Sat-nav shortcut to traffic chaos

Joyce Mather outside her home in Den Lane

AN Uppermill couple are appealing to motorists to think twice before following their sat-nav along narrow Saddleworth roads.

They have been sending drivers on a short-cut along Ladcastle Road, Mow Halls Lane and Den Lane to lop around 800yd off their journey. The main road route linking Delph and Uppermill is along Dobcross New Road and High Street.

Former Oldham councillor Brian Mather and his wife, Joyce, live at Mytholme, on Den Lane, and they and their neighbours are plagued by the problem.

Mr Mather said: “There are people coming down in high vans that can’t fit under the bridge, despite a sign at the end of the road warning them of the height limit.

“The roads were not salted during the bad weather, and instead of sticking to the main roads drivers are using the lanes and getting into a right pickle.

“One woman was here two hours — the road was like a sheet of glass, and she couldn’t move her car anywhere.”

The Mather’s are facing a £1,500 bill for repairs to their garden wall caused by a reversing car trying to get out of trouble, and he said: “We have long since got fed up of it.
“We don’t even bring our own car round when the roads are bad, we leave it at Brownhill visitor centre where we can get straight out on to the main road.

“Fair enough to use the lanes in summer, but when it’s bad weather people should use their common sense and stick to the main roads,” he added.