Pub shuts as floods leave main road out of action

A VILLAGE pub had to close its doors to customers due to flooding.

The George and Dragon pub, in Meaford, near Stone, had to shut yesterday after an unpassable stretch of the A34 was completely closed off to traffic.

Fire crews and officers from Staffordshire's road policing team worked through the day to pump away excess flood water from the road and into a nearby culvert following heavy snow and rain at the weekend.

Gordon Taylor who lives in Wash Dale Lane, Stone, discovered the flood while cycling home from the shops yesterday.

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He said: "I saw that the road had been blocked off. The water was really deep, so I pulled my camera out to take a few pictures.

"I headed back the way I came to get home in the end.

"I've lived in the area for over 20 years, but I've never known it to flood until this year when it's flooded a lot – a good six times in fact."

The Stafford Sports College technician usually commutes to and from work via the A34.

He added: "It's quite an inconvenience really because the road is my link to work, so I'll have to drive through back roads to get to Stafford every day.

"Hopefully, they will clear it quickly and things can get back to normal."

A spokesman for the George and Dragon pub said: "We had to shut yesterday as no-one could get to us. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused." Along the same stretch of road, a woman had to be rescued after her car became stranded.

The 101 bus service was diverted through Barlaston while work to clear the road was carried out.

Cresswell Old Road, near to Cresswell Lane in Stone, was also closed due to flooding.

Replacement bus services were laid on for trains running between Chester and Crewe and between Uttoxeter and Stoke-on-Trent due to flooding at Blythe Bridge.

Flood warnings were also issued for Rock Lane, in Slindon, near Eccleshall, both ways along Weston Road in Stafford, between Beaconside and London Road, Station Road, in Norton Bridge, and along Rudyard Road in Leek.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We attended severe flooding along the A34, in Meaford, where we had high volume pumping appliances in attendance. Crews were there for some time."