Gridlock: bite the bullet

Oldham Council meeting
DELAYS, congestion and gridlock across the borough came under scrutiny by councillors.


Lib-Dem councillors raised concerns that a review of the £10 million road investment scheme has caused delays to works being started.

This they argue has led to the loss of vital summer months for resurfacing and a catalogue of schemes causing hold-ups and diversions.

But Labour councillors hit back, with leader Jim McMahon arguing that money had been “siphoned off” to Saddleworth and Shaw under the Lib-Dem administration and that a review was needed to distribute the cash evenly.

Lib-Dem councillor John McCann called for control to be taken of the roads to avoid multiple schemes and utility company work being carried out at the same time, while Councillor Howard Sykes argued that motorists were having to endure hour-long trips to travel a matter of miles.

Speaking about Metrolink related disruption Labour councillor Bernard Judge said: “Councillor Sykes knew there would be long periods of disruption and road closures when sewers, water mains, electric cables, gas pipes and communication cables needed to be moved and diverted.

“Now he appears to be attacking the scheme to save his own political skin.”

Councillor McMahon said co-ordination was the key, but said road repairs were being managed correctly.