Road to recovery

RUINED . . . Councillors Philip Rogers (left) and Jack Hulme inspect the damaged verges

A series of traffic calming measures including flashing speed signs and bollards have been welcomed as part of work to create a school safety zone.

The scheme, along Burnley Lane and Chadderton Hall Road, follows pleas from concerned parents of children at North Chadderton, Chadderton Hall and St Matthew’s schools.

Grass verges in Chadderton Hall Road, destroyed by indiscriminate parking, will also be re-instated as part of the new-look.

Work, costing £56,000 and funded by Oldham Council, is expected to last two weeks. Chadderton North councillors Jack Hulme and Len Quinn have given £2,200 from their allowances to fund bollards adjacent to North Chadderton School.

Councillor Hulme welcomed the move and said it would directly benefit 1,200 pupils.

He added: “We have had a number of accidents over the years due to the speed and volume of traffic.

“We have worked hard to persuade the council of the need for these measures and the benefits the scheme will bring to children attending all three schools.

“Our children’s safety must always be our first and over-riding priority.

“I would once again appeal to parents to, wherever possible, walk with their children to school and avoid the bad traffic congestion in this area.”

Councillor Quinn said: “We are delighted that this scheme has finally come into being.

“It marks the end of two years of intensive lobbying by all three North Chadderton councillors.”