Businesses call for action at lorry-crush junction

John Michael . . . speeding motorists are a problem

BUSINESSES claim that Oldham Council has ignored their safety fears about a busy junction where a toddler was crushed by a lorry.

And they say that the problem has got worse since the new Tesco Extra superstore — the North-West’s largest — opened in Huddersfield Road last year.

Two-year-old Thomas Wilshaw remains in a critical condition after suffering head injuries in Friday’s accident close to the junction of Ripponden Road. The cause is being investigated.

It follows an incident in 2006 when a 14-month-old boy in a buggy was hit by a car. He miraculously escaped without any broken bones.

John Michael, who owns a hair salon at the junction, said that drivers regularly speed and go through the red lights at the pedestrian crossing there.

He is calling for speed and traffic light cameras, as well as CCTV to capture any accidents, and added: “It will act as a deterrent.

“I am not saying it is going to stop the accidents completely, but it might save somebody’s life.

“I have lived here for 20 years and I have seen umpteen accidents. When another baby was hit we asked Oldham Council to do something about this dangerous junction.

“It is the way the road has been set up, but it has got considerably worse since the new Tesco store opened.

“We have got the same traffic lights, we have got no safety measurers and we have got double the flow of traffic.”

Businesses say they also told council officers about their concerns when Tesco was being planned.

Another trader, who did not want to be named, is worried that drivers coming form Oldham who miss the Tesco opening can only turn right at Holt Street.

They have to cross three lanes of traffic, with no filter, and she added: “We have voiced our concerns over and over again. They just do not take any notice.”

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said his thoughts were with Thomas Wilshaw and his family.

He added: “An investigation is being conducted into what happened and it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on the circumstances.

“The safety of pedestrians and motorists is always our top priority, and this particular junction does not appear to be an accident hotspot. Of 11 recorded incidents there over the past three years, only one has involved a pedestrian.

“If it does transpire that the road junction and layout in any way contributed to this accident then our officers will, of course, re-examine the layout and consult further, if appropriate.”