Pelican brief: new call

Reporter: Lucy Kenderdine
Date published: 30 December 2014


CALLS to upgrade a Royton zebra crossing to a pelican crossing have been renewed after another accident.

A 65-year-old woman was knocked over on the Rochdale Road crossing, outside Royton Town Hall last Monday afternoon. The woman was treated for minor injuries.

Oldham Council was urged to replace the crossing with traffic lights in January 2003, following the death of Alma Hannant (67) who died after being struck by a goods vehicle. That had been the second fatal accident on the crossing in five months, following the death of George Hughes (76) on the crossing in September 2002. A 2004 report suggested a pelican crossing wouldn’t be appropriate. Earlier this year, campaigners succeeded in a fight for improvements at the crossing. The lights, part of a pilot scheme, paid for by local Royton councillors’ budgets, aimed to increase visibility and improve road markings

Royton residents took to social media to continue their campaign for more improvements after the new accident.

Councillor Steven Bashforth said discussions are continuing regarding traffic management, roads and crossings in Royton - including proposals for a 20mph zone.

“If the public are calling for a pelican crossing and are prepared to deal with the inconvenience it may cause, I am prepared to support it.”