Hole-in-the-road mystery solved

Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date online: 24/11/2009

A COUNCILLOR has dug around to discover the reason for the continuing presence of roadworks at a busy Shaw junction.

Residents had been mystified as to why the hole in the road was still there, which makes it difficult to negotiate the junction of Rochdale Road with Fraser Street and Chamber Road.

Councillor Philomena Dillon has investigated and found it was connected to a story revealed in the Chronicle two months ago.

BT had needed to dig up the road to solve a fault with a pensioner’s phone line that had left her without a landline for more than four months.

The work had already been cancelled twice due to unforeseen complications but when it finally began BT discovered a void beneath the carriageway.

It requires investigation and a team from Oldham Council will now have to look into the cause.

Councillor Dillon said: “This is unfortunate and it will mean further disruption at an extremely busy junction.

“However, it is vital to establish the cause of the void underneath this roadway.”