Fresh drive to free winter roads

Andrew Taylor: recommendations to prevent bad weather chaos on moorland road

A distinguished doctor has suggested a priority winter plan to combat the chaos of travellers stranded on Saddleworth’s loneliest road.

Dr Andrew Taylor, a member of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team for 40 years, was speaking after the Chronicle revealed more than 100 drivers were hemmed in by Arctic conditions on the A640 Nont Sarah’s road near Denshaw on Friday.

Dr Taylor, of Grasscroft, was one of the dozen-strong team who spent more than four hours freeing vehicles diverted on to the notorious road following an accident which closed the M62 at Huddersfield.

Dr Taylor says a good winter resilience plan would help to mitigate problems and suggests better information on summit conditions by use of a webcam, liaison between police forces before problems arise to coordinate closure of roads, liaison between local authorities to enable coordinated ploughing and gritting - including routinely crossing each other’s boundaries to keep the road clear.

Dr Taylor also suggested advising drivers on the use of winter tyres, a campaign to make foreign drivers aware of the dangers of the cross-Pennine routes in snow conditions, and more effective road closure signs and gates.

He said: “Even the well-prepared cannot pass over a route totally blocked by jack-knifed lorries and abandoned cars. Rescuing vehicles is made all the more difficult as more drivers ignore the road closed signs.”