Roadwork victims get new routes

ALTERNATIVE bus routes have been drawn up to ensure villagers in Delph are not isolated by lengthy road closures this summer.

Proposed route changes will be necessary after water company United Utilities announced it was to close Denshaw Road on three separate occasions between April and September.

New routes have now been devised after talks between councillors Alan Roughley, Derek Heffernan, Mike Buckley and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

Changes during the closures would see the 82, X84 and the 353 finish at Palin Wood Road and Delph Lane.

Meanwhile the 354, which currently runs through the village and on to Denshaw, would omit Palin Wood Road and travel from the village centre up Grains Road and then to Denshaw via the A627.

It is hoped a half-hour shuttle service will service the stretch from Carrcote to Delph village.

Although the closures are mainly during periods when schools are closed, three days will be affected with parents advised to make alternative arrangements to link villages with primary and secondary schools in Oldham and Saddleworth.

United Utilities have been asked to foot the bill for any costs that arise from the disruption.