Village goes to war on speeders

Saddleworth's most isolated village is waging war on speeding traffic in a bid to protect its children.

After meeting Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Denshaw residents are now planning a bigger, public meeting in the village hall to launch their traffic campaign.

Their focus is centred on speeding vehicles which converge on the village and are threatening the safety of local primary school pupils.

The MP offered her support and urged villagers to organise a petition and the school to prepare a traffic plan.

Five key 'A' roads meet at the centre of the village. The A672 to Ripponden also intersects with the M62; A672 to Oldham; A640 to Newhey; A640 to Outlane, Huddersfield, and the A6052 Denshaw-Uppermill.

The A640 and A672 descend from a height of 1100 and 1500 feet to the village crossroads, with long steep gradients on the approach.

The fifth road, the A6052, has a steep descent from the crossroads towards Delph.

Currently, the village's population is 1,000 but the primary school is expanding rapidly.

Now former OMBC and Saddleworth parish councillor, Alan Roughley, chair of the village community Association, says: "We need to build support to make things happen.

"It's the top item on our DCA meeting agenda on Thursday in the village hall but we are planning a much bigger meeting later."

And he claimed: "It is actually more dangerous to cross the road in Denshaw and more likely to be knocked down, than it is in Oldham.

"Four years ago, Oldham Council commissioned a study of the A672 and A640 roads and a comprehensive upgrading of the signage on both these roads was carried out.

"Speed restrictions are also in place," he said. "There is 50mph at the borough boundary reducing to 40mph and 30mph as vehicles approach the village.

"These measures have proved completely ineffective. Average speeds continue to increase and there have been several road deaths in and around the village since that time.

"It seems to have become the custom to place flowers at the spot where a fatal accident has occurred. Three of the five roads entering the village are presently decorated this way."

Mr Roughley stressed excessive traffic speeds can only be reduced by having speed cameras, frequent police activity -- speed cushions, chicanes, roundabouts or traffic lights.

The meeting of Denshaw Community Association takes place at 7.30pm tomorrow (12) at Denshaw Village Hall.