A former Mayor of Uttoxeter has called for major highway changes to protect pedestrians after a lorry mounted the kerb and smashed a roadside bollard into pieces.
Martin Blencowe is worried about huge trucks rolling through the town centre to get from the A50 to Bramshall Industrial Estate.
He is particularly concerned about heavy goods vehicles taking the tight turn from Hockley Road into Oldfields Road.
And the town councillor's view is backed by his picture of a protective bollard smashed to pieces on the junction's pavement.
He now wants to see action taken to divert commercial traffic away from the town centre altogether.
He said: "The county council have replaced these protective bollards on numerous occasions and, yet again, we see them destroyed, leaving the mudguard of the lorry behind.
"While the lorries struggle round this junction the agile would be able to move quickly away.
"I am not so sure for the less physically-able, mobility scooters and the like.
"I stand to be corrected, but I am led to believe that before I moved to Uttoxeter, now many years ago, there was a major traffic incident involving pedestrians in this area of Oldfields.
"Clearly lorries are of such a size these days that for them to travel this route is nonsensical.
"I have witnessed similar difficulties when at the top of Carter Street they struggle to make it into Market Place.
"I would call on the county council to review their traffic management in this area of town.
"The bollards are there for good reason - to prevent lorries mounting the pavement and protecting pedestrians.
"Clearly the council would not keep spending money maintaining the bollards unless there was a perceived danger."
Councillor Blencowe now wants to see a bypass from the A50 to the outskirts of town to huge trucks using the town centre as a cut-through.
He said: "Heavy lorries can be directed away from this area by the inclusion of a weight limit.
"Lorries would then go via Town Meadows Way to access the A50.
"Of course, there is an issue with the lorries wanting to make it to the Bramshall Road industrial estate.
"The solution to this is obvious and has been proposed by councillors from both sides of the political divide - namely a suitable access road from the A50 through the area of the new development to the outer edge of the town.
"Despite best efforts of myself when chairman of the borough planning committee - and others since - to argue the case, it has been rejected and is not supported by the county council advisors on these matters, as a trawl of planning meeting minutes will show.
"I would suggest as the town continues to grow this option should be back on the table.
"Not only would it resolve my current concerns about Oldfields Road, but those about New Road and Holly Road as well."
Councillor Blencowe's photograph was taken in mid-May and the bollard has since been replaced.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet support member for highways and transport, Helen Fisher, said: " We will fully take on board the concerns of the town council and understand the issues of heavy commercial vehicles' use of town centre roads.
"We are working with local county councillor David Brookes (the town ward representative) and are currently carrying out a review of all town centre roads.
"This will include parking issues and potential future traffic restrictions."
