Cut in Union Street parking

Metrolink to cause more traffic chaos
DRIVERS will have to prepare for a huge shake-up in Oldham town- centre parking as the Metrolink rolls in.

Oldham Council’s highways department is proposing an abundance of changes, mainly around Union Street, where the new trams will eventually run through.

The council admit parking spaces will be lost and “inevitable disruption” will be caused as the Metrolink is being constructed, but the impact will be “mitigated”.

Just under 30 Traffic Regulation Orders (TRos) removing parking places and waiting restrictions have been proposed.

Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We acknowledge there will, overall, still be some loss of this provision and we’re already working to provide compensatory spaces on adjacent side streets.

“In the longer-term, we’re also undertaking a comprehensive review of all our parking provision across the town centre for the Metrolink era.”

A town-centre section of the Metrolink will take passengers along Union Street from spring 2014.

A temporary line from Manchester Victoria to Oldham Mumps, which bypasses the town centre, is set to open by March, 2012.

The changes on Union Street are also in preparation for the installation of the Oldham Central stop, outside Sainsbury’s on Union Street.

A date has not be finalised for the closure of the section, which will be exclusively accessed by pedestrians and trams.

Cllr Stretton added: “Installing a new tram line is a massive engineering project and we knew it would inevitably mean an unavoidable series of closures to parts of Union Street.

“The TROs are there to gradually introduce the long-term changes that are required to Union Street’s future layout.

“Where possible, for example, we strive to have only partial (one-way) road closures rather than a total shutdown of a particular street, and to also reschedule works where it can possibly ease disruption and congestion.”

Officers from Oldham Council and Transport for Greater Manchester revealed an extensive consultation with town centre businesses is currently taking place.

Members of the public are being urged to have their say on the traffic regulation orders during the consultation process, which runs until August 3.

You can see the proposals online at www.tfgm.com/metrolink/oldhamTRO/


Bosses refute delays claim
METROLINK bosses are “confident” delays are not going to happen for the opening of the line to Derker, Shaw and Rochdale.

Councillor Richard Knowles warned Transport for Greater Manchester committee members that an application for Transport and Works Act consent for the line to cross Oldham Mumps roundabout could push the opening date back.

In response to the story the Chronicle published last Wednesday over the consultation, Transport for Greater Manchester state they need to “update legal powers” at the section of the line.

A Transport for Greater Manchester spokeswoman said: “We are confident we have sufficient time to secure the updated powers before the part of the line on to Derker, Shaw and Rochdale opens.”