WORRIED HOUSEHOLDERS in Denshaw are planning a public meeting over traffic issues menacing their community.
Residents say steadily rising traffic speeds are bringing problems to the area, which is dominated by a junction linking five key A-classified roads.
They argue cars and heavy truck drivers are ignoring 30 mph zones, bringing safety concerns to villagers.
Alan Roughley, chairman of the village community association, says a fresh approach is needed to tackle the dilemma.
“We are getting really fed up about the steady increase in traffic speeds over the years,” he said.
“We suffer by having long steep hills, no village by-passes and apparently not enough deaths to justify decisive action.”
He went on: “We accept budgets have been cut but none of the measures introduced in better times seem to have worked.
“A new approach is needed, which somehow persuades drivers to obey the law and enables us to walk round our own village in safety.
“We need to study successful schemes from other places. I am hoping a public meeting in the near future will bring some fresh ideas.”
Along with other villagers, he pointed to problems at the multi-road junction linking Rochdale, Oldham, Delph, Ripponden, Huddersfield and less than a mile from Junction 22 on the M62.
“The junction confuses drivers who end up going the wrong way,” he said. “Oldham traffic and motorway drivers ignore the speed limits through the village.
“Vehicles coming from the M62 sweep round the island at the top of Delph Road as drivers race down the steep hill, past our primary school and on towards Delph.
“Drivers from Oldham have adopted a dangerous habit of turning right onto Delph Road – ignoring the ‘keep left’ signs. This results in facing traffic from Delph head on.”
Steve Rigby has been landlord at Denshaw’s Junction Inn, opposite the crossroads, for more than two years.
He said: “The best option for traffic issues here would be a large new roundabout so all roads must give way.
“It would not be cheap but at least it would compel all traffic to slow down. As it is, it can be chaotic and very confusing from time to time.”
Oldham Council said they have examined the situation and reaffirmed a five year accident record shows only one slight injury accident at the location, which was not attributed to its layout.
We live on Delph Rd close to the Primary school. The speed of traffic is frightening to say the least. There is no traffic control whatsoever, no camera , nothing ! The traffic police should park their speed vans close to the school, they would make a fortune in speed fines ! The vans are frequently seen parked up in Moorside and also close to Grains Bar but NEVER on Delph rd where motorists exceed 60 mph past the school and residences.
All it needs is a speed camera at the close to the school…..what is the big problem erecting one there ???
In reply to the Juntion Inn landlords answer to the problem, saying a large roundabout at the crossroads would solve the problem…..it would not slow down speeding traffic coming down the hill at Delph Rd where motorists put their foot down as soon as they get onto Delph Rd.
Ramps across the roads into Denshaw and a roundabout at the junction would slow the traffic down effectively.
They would need to be kerb to kerb across the full width of the road. Speed cushions would have no effect at all.