Delph Traffic Survey Shows Support For 20mph Zone
Denshaw Road outside Delph School.
Campaigners in Delph say there’s now “overwhelming” support for a 20mph zone outside the village school. The organisers of a local survey have revealed the results, which they argue demonstrates backing among residents for a pedestrian crossing next to the school, as well as better signs around Delph Bridge.
The questionnaire was put together by members of the Delph Traffic Group, including local parish councillor Ken Hulme. The survey went out to local residents over the summer, and 139 of the estimated 550 sent out were returned. That’s significantly more than the 84 people who took part in Oldham Council’s own public consultation on the subject last year.
The results of the survey show 117 people agreed with the idea of a 20mph zone, with just 10 against. Meanwhile, 116 were in favour of a crossing on Denshaw Road, with 114 supporting improved signs around Delph Bridge.
On two other questions, about whether there should be a one-way system on Church Street to allow better access for emergency vehicles, and concerning the idea of extending the double yellow lines at the bottom of Stoneswood Road, the responses were less clear-cut.
Cllr Hulme said: “Clearly there is overwhelming support for a 20mph zone in the village, better signage at Delph Bridge and a crossing at Delph School. More double yellow lines in the village are not so popular and the idea of a one-way system in Church Street has attracted some fierce opposition from residents on that road.
He added: “The purpose of the questionnaire was to see what measures would attract a broad consensus in the village and clearly on three issues we have this. We didn’t want to go forward on issues that would split and divide the village so more double yellow lines doesn’t seem worth pursuing and a big question mark now hangs over the issue of a one way system in Church Street.”
Cllr Hulme also said he’d been organising a meeting in the coming weeks at which the results of the survey would be discussed, and the group could talk about the “next steps” in their campaign.
The issue of road safety around Delph School in particular has been a thorny one in recent times. Oldham Council decided to construct a “safety zone” outside the school, featuring various traffic calming measures including vehicle-activated warning signs.
According to Cllr John McCann, who holds the Environment and Regeneration portfolio in the Lib Dem/Tory coalition which runs the council, the “overwhelming majority” of people who responded to the council’s consultation supported the idea of a safety zone. Only 15 people called for a 20mph limit, with just two asking for a pedestrian crossing.
However, the building of the safety zone has proved controversial, with freshly painted yellow lines having to be removed and then re-painted later at one stage, because of a paperwork error. The vehicle-activated signs, which the council said would have been up and running in the spring, still aren’t in action, although the council has told Saddleworth News that’s because of delays involving electricity supplier United Utilities.
Cllr McCann has said the council has listened to the views of local residents, and has accused Cllr Hulme of taking part in a “publicity campaign.”
The two men had an exchange of views on the issue in June when Cllr Hulme asked a question about it at an Oldham Council Cabinet meeting. You can read a report of that from Saddleworth News here. Cllr Hulme also raised concerns about the failure to activate the warning signs earlier this month, and you can read about that here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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