Shaw improvements a local priority

AN eight-week scheme has started in Shaw town centre as part of a massive £10 million investment by Oldham Council to improve the road network.

Contractors have started repairing footpaths on Westway and carrying out general resurfacing works on the road.

Part of Grains Road, near Laneside Avenue, will also be resurfaced and the carriageway on Victoria Street is being widened to stop traffic driving over the verges.

Street-scape works are being carried out on Gordon Street and neighbouring roads. These include installing new larger planter beds, carriageway resurfacing, and planting new trees.

The works cost around £200,000 and are part funded by Section 106 money, plus cash from the new £10 million Capital Investment Fund which has been set aside to make substantial improvements to local roads over the next four years.

The work in Shaw is also typical of a locally-focussed approach which encourages members of the public to identify priority schemes.

The six District Partnerships have been tasked with identifying the local highways concerns and each ward within the borough has been allocated £25,000 annually to spend on this purpose until 2014.