Campaigners hand petitions to councillors

Campaigning members of a Saddleworth village group demanding safer roads have handed two signed petitions to a local councillor.

The move by the Dobcross Road Safety Group is the latest step in their drive to highlight burgeoning problems affecting lives of families in the area.

One petition requests Oldham Council improve a narrow and dangerously exposed footpath on the bridge opposite Ladcastle Road. 

And the other is urging a reduction in road speed limits to a 20mph lockdown for the whole village.

Both petitions have been well supported by Dobcross residents, concerned both with the number of accidents on roads and safety of pedestrians, particularly families and young children, walking to and from the village primary school.

The group have gathered 465 signatures for the narrow footpath petition and 473 signatures for the speed limit clampdown. All were gleaned online and face to face by volunteers. 

Cllr Pam Byrne, a ward councillor who also sits on Saddleworth Parish Council, along with parish councillor Max Woodvine, is supportive of both campaigns.

She has agreed to hand the petitions to Oldham Council for review, which is likely to be after January due to the General Election.

Safety fears have grown in the village since the campaigns started in March after numerous accidents, including a serious crash involving a motorbike and cars on Delph New Road in August.

And during the last few months, several cars and properties have been damaged on Wall Hill Road after being hit by cars and vans in separate incidents, as well car accidents on Dobcross New Road itself.

The campaigners highlight growing concerns including refuse collection lorries, buses, HGV’s and tractors mounting the narrow pavement on the bridge opposite Ladcastle on a regular basis.

Spotlighting speed limit issues, the group say there are several places in Dobcross, including Platt Lane and Wall Hill Road, without footpaths. 

A 20mph speed limit would generally make it safer for those people, including parents with prams and vulnerable elderly people who have no choice to walk into the traffic, safer. 

The petitioners argue it has been proven in areas where the speed limit has been reduced to 20mph, casualties from road traffic accidents reduces by 20 per cent.

Jayne Gibson, from Dobcross Road Safety Group, said: "I would like to thank all local residents who have expressed their concern and support by taking the time to sign the petitions, as well as volunteers who have knocked on doors to obtain signatures."

And Cllr Byrne added: "I will be handing the petitions in with main support from our young Parish Councillor Max Woodvine.

"I hope the petition will have Oldham Council support and be the start of a much-needed recognition of safety and speed limits in an area close to the school which has urban traffic in a rural area."

Residents are reminded to continue to report accidents or concerns regarding road or pedestrian safety, actual incidents or near misses, to the council via this form: https://www.oldham.gov.uk/forms/form/601/en/road_safety?fbclid=IwAR2muNRa_Bo_38QDl3yGTKJ0OR2X3I1Po4o_zgYGkeSfKODaorpWeV44

Main image:

Cllr Pam Byrne, left, with Rachel Bird, Penny Sankey and Jayne Gibson, all Dobcross Road Safety Group volunteers.