£10m project will plug our potholes

Last night’s full Oldham Council meeting
Oldham’s potholed roads will get a £10million “quality” improvement over the next four years.

The spending is part of £32 million to be invested over the next four years in big capital schemes.

The aim is to improve roads and avoid future costly maintenance and the cost of insurance claims.

Previously, spending was on main local roads whose conditions were classed as worst.

Now the programme will concentrate on other roads deteriorating by 10 per cent a year or more, and where there are high levels of compensation claims.

The work includes resurfacing, new footpaths, and new roadways. The full programme will be decided by a detailed survey, public feedback and a analysis of insurance claims.

From 2010, each ward will be allocated £25,000 annually for local improvements. The six District Partnerships will have to identify and tackle the maintenance priorities for each of their areas.

Councillor John McCann, Cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said: “The highways network has been declining for some time and this is a major undertaking by Oldham Council to prioritise the its improvement.

“This programme will improve safety, reduce costs of compensation claims and significantly improve the local environment — especially in residential areas where a significant step-up will be made on those unclassified roads which have deteriorated sharply in the last four years.

“This will be a top-quality scheme with a view to providing lasting benefits, as opposed to the current reliance on temporary patching.”




The £32 million investment also includes £5 million for work associated with Metrolink in the town centre; £350,000 for gateways and corridors into Oldham; £2 million for key property purchases to support regeneration; and £2.5 million for a Greater Manchester Investment Fund for major renewals; £6 million for the council’s buildings to make better use of space, get more staff in fewer buildings, and created flexible working areas.



Markets at Tommyfield, Shaw and Royton will get £363,000 improvements; £2 million will be spent improving the council’s IT services for residents and businesses; and £250,000 for community safety schemes like alleygating.