A LOCAL councillor is calling for clarity on the progress of installing 20mph limits around Saddleworth.
Garth Harkness, who represents the Saddleworth North ward on Oldham Council, proposed a motion on the issue in March.
He said he was pleased that options of new potential zones to curb speeding in the area were being looked into.
“I am pleased the working group has started to explore new schemes,” the Liberal Democrat councillor commented.
“I have suggested exploration of schemes on Huddersfield Road in Delph, Cooper Street in Springhead and to explore around the village on Ripponden Road in Denshaw.
“I am keen to get the existing ones sorted. I have been trying to find out what is happening with existing schemes and which ones have extra calming measures.”
Schemes to introduce 20mph limits and calming measures – in response to concerns about speeding motorists – have been proposed in Denshaw, Uppermill, Delph, Dobcross and Diggle.
Cllr Harkness said he was ‘frustrated’ by a lack of answers and hopes to see improvements on the ground very soon.
“It is unclear when Denshaw and Uppermill will be implemented or whether Delph and Dobcross are getting some calming measures in part,” he stated.
“We have had no drawings for a scheme in Diggle 12 months after proposing. There has been an agreement in principle of a scheme without formal proposals drawn up.
“I want it to go further but I would like a cast-iron commitment to a wider Diggle scheme and an answer for next steps for all those currently on the table.”
After attempting to ask this at a recent council meeting cut short when England were playing in the Euros, Cllr Harkness added: “It is frustrating as I have already asked several times in writing. Hopefully we will get some answers soon.”
Councillor Chris Goodwin, whose portfolio covers Highways, said: “The safety of our residents and all road users is a priority for the council.
“Over recent years we have been contacted by a number of people concerned about the speed vehicles are travelling at in parts of Uppermill.
“We’ve listened to them and that’s why we are proposing a permanent 20mph speed limit and traffic calming measures. The scheme extends along the walking route between Uppermill and Saddleworth School, helping to keep pupils safe.
“A temporary speed limit of 20mph already exist in parts of Uppermill and our monitoring has found it’s helped cut average speeds, although not to the extent we would expect, which is why we are looking at physical measures.”
“At this stage our plans are just proposals. We’ve consulted with local councillors and now we’d welcome residents’ view on them.”
I live on Peels Avenue Springhead, which is off Den Lane and whilst Den Lane is 20mph you turn onto Peels Avenue (which is a cul-de-sac and where young children actually play out on the street) which is 30mph. We have asked several times for this also to be 20mph but sofar to no avail. Please could it be looked into.
The only road in central Delph to have a 30MPH speed limit, with signage, rather than the ubiquitous 20MPH, is Hill End Road, which is single track after the first few metres, often used by school children en route to school, horse riders and people out on a stroll. Unlike virtually all the other roads in Delph, at the point it reduces to a single track there is no pavement! The signage actually encourages many to drive up, thinking it may well be the main route. During rush hour when there is congestion in the village it has been used as a ‘rat run’! It seems bizarre that perfectly adequate sections of the A6052 and A670, major thoroughfares away from schools and residential buildings are restricted, yet this country lane isn’t.
So everyone has to tootle round at a snail’s pace because of a hand-wringing counciller.
The evidence shows 30 to 20mph reductions have little impact on road safety : https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/do-20mph-speed-limits-reduce-the-number-of-car-crashes-and-casualties/
It would be nice if changes were made base on actual evidence rather than what some busy-body thinks is a good idea for everybody.
Pointless waste of money. Traffic through Uppermill is at a snail’s pace anyway 90% of the time anyway. Further along, beyond the shops, towards the viaduct, cars do indeed speed, and even though no pedestrians crossing on that stretch, policing of the 30mph limit would make some sense.
It’s about time Speed Cameras were installed on Chew Valley Rd in Greenfield. Currently 20mph which no one seems to take a blind bit of notice of…………The Council would earn a fortune !
This busybody Councillor should find something more useful to do than harassing drivers. Some Lib Dems are very anti-car.