Council's roundabout faux pas

The roadworks caused months of traffic chaos when Rochdale's busiest roundabout was filled in and turned to traffic lights. The lights at the Sudden junction were switched on months ago, but it seems that the Council's planning department refuses to accept that anything has changed.

The planning department was behind the change from roundabout to lights at Tesco, at great expense and causing lengthy traffic jams at peak times while the work took place, but a recent letter from the planning department revealed that the non-existent roundabout is still being used to direct people to meetings.

The letter from Paul Simpson, strategic planning manager at the council, informed recipients of a public meeting/stakeholder event on a Core Strategy 'Issues and Options' Report, which will take place next Wednesday (22 October) at Touchstones.

The letter gave directions to Touchstones from the M62, informing drivers: "At the end of the A627 M turn left on to the A664. At the first roundabout turn right taking the third exit to join the A58."

Of course, the directions should tell drivers to turn right out of Edinburgh Way (A664) at the traffic lights and onto Manchester Road (A58).

The Council has apologised for the faux pas.

Communications Manager, Kate Lindley said: "The reference to the roundabout is an oversight on our part. I apologise for any confusion this might have caused."