Council Responds to Denshaw Road Concerns

Cllr John McCann

A senior borough councillor has explained why resurfacing work took place on Denshaw Road in Delph last month. The repairs came as a surprise to locally-based parish councillor Ken Hulme, who queried why work was being done on a stretch of road which is due to be dug up again next year as part of improvements to sewage works.

Cllr Hulme asked about the matter at tonight’s Oldham Council Cabinet meeting. He said “contractors descended unannounced on the village” on 23 November, just six days before United Utilities were to give a presentation to local residents about the future sewage works. He queried whether the council had co-ordinated with United before allowing the resurfacing work, and asked whether local taxpayers would have to pay for it.

Cllr John McCann, a Liberal Democrat who represents Saddleworth South and holds the Environment and Regeneration portfolio, responded by saying the work which was carried out on 23 November was “long standing remedial work.” He explained: “The work was undertaken to replace tarmac which had been laid as a consequence of the Delph Road Bridge Scheme and had failed.”

Cllr McCann continued: “Discussions then followed to ensure the contractor responsible undertook the repair works and was held accountable for replacing the carriageway in question… I have been informed that the works took less than a full working day to complete. No costs were incurred by the council as the original work was deemed to be unsatisfactory and the original contractor paid for the remedial works.”

Denshaw Road outside Delph School.

He added that when United Utilities carry out their sewage improvements next year, they will have to repair the road surfaces to the current standard.

Cllr Hulme also asked about the safety zone which the council has been putting into place outside Delph School, also on Denshaw Road. The council has previously apologised for delays in the work, which has been going on for more than a year.

In particular, Cllr Hulme asked about the double yellow lines which form part of the zone, and which were removed earlier in the year after contractors painted them before the proper traffic order had been passed. Cllr Hulme said: “Ten months later and these double yellow lines have still not been re-laid. Does Oldham Council have any intention of finishing this work?”

Cllr McCann replied that that yellow lines were the “only issue outstanding” with the safety zone, and added that “repeated consultation” with local residents was the reason for the continuing delay. He added that the consultation “has been necessary to find the best solution to ensure the correct operation of the school safety zone whilst trying very hard to resolve the residents’ parking issues.”

In response to a further query from Cllr Hulme about the amount spent on the safety zone, Cllr McCann said he couldn’t put an exact figure on the cost of the work in Delph. But he said that it was one of five similar schemes across the borough approved in 2009/10 at the total cost of £185,000. Cllr McCann insisted that the delays in finishing the safety zone won’t end up costing the council any extra money.

(Editor’s note: I wasn’t able to attend tonight’s meeting, but was sent copies of the questions and answers in advance by both of the councillors concerned)

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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