Road to ruin

RED woes . . . Atif Anwar, Shoukat Ali and Mohammed Amin from the Red Rose garage

Surface works to rumble on

STRUGGLING businesses already battling the recession fear long-term roadworks could see trade hit the skids.

Firms in Shaw Road, between Broadway and the Big Lamp roundabout, have seen profits nosedive since a burst drain underneath the surface led to months of misery when temporary traffic lights were installed.

And just as business owners thought their problems were over, work to restructure the road and pavement between Blackshaw Lane and Edge Lane Street has signalled the introduction of a one-way system, with traffic only able to travel towards Broadway.

Atif Anwar, from the Red Rose garage, said: “Our trade is probably a quarter of what it was before all the roadworks started.

“It was bad enough when the traffic lights were in force, but now the system is completely one-way, it’s got even worse. Lots of drivers just can’t get to us. Many think the entire road is shut off. The fear is that once those customers have gone elsewhere, they won’t come back.”

A diversion route has been put in place via Salmon Fields, Heyside and Oldham Road, but things are set to get worse before they get better.

Contractors Greenbooth — working in conjunction with the council — say they will have to close down the entire road in both directions for two consecutive Sundays, with existing roadworks set to last five weeks.

Mr Anwar isn’t the only one who’s struggling.

Marty Jones says his pub, the Angel Inn, is no longer accessible for one of the major taxi firms in the area. A number of pool and darts teams have also struggled to get to the pub, meaning takings are significantly down.

He added: “Delivery vans have trouble getting to us, as do many of our customers now the road has been turned upside down. I know that this is not the only reason that business is down. We are in the middle of a recession and buses no longer travel down this road, but the roadworks have definitely exacerbated the problem. It’s the worst time to hit us with something like this.”

Oldham Council’s Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, Councillor Mark Alcock, said: “This work is part of long-term council plans which will see all of Shaw Road fully resurfaced over the next two years and will be of great benefit to motorists.”