Oldham Council has secured £900,000 in funding from a Greater Manchester fund for local transport improvements, to start planning work aimed at improving one of the major gateways into the town centre.

The money will be used to draw up detailed plans for the future of St Mary’s Way.

Currently the road is an imposing dual carriageway that cuts through the edge of the town centre and has poor pedestrian and cycle links.

The council is looking to deliver a scheme that will see road space along St Mary’s Way, between Henshaw Street and Yorkshire Street, being made greener through the planting of trees and shrubs.

The road will also become more pedestrian and cycling friendly and allow easier access for public transport users.

Through the proposed scheme traffic and buses will use the northern half of the current dual carriageway to travel in both directions with the southern half repurposed to include dedicated space for walking and cycling, as well as planting to make the area more attractive while assisting with drainage.

A two-way cycle track with priority over side roads, crossing points, widening of pedestrian paths and improved bus stop facilities will be installed.

The proposed improvements are part of the wider vision to make the town centre easier to get around – Accessible Oldham – and ongoing regeneration schemes that will deliver more much needed homes and significant improvements, such as the town centre park.

Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “This is great news for the borough. We're delivering a better and more welcoming town centre, where it is easier to walk and cycle, and also more enjoyable to spend time.

“Our proposed scheme will deliver real benefits for residents and visitors as it will make getting about easier than it is now.

“Over the last few years we’ve transformed streets and public areas across Oldham town centre, making it easier and safer to travel around, especially for cyclists and pedestrians. This will be the next phase of that work.”  

At a Cabinet committee meeting earlier this evening (Monday 19 June) councillors agreed to accept the funding, which has been provided by the Department for Transport (DfT) City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).

The overall improvement scheme will cost £6m with money to pay for it coming from the CRSTS programme, a national £5.7 billion investment in local transport networks.

Greater Manchester has secured £1.07bn of money to deliver rail, bus and Metrolink schemes across all 10 boroughs.

Once the plans are finalised it is anticipated construction will begin in 2025.