The closure of a major road linking Tatenhill and Branston is "unacceptable" an MP has said as residents face another three months of misery.

Tory MP Michael Fabricant, whose constituency covers Tatenhill, said he will be monitoring the situation after it was announced that Branston Road, in Tatenhill, will again be closed as work is carried out on the roads to make sure they are ready for the opening of a new school in September 2018.

The MP said he had heard from residents about the situation and had written to Staffordshire County Council on August 29 and is now waiting to hear back from the authority.

Branston Road, Tatenhill closes again for another 10 weeks this time.
Branston Road, Tatenhill, is being closed for 10 weeks while the prepare the road for the new school

The road only reopened at the beginning of August after three months of work and now it is closed again, with a sign stating it will be shut for another 10 weeks.

Mr Fabricant said: "This constant closing, opening, then closing of the road is unacceptable and demonstrates a lack of grip by the county on construction planning for this section of road.

"It is simply not good enough. I will continue to monitor the situation and I hope the county will now speed up the works so that the road can be re-opened soon and, this time, permanently."

Staffordshire County Council said the major works will involve the removal of an existing road, construction of a new road and roundabout, and a new footway and cycleway.

Branston Road, Tatenhill closes again for another 10 weeks this time.
Branston Road, Tatenhill, is closing again for another 10 weeks this time.

The extensive nature of the works means that Branston Road will be closed to traffic between September 11 and November 14.

Helen Fisher, the county council's cabinet member for highways and transport, has previously said the works are essential to ensure the entire infrastructure is in place to serve the new school, businesses and future residents. She said: "Not only are we constructing a new road and roundabout, we are also installing services, traffic signs, street lighting and marking out the roads.

"We realise that any road closure and diversion can cause some disruption, which is why we are working with residents and giving people as much notice as possible.

"Instead of having intermittent closures over a longer period of time, we are putting all of the infrastructure in place to minimise any disruption and ensure everything is in place ready for young people to enjoy their brand new school in September 2018."

The new school project

The boss of the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust has spoken of the opportunity ahead for the trust which will run the new £30 million secondary school being built in Tatenhill.

It was announced in April this year, by the Department of Education that the trust had been successful with its application to run the new school in Branston Road.

The new school is set to open in September 2018 and will provide education for children living in the area, including at the new housing developments in and around Branston Locks.

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The £30 million complex is the first secondary school to be built in Staffordshire in 20 years.

Mike Donoghue is the chief executive officer of the multi academy trust and head teacher at John Taylor High School said it was a deeply humbling honour to be given the privilege to lead the new school and help shape its community.

He said the trust was committed to giving its all to make its children academically successful and personally well-rounded

Acumen Associates, is project managing the opening of the school from an administrative point of view and a spokesman said the group is looking now for community members to come forward to have their say on the plans.