Call for action at danger blackspot

Operation clean-up at Delph

Public-spirited teenagers have been praised by villagers for their fast action at a notorious accident blackspot.

The dynamic duo moved in after a lorry demolished a wall surrounding the entrance to Delph Library and the Millgate Centre sending large stones, rubble and soil into the roadway.

The boys cleared the debris, piled up the stones and found a hazard cone to warn oncoming traffic of the problem.

Villager Sandra Povah, who lives on Grains Road near the crash scene, praised the boys for their caring action.

She said: “I heard a loud bang which made the house tremble and looked out to see a section of wall had been demolished.

“Suddenly, a pair of young lads appeared from nowhere with a sweeping brush. Within minutes, they had tidied up the whole scene — even finding a traffic cone to act as a warning for road users.

“The boys said they were very proud of Delph and didn’t want to see the village messed up like this. Their actions and the prompt and responsible way in which they acted, are to be highly commended.”

Parish councillor Keith Begley, Delph resident and vice-chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council, said: “The junction outside the library is notorious. The wall, which also contains a floral display, has been demolished numerous times in recent years by lorries which have sideswiped it trying to negotiate the sharp turns.

“The junction itself is known locally as ‘Devil’s Elbow’ because of the severity of the bends.

“I am recommending to Oldham Council that the highways team look carefully at the site and consider re-aligning the wall before it is rebuilt to cause fewer problems.”