Traffic calming measures rejected by Oldham Council

An application for traffic calming measures described as ‘a kick in the teeth to local residents’ has been rejected by Oldham council.

The scheme would have seen speed cushions; a narrowed lane; and a raised junction introduced on Haven Lane, Moorside, as part of a housing development. 

The 23 homes being constructed by developers Cube were approved in 2016 on condition of traffic calming measures were put in place due to a ‘dangerous’ road layout at its entrance.

While many residents want safety measures to be put in place, they aren’t happy with the current plans. 

Ward councillor Josh Charters told the planning committee: “People are sick of having things done to them without them having any say. 

"Residents who have gotten in touch with me were really concerned about how these plans came from nowhere.

"They were concerned about parking and noise and access to the roads.”

The plans were drawn up by Oldham council’s Highways Department and the developers.

The developers also wanted permission to sell or rent out 15 of the homes before the completion of the safety measures, changing the original conditions which banned any homes from being occupied until the traffic measures were in place. 

Mr Leith, who represented Cube, argued that would ‘avoid having too many completed homes’ while the roads were being worked on, potentially ‘attracting anti-social behaviour’. 

But Wendy Cash, who lives right next to the development plot, told the LDRS the roads were already ‘a nightmare’. 

She said: “Haven Lane is so tight and there are a lot of terraced houses without drives, so they have to park on the street. 

“Until they [put safety measures in], the access is unsafe.

"So any cars coming out of there will be dangerous.

"It needs to work for everyone.” 

Her partner Trevor, who represented the Moorside East Residents Association at the planning meeting, said he’d gathered 67 signatures from surrounding households who opposed the current scheme.

The application also received 16 objections online, with some complaining that while ‘Haven Lane is an accident waiting to happen’, the current designs were ‘completely inappropriate and over the top’. 

The application was rejected on account of the parking issues it would cause residents.

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