Busy road 'now safer than ever'

Reporter: Iram Ramzan
Date published: 28 December 2016


A BUSY road in Chadderton has been deemed safer than ever, despite concerns from residents.

Suzanne Hurst contacted the Chronicle after an accident in Fields New Road on November 30.

Two men were cut from the wreckage of a crash involving three cars that collided at the junction of Fields New Road and Denton Lane shortly before 10pm. Police confirmed their injuries were not serious.

Ms Hurst claimed damage is being done to cars due to careless HGV drivers and that the road was being used as a "speed track", despite a 20-mph speed limit.

However, Oldham Council said following the recent incident, their casualty reduction team carried out a safety review of the area.

In the last eight years there have been nine recorded injury accidents in this area, a significant reduction compared to the previous eight years when 36 incidents happened.

Councillor Fida Hussain, cabinet member for environmental services, said: "This drop in the number of incidents can in part be attributed to a series of traffic calming measures which the council introduced along Fields New Road and Denton Lane around 2007. The measures have helped improve and maintain the safety record in this area significantly.

"However, the safety of our roads is a top priority for Oldham Council which is why we regularly monitor our highways network."