Residents have had the opportunity to grill Severn Trent officials in a public meeting hosted by Trentham South Residents Association. 

Many of the concerns by residents relate to access on to the Strongford site. Currently all access to the site is via Barlaston Old Road which residents say is unsuitable for the amount of traffic going in and out of the site.

For a number of years residents have been pushing for an access road from the A34 solely for Severn Trent lorries. This call was renewed when Severn Trent announced in May that the Strongford site will become the world's first 'net zero hub'. 

Concerns were raised over a possible increase in traffic movements during construction of the £40 million expansion. During the meeting on Tuesday held at Methodist Church Hall on Barlaston Old Road Severn Trent committed to building an access road to the A34. 

Stephanie Cawley, Severn Trent Customer Operations Director told residents that Severn Trent had purchased the land needed to build the road, costing one million pounds. However, the company needed to be careful how they spent customers' money.

This means the road will only be built if Severn Trent can get planning permission on land they own adjacent where the new access road will be to offset the cost. The idea is to create an additional industrial area, which would use the new access road.

Commenting after the meeting resident Elaine Brown said: "I thought it went ok but you can't just say oh well the trust is all back now, we will just have to wait and see what Severn Trent do to actually appease us really. This has been going on for so long.

"This is a good first step but at the moment I just don't think the trust is still there and they are going to have to build on that a lot to get the trust back."

Once planning permission had been obtained Severn Trent would then sell the employment area allowing them to fund the new road. However, residents were warned that getting the seal of approval from planners could take a number of years.

Vice-chair of Barlaston Parish Council, Sue Tudor also commented: "The problem is still here, this is a county road, it's not an A road, it's not even a B road but we are used as though we are a major road and that can't go on."

Stephanie Cawley, Severn Trent Customer Operations Director, said: "We'd like to reassure residents that we're listening, and the meeting set a path of how we can work together, now and in the future.  

"Strongford serves more than 300,000 people across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme and will soon be home to the world's first carbon neutral waste treatment site.

"We agree a new road would be a good solution, and subject to planning permission we'll continue to work hard to deliver on this, whilst keeping everyone up to date on progress and any new developments." 

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