The £1m project that could transform a “scary” street in Oldham

A street in Oldham could soon see an almost £1m makeover to make it safer and ‘more enjoyable’ for cyclists and pedestrians.

A plan has been put forward for St Mary’s Way in the town centre to add safer cycle tracks, upgraded bus stops and more greenery. 

The changes are supposed to improve access to the town centre on the street that has been described as ‘scary’ by a cycling commuter.

Councillor Arooj Shah said the project, named ‘Streets for All’, ‘is another step’ in a commitment to transforming the town centre. 

The Oldham council boss said: “It will better connect local neighbourhoods with the town centre, benefiting residents, helping attract visitors, and supporting local businesses.

“We are working hard to create a better Oldham for everyone who lives, works, and visits.

"The St Mary’s Way ‘Streets for All’ project is a major contributor to the ongoing regeneration of our town centre.” 

The road is currently a two-lane track in some parts.

Under the new plans, the road would be reduced to a single lane to make way for a two-lane cycle path, a wide pavement for pedestrians and landscaping. 

By making it safer to travel without a car, councillors hope to lower carbon emissions and make Oldham more sustainable.

The plan is also supposed to create ‘safe routes for young people’ on the way to the new Eton Star Oldham Sixth Form college due to be built on the Tommyfield outdoor market next year. 

The works will be funded through grants from the Department for Transport. Oldham Council was awarded £4.5m of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement for 2024/25. 

Parts of the initial planning have already been funded through a £900k grant awarded last year.

Over £600k has paid for officer time to design, consult and communicate the plans, with the remainder spent on traffic modelling, signal and landscaping designs, topographical surveys, and site investigations. 

The plans have been under consultation for several weeks and locals can still have their say on the council website.

A number of residents have also expressed their views online, with one commuter saying: “This looks like a good scheme, St Mary’s Way is scary to cycle along and motorists really should be using Oldham Way instead of this road.” 

But others have expressed concerns about how the new plans will affect local traffic levels.

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