Drivers joust over crossing at bridge

Reporter: KEN BENNETT
Date online: 17 November 2009

Permanent warning signs ruled out
A COUNCIL boss has refused to put permanent warning signs on a bridge because he believes it would damage a Saddleworth village’s unique heritage.

Frustrated locals claim the bridge is the scene of daily “jousting contests” as drivers clash.
Currently, a utility company has erected temporary give way and priority signs on the bridge which links King Street to High Street in Delph.

Keith Begley, vice-chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council, is demanding the signs are made permanent to stop showdowns between drivers.

He says: “Crossing the bridge has become a jousting match. Cars coming from King Street legally have the right of way because there is a give-away sign on the High Street entrance to the bridge.

“Consequently, even though they see vehicles ready to cross from the other side, they run the gauntlet — and that’s when problems start.”

Mary Isherwood, who runs a chip shop by the King Street entrance to the bridge, said: “The air is often blue with the foul language between drivers. I have seen vehicles with wing mirrors knocked off because they have tried to cross the bridge and hit a vehicle coming the other way.”

Parish Councillor Ken Hulme said Oldham council spent £500,000 on the bridge and other major road improvements in Delph two years ago.

“They should have a proper consultation with villagers over a traffic management system to avoid this daily free-for-all,” he said.

But Councillor Mark Alcock, Oldham Council cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “The bridge is a totally unique aspect of a beautiful village in a conservation area, that heritage is something we should seek to preserve rather than drastically alter in character.

“We investigated the suggestion of installing a sign indicating ‘priority over oncoming vehicles’ on the bridge this summer.

“Highways officers monitored traffic and witnessed occasional incidents where drivers followed other vehicles across the bridge when vehicles were approaching and waiting at the opposite side.

“This is a common occurrence at priority systems, however, and I’ve been advised such behaviour is likely to continue, with or without new signs.

“It is crystal clear to drivers approaching the bridge who has the priority and — in the few instances where drivers didn’t comply with the new ‘give way’ markings on the road — we believe this was largely down to them choosing to ignore it, rather than not noticing it.

“We continue to monitor the situation but feel adding more signs would have little or no impact.

“The contractors currently working at the site have narrowed the carriageway, in addition to narrowing the bridge, so these signs are useful as a temporary measure to tackle congestion.

“Once their work is complete the signs should not be required.

“A proposal to widen the bridge would deliver very little benefit for premium costs,” he added.

Ward councillor Mike Buckley, said he and fellow councillors would meet Delph Community Association to see if it could come up with a better scheme to propose to the council and District Partnership.