Council slated for road gritting let down

Photo: Ian Kimber

Traffic chaos in Smithy Bridge in December

A frustrated Oldham councillor has lashed out at Rochdale council for failing to grit a key highway, causing major disruption to rush-hour traffic after freezing overnight conditions.

Mark Alcock, cabinet member for infrastructure and the environment, launched his salvo after police closed the the A640 Denshaw-Rochdale road.

Councillor Alcock revealed Oldham Council spent £540,000 on the massive gritting and snow plough operation this winter to ensure travellers a safe passage.

Overnight snow driven by biting winds made driving treacherous, but Councillor Alcock said: “My teams have been magnificent. They have done a terrific job and I am really proud of them.

“But I am really upset that, for whatever reasons, there have been problems on roads at the Rochdale border.

“We are going out doing our job — and more — to ensure Oldhamers can get about their business but the police have been forced to closed some key roads because they have not been gritted on the other side of our borders.

“It’s very frustrating — particularly as the forecast is for worse snow to come in the next 24 hours.”

Inspector Danny Milovanovic confirmed the closure of the Rochdale road, adding: “Conditions on the other side of our borders are certainly hazardous.”

Rochdale Councillor Greg Couzens responding said: “I do not recognise the comments from a self-congratulatory Councillor Alcock.

"Our Council has been criticised in the past but their actions during our recent cold weather has been excellent. We have learnt lessons from recent history and I am pleased to say that complaints have been dramatically reduced.

"The snow over the last few days has been far worse than in recent memory.

"Our trucks are gritting and clearing roads as we speak and I think that Councillor Alcock should concentrate on his own patch!”