Milnrow Road or Brands Hatch?

John Wilcox, a resident of Milnrow Road and also owner of a butchers shop in Milnrow Road, has complained bitterly to the council about the effect 30 tonne wagons carrying soil to and from Kingsway is having on residents. Mr Wilcox says a convoy of wagons starts speeding up and down Milnrow Road from seven in the morning and shakes the foundations of nearby houses, and that one particular contractor’s drivers, W Maher & Sons of Urmston, were the worst culprits.

He said: “The drivers take no regard of the speed limit and put the safety of other road users at risk by tailgating at speed. It is bad when the wagons are fully laden but even worse when they make the return trip empty because the wagons literally bounce along the road and each grid they hit claps like thunder.”

A highways department officer said it was difficult to stop the problem but ward councillor, Councillor David Clayton, reacted angrily to that suggestion saying that before the work on Kingsway began the potential of these problems was constantly raised and ward councillors and residents were assured by the council that drivers would be strictly policed. He criticised the highways department and called them “lackadaisical” and insisted they should write a formal letter immediately to the compnay and also ask police to monitor Milnrow Road and ensure the drivers of the wagons complied with the law.

Council leader Alan Taylor agreed saying: “This company is a problem and they need sorting. The police need to act and enforce the law.”

A clearly distraught Mr Wilcox added: “It is horrendous, they speed, tailgate and are using their mobile phones while driving. They treat Milnrow Road like Brands Hatch!”

A police spokesman said they would give Milnrow Road extra attention.

Township chairman Councillor William Hobhouse proposed that the council should write to the company formally and this was resolved.