Residents of a quiet North Staffordshire street have been left miserable after their street has been overrun with cars trying to avoid traffic going through Blythe Bridge.

Draycott Old Road in Draycott is usually a peaceful street however in recent days due to the road works on the A50 it has become a nightmare with motorists using it as a rat-run.

The narrow single track road winds through the countryside until you reach Cheadle Road where you can rejoin the official diversion route. However some motorists turn off on Caverswall Old Road creating yet another rat-run.

Long time Draycott Old Road resident Elaine Jones describes the street as usually really quiet but now has turned to chaos.

She said: "It's a nightmare, everyone is using this as a cut through now and there is only one lane of traffic that can get past at a time and some drivers still think it's the A50 because they are going down at 50 miles per hour, it's chaos, absolutely crazy.

"The road is usually a really quiet little road because everyone uses the main road. I've done my gardening today and it's just been one car after another and you've got wagons that are coming down here."

Traffic has been cutting through Draycott Old Road instead of using the official A50 diversion route (Nub News).

Earlier in the week a lorry was forced to reverse down the narrow road as it was unable to navigate down the street. This caused tailbacks and led to cars driving across the pavement in order to pass the lorry.

Resident Glenis Woodley said: "It has been difficult, I couldn't go shopping today because of the traffic. The road is more busy than you would think but at the moment it is very very busy."

Currently the A50 is closed due to a 'big but vital project' by Cadent. However residents have questioned the timing of the work. Resident Janice Walker asked why the work could not have been completed during the school holiday when there would have been less traffic.

She said: You would have thought they would have done the work during the school holiday. What difference would three weeks have made? Now you have got cars up and down here and some of them are driving on the pavement, it's a nightmare."   

A Cadent spokesperson said: "Cadent is investing over half a million pounds to replace the existing ageing iron gas pipeline under the A50, to a more durable plastic pipe that will supply energy to over 10,000 homes and businesses. The new pipe will future-proof the network and can carry greener gases like hydrogen. It will also mean that you will see a lot less of us in the future, as it will reduce the need for repairs.

"We know that the works are causing traffic problems and we appreciate the patience of local motorists, however they are vital to ensure a safe and reliable gas supply to the area for years to come. We are trying to complete the project as quickly and as safely as possible and currently have three teams working late into the evening. We have worked closely with National Highways to design the diversion route, and would urge anyone with enquiries to contact us or visit www.cadentgas.com/a50blythebridge for regular updates".

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