Stalemate at problem junction continues

It is one of the Saddleworth community’s most frustrating road junctions.

And, after years of discussions, suggestions and plans, highway experts admit there is still no answer to the problems on the A62 Huddersfield Road at Scouthead.

The issues surround the road’s link to Lower Turf Lane and plans to improve safety and operational difficulties.

And today a council spokesman admitted: “Our Highways and Traffic team have been considering the scheme for a number of years now.

"Several consultations with the local residents and community groups have taken place, together with the affected ward councillors. 

"And following feedback with how the scheme impacts the wider highways network, we are continuing to look at and develop options to satisfy both the community concerns and the traffic safety concerns posed at Lower Turf Lane, which will include the Heywood Lane junction.”

Adding: “Discussions are ongoing."

Cllr Luke Lancaster had reported to a community group that Oldham Council would not be going ahead with proposed changes to traffic flow on Lower Turf Lane.  

However, the Council had responded to concerns expressed by the Group about the adverse impact on Heywood Lane.

A council officer has said they will shelve the proposals for now, and will look again at the Lower Turf Lane/Huddersfield Road junction together with Heywood Lane, but no timescale was given.

Said a group spokesperson: “This is a great example of the influence we can bring to bear when we work with our councillors and make the appropriate representations.”

In November last year, group members met Oldham Council’s principal highways engineer to discuss a proposed traffic management order at the junction.

One idea was a draft order which suggested the top of Lower Turf Lane is one way only in a downward direction from A62 Huddersfield Road.

The proposal was discussed at the Group’s meeting, and afterwards Robert Cragg, chair, wrote to the Council saying it was the unanimous view of the meeting the extra traffic the proposed change would route down Heywood Lane was unacceptable, detrimental and considerably outweighed any advantage to be gained at the Lower Turf Lane junction.

The meeting’s view was it would be better to leave things as they are with the exception it supported no left turn at the junction for traffic coming up Lower Turf Lane, and no right turn for traffic turning into Lower Turf Lane from Huddersfield Road.

Local resident and former chair of Saddleworth Parish Council, Rob Knotts, said: “The junction has been a cause for concern for many years.

"Joining the A62 presents viewing difficulties.

“The most important thing a driver needs when accessing a side road onto a main road is to be able to enter the main road safely by being able to see what is coming from both directions.

“If Lower Turf Lane was being developed as a new artery onto the A62 there should be visibility splay (field of vision) with a clear view of 70m in both directions.

"That situation does not prevail in the current arrangement.”

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