Town-centre diversions a “hellish merry-go-round”, says businesses

BRASSED-OFF town centre businesses say 60 per cent of their customers find it a nightmare to get to Yorkshire Street.

Traders claim Oldham Council has done nothing productive to help them while Metrolink is under construction.

Eight outlets have ambushed the council with a survey in which customers were asked to rate the degree of difficulty in getting to their shops - on a scale ranging from “easy” to “nightmare”.

Only 3.2 per cent of 253 people polled said they felt it was easy to find Yorkshire Street — compared with nearly 85 per cent who said it was very difficult or a nightmare.

The companies say they have pleaded with the council to stop the “hellish merry-go-round that is the town-centre diversions” by putting up yellow road signs clearly directing people to Yorkshire Street.

Alan Hopkinson, owner of The Fire Centre, said: “We can’t find a single sign in the town for Yorkshire Street - except for useless illegible little green signs positioned anywhere but where needed.

“They are too low down and not clear enough to motorists - and there’s too much writing on them. You have negotiated the junction before you see the signs.”

Council bosses say while there are already around 30 yellow, green and purple signs directing people from all approaches into the town centre, they will be adding two more at Beever Street and Waterloo Street.

A spokesman said: “The council and Transport for Greater Manchester representatives regularly check the signs and we’ve identified the need for two extra signs - including one urging residents to turn right on to Yorkshire Street.”