at Baldwins Gate by accident

Yet another accident in Baldwins Gate brings chaos to the A53

At around 6am a lorry carrying bales of hay collided with lamp posts and shed its load and severely damaging the lorry itself. We understand that the driver was shaken but not badly hurt.

This is the third accident in or near Baldwins Gate in less than a month. In one, a motorcyclist lost his life on Manor Road at the end of July and that road was closed for four hours.


More recently there was a collision near Station Stores which required the attendance of emergency services and traffic was backed up for at least a mile in either direction as single lane operation was temporarily brought in.

Today's incident caused major diversions affecting traffic from Newcastle, the M6, and Market Drayton directions for around 8 hours.

Normality returned around 4pm.

It seems that during the day, another small collision occurred near to the Doctors' surgery involving at least one vehicle. We do not know if anyone was injured but this brings the total accidents to 4 in a month.

The proposals by Richborough Estates for a new housing development of 117 properties on land off Gateway Avenue would probably mean at least 200 additional vehicles and double that number of entrances and exists of just residents at the junction of Gateway Avenue with the A53.

Building houses where there is no work and never likely to be work, in locations where there are poor public transport links, is NOT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

The Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's failure to develop its own housing plan means that they are vulnerable to companies like Richborough attempting to force through planning permission where they can demonstrate "sustainable development" which is why the phrase is important.

The village school is full so would need expansion BEFORE planning permission should be granted. The sewerage system in the village is overloaded so that would need expansion BEFORE planning permission should be granted.

If you wish to fight this development, join the Action Group. Sign up for more information.