Fire service reassure residents over Uppermill road closures

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are reassuring worried residents in Uppermill that road closures due to sewer improvement work will not stop fire appliances and other emergency vehicles reaching them if required.

United Utilities has today started work on phase four of a £1 million pound sewer improvement scheme along Church Road in the village. The work is expected to take around three weeks to complete.

A meeting was held recently at Uppermill Civic Hall with residents voicing their concerns over the road closures.

Uppermill resident, Roger Wolfenden, told Saddleworth News: “I made enquiries at a local meeting as to the effects on response times for emergency services having to use  long and narrow diversion routes.

“As my further enquiries got me nowhere I asked our MP Debbie Abrahams to assist which she did.”

Debbie Abrahams MP said she had written to the relevant people in the emergency services and had been reassured that all their staff knew about the diversions that are now in place.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s Borough Manager for Oldham, Kevin Talbot, said: “We have worked closely with our partners ahead of the essential works due to take place and residents can be reassured that in the event of an emergency we will get a fire engine to them.”

GMFRS are asking residents to be extra vigilant around the home and workplace while road closures are in place.

A local business owner told us he was certain to see a loss in trade and expressed concern about delivery wagons not being able to access his premises.

He said: “People are just not going to bother when they see all this chaos, they will just go somewhere else, and who can blame them to be honest.

“I suppose the work has to be done though – I’m just not sure it’s been well thought out.”

Oldham Council has been working with United Utilities and other parties to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum for the community.

The council has agreed to suspend enforcement on village car parks between 4pm and 10am, this say this will be on a “first come first served” basis as car parks have to remain open for general use.

Saddleworth School has also agreed to allow people to use their car parks for 6 weeks except on the weekend of 9 and 10 August.

Two separate traffic diversions will be put in place and clearly signposted. There will be a diversion to access Church Road via Gellfield Lane at Greenfield with the exit will be via Ward Lane into Diggle. There will not be an enforced one way system, although it is hoped motorists will adhere to the routes in the above manner.

Anyone who has any queries about the diversions should contact Oldham Council on 0161 770 3000

If you wish to contact United Utilities please call 0345 672 3723 and quote project number NCA 80029009

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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