Rooley Moor Road traffic survey to go ahead in January

A long-awaited traffic survey on Rooley Moor Road in Rochdale will take place in January 2019, one whole year after it was first requested.

The Highways Service will be looking into the issue of indiscriminate parking during January 2019, as commissioned by Rochdale Township.

The £4,500 survey, requested by Councillor Cecile Biant in January 2018, aims to identify potential locations along the length of the road for new waiting restrictions, as flow of traffic and visibility at junctions and bends is affected, due to ‘indiscriminate parking’.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118807/traffic-survey-for-rooley-moor-road

However, the survey remains a controversial topic with mixed viewpoints about the undertaking of the parking review.

Rooley Moor Road resident, Mick Coats said: “As a resident living on Rooley Moor Road, I believe that restricting waiting and parking will have a detrimental effect on road safety along this route.

“Cars speeding is a problem and clearing the route of parked cars will enable vehicles to speed more easily, and indeed increase their speeds.”

Mr Coats went on to point out that vehicles are not held up for ‘more than a few seconds’ as the distance of the survey takes around 90 seconds to travel and that there have been ‘very few minor accidents’ on Rooley Moor Road, unlike at the two mini roundabouts at the Spotland end of the road.

Mr Coats continued: “This has been pointed out to councillors and the Chief Executive but has been ignored.

“Speeding cars is our biggest problem, as was acknowledged at the last council meeting. Parked cars help to limit car speeds. A survey conducted in 2017 over one week found 600 plus cars travelling at over 40mph.

“Part of the survey should be to ask residents for their views before recommendations are made. A consultation with residents, I think, would enhance the survey before any decisions are taken.”

The proposals will be advertised via notices in the local area and in the local press to the public, who will then have a 21-day period to feed in their views.

Any representations made will then be considered by Rochdale Township Committee who will then decide whether to implement, amend or withdraw the proposals.

Andrew Storey, head of highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We’ll be looking at parked vehicles that are impeding sight lines at junctions and on bends which may cause a safety issue.

“We completed speed surveys on the road last year and the vast majority of motorists travelled in accordance with the speed limit. There is no evidence to suggest that the introduction of waiting restrictions will increase the number of speeding vehicles.

"The restrictions will however improve sightlines for pedestrians and vehicle using Rooley Moor Road, should they be introduced.”