Car-friendly Oldham

OLDHAM is in the country’s top 10 most car-friendly towns, according to a new survey.

The table, compiled by Virgin Money Car Insurance, put Oldham in sixth place, based on a number of criteria including parking spaces and charges, vehicle crime and petrol costs.

Greater Manchester Police reported a 25.6 per cent decrease in thefts from cars in Oldham — 1,697 reports from April, 2009 to March, 2010, compared with 1,263 reports from April 2010 to March, 2011.

In the same period, there was a 6.7 per cent drop in the theft of vehicles — 599 compared with 656.

When it comes to car parks, Oldham leads the way in volume, with towns such as Stockport, Norwich and Exeter all proving a wide choice for motorists.

Councillor John McCann said: “It is really wonderful news and reflects well on the hard work we have done in our town to engage youths with council programmes. I think it helps having a clean town too.”

In the survey, Reading replaced London as the least car–friendly town, while St Helens was the most friendly one for the second year in a row.

Councillor McCann added: “The decrease in car crime is particularly good news.

“I’m not surprised St Helen’s won — you don’t know which rugby league prop forward’s car you could be breaking into!”

Grant Bather, of Virgin Money, said: “The cost of petrol has risen by almost 20 per cent over the past year due to VAT and fuel duty increases.

“Combined with the constant issue of parking problems, speeding tickets and vehicle crime, UK drivers can be forgiven for feeling as though they need to steer clear of urban areas.

“Clearly cars shouldn’t rule the road, but motorists’ views certainly need to be taken into consideration and the top 10 towns have successfully done this.”

What do you think? Is it a pleasure or pain to drive around the borough? E-mail editorial@oldham-chronicle.co.uk.