Is this an accident waiting to happen?
Reporter: KEN BENNETT
Date published: 20 January 2009
A former RAF squadron leader is demanding an urgent traffic survey on a busy road which runs past the entrance to a proposed new landfill site at Birks Quarry.
Rob Knotts, vice-president of Saddleworth Rotary Club, lives near the scene. And he claims that, despite traffic lights, there is still a high risk of accidents on the main A62 which passes the entrance to the quarry.
Mr Knotts carried out a week-long survey of the road during projected quarry opening times some years ago. He used computer simulation to analyse traffic flow and accident potential.
He said: “I raised strong concerns with respect to traffic analysis involved in the original application.
“Then, the report was based on traffic levels quoted in Government statistics publications, not actual measurements.
“Since then, traffic density on the A62 has increased considerably. A new survey is definitely required.”
Mr Knotts spent a number of years with the Ministry of Defence in applying mathematical modelling and simulation techniques to logistics management problems and lectured on the subject at Manchester Metropolitan University.
He added: “I am very concerned about traffic approaching the lights controlling access to the quarry.
“The main road towards Oldham curves downhill to the new lights making the entrance to the quarry a blind one.
“The distance left which allows the driver of an approaching vehicle to see the traffic lights is limited. The situation would be compounded with vehicles queuing at the lights.”
Environment Manager for Greater Manchester, Bill Darbyshire, said that issues like vehicle movements on the A62 and traffic light control have already been considered in the planning inspectorate’s decision and cannot be considered in this process.
“We are looking for feedback on how the site will operate and the potential impact that it may have on near-by residents, for example mud, dust and noise.”
Mr Darbyshire said that planning permission had already been granted for Birks Quarry to be used as a landfill site for soil, stone, glass and brick.
“We want to reassure the public that Birks Quarry, if it is given a permit, will be a completely different operation to a household waste landfill site and will not encounter the same issues due to the types of waste,” said Mr Darbyshire.
Residents can have their say at a public meeting at St John’s Church, Hey, on Thursday (7.30pm).
The permit for the tip can be viewed at Lees Library and Chadderton Town Hall on Middleton Road. Objections should be sent to The Environment Agency, National Permitting Service, Fairclough House, Knutsford Road, Warrington WA1 1HT, quoting permit number: RP323 4XC. The closing date for comments is Friday.
