Brook Street access fears over Metrolink

Oldham Planning Committee

FULL planning permission has been granted for a revised alignment of the Metrolink phases, new tram stop, highway works, revised bus interchange and a park and ride system.

Applicant Transport for Greater Manchester considers the plans now have potential to create a visually attractive gateway to the town centre, help generate public transport use and bring regeneration benefits to Oldham centre.

But concerns were raised that the creation of a junction controlled by traffic lights would prevent traffic entering town from the east via the A62 accessing Brook Street.

Any vehicles requiring that access would be forced to go down Oldham Way to Ashton Road roundabout and slip road, 10 sets of traffic lights, two crossings of the Metrolink track and 11 pedestrian crossings.

Susan Streer of Williamsons in Brook Street – which has been running since 1920 – was concerned about how the new Metrolink plans would impact on her family’s business.

She said: “We are all so concerned about the regeneration of the Brook Street area. Not providing a right turn to the site with good visibility, cuts down opportunity for people to access our premises.”

Objectors also claimed that removing Mumps roundabout and replacing with a traffic controlled junction would prevent traffic from the east travelling along Bottom O’ The Moor accessing Brook Street, causing congestion and endangering highway safety.

But Alan Cayton from GMPTE, said he had listened to the objections and said that of 4,800 cars using the junction in peak hour, only 25 use Brook Street when approaching from the east.

He said plans had now been revised so that the lane from Lees Road northwards, proposed previously to only be used by buses, would be adjusted so that all vehicles could use it to turn right into Bottom O’ The Moor. Vehicles could then turn left into Brook Street.

A new stop will be sited adjacent to the former B&Q rather than on Bell Street as previously approved, with the park and ride occupying the B&Q site.

Planning officer Don Wagstaff said: “It has great cycling and pedestrian crossings. I think the whole thing will clean up what’s been a terribly bitty area, but there is scope for park and ride and lots of public space that we are now working on, which we hope will bring big benefits.”