Businesses hit out at road-safety plan

Business owners (from left) Chris Webb, Kwok Wong, from Ree Ming chippy, and Janine Lancashire, from SweetPeas florist, do not want to see traffic islands outside their businesses

Traffic islands threat to custom

ROYTON businesses are livid over a “hare-brained scheme” to put traffic islands in Oldham Road.

The Unity Partnership’s local safety scheme along the A671 aims to improve visibility at the St Phillips Drive, Seville Street and Campania Street junctions.

It is proposed to place pedestrian islands between the junctions with Sheepfoot Lane and St Anne’s Avenue and restrict right turns into Campania Street.

It is hoped the scheme will reduce accidents on the road, having recorded 43 casualties in 30 accidents over the last four years.

A consultation event last Thursday saw many people from Campania and Crossley streets air their views.

Chris Webb, who owns The Oldham Road Dental Studio, said the “hare-brained scheme” would jeopardise his and other business on the road.

He said: “I’ve been here for 10 years and I’ve only seen one accident — on Monday.

“People who come to my practise in taxis and wheelchairs won’t be able to stop outside.Anyone who wants to visit the shops will have to park on the streets behind, which we’ve already had trouble over.”

Janine Lancashire, proprietor at Sweetpeas Florist, said the traffic islands would cause chaos when delivery vans needed to stop at her shop.

She said: “There’s a pelican crossing further up so I don’t see why they want to put this here. It could be put further down where it isn’t right outside our businesses.

“Making a no right turn into Campania Street is going to create a rat-run round the back where children play. I would have thought that would cause more accidents.”

Eutopia salon owner Donna Brierley said usually two customers can park outside her shop, but the proposals mean they won’t be able to as the islands will be directly outside.

A Unity Partnership spokesman said the proposed provision of right-turn lanes and pedestrian refuges could play a significant role in reducing accidents as similar schemes have been effective in other parts of the borough.

He said: “A small amount of 24-hour waiting will also be introduced to replace short lengths of the existing limited single yellow lines.

“We are currently in a three-week consultation period and after this all views submitted by the public will be taken into account alongside those of the emergency services, Transport for Greater Manchester and ward councillors.

“We take the concerns of residents and businesses very seriously and will accommodate them wherever possible. These will be balanced against the scheme’s potential benefits when final recommendations are made.”

Residents have until Friday to make comments about the scheme to Unity Partnership.