New Chadderton road to be named after suffrage pioneer

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8 Oldham Council has announced that a major new road will be named after a pioneering Suffragist.

Once complete, Lydia Becker Way will provide access to the £100 million regeneration scheme at Broadway Green - more than 600,000 sq ft of employment space and up to 500 new homes.

The new link road is named to honour the memory and work of Lydia whose family lived in Foxdenton Hall, off Foxdenton Lane.

A scientist and early leader of the British suffrage movement, Lydia Becker is remembered for founding and publishing the Women’s Suffrage Journal between 1870 and 1890.

She became secretary of the Central Society for Women’s Suffrage in 1881.

Councillor Sean Fielding, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “We are delighted to be able to name this new road in honour of Lydia Becker who did so much in the fight for equality.

“There are strong links with the women’s suffrage movement here in Oldham and it’s important that we remember this, especially in the run up to International Women’s Day.” 

The new link road is a major construction project and includes the decommissioning of Crossley Bridge, the old railway bridge located north west of the San Rocco Restaurant, and the construction of a new signalised junction on Broadway.

During the construction there will be unavoidable disruption and we have worked with residents and put measures in place.

Local ward councillors are also working to ensure the impact on residents and road users is kept to a minimum.

Work is progressing well at Broadway Green - the joint venture between Oldham Council and Foxdenton LLP – and it will bring benefits in terms of employment, housing and the local economy.

It’s estimated the scheme will create 2,000 new jobs and an estimated £4.6 million annual boost to the local retail economy from resident spending.

Work on the final section of Lydia Becker Way started earlier this year and is expected to last until the end of 2020.

Councillor Fielding added: “When complete Lydia Becker Way will actually take some of the traffic away from Broadway which will benefit users and residents.

“Broadway Green is a strategic location near the M60 and M62 and once this important development is completed it will bring many benefits, including new homes and jobs.”

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.