Proposed traffic calming measures for Royle Road

Royle Road has seen numerous car accidents in recent years.

Residents are being asked to give their views on proposed traffic calming measures for Royle Road in Sudden.

Castleton Councillors have asked the Impact Partnership, the Council's arms length management organisation in charge of highways, to prepare plans for traffic calming along the busy stretch of road.

The Impact Partnership has now issued details of two possible schemes and residents are being asked which they prefer, if any.

The first scheme proposes Royle Road be made a 20 miles per hour zone with chicanes and speed cushions.

The chicanes would restrict vehicle flow to one direction at a time by narrowing the width of the road. Signs and 'give way' markings would determine who has priority. Speed cushions would see the road raised by 75mm at regular intervals, detering car drivers from excessive speeds. The sides of the cushions are lower so that wide vehicles such as buses, ambulances and HGVs could pass with minimal disruption.

The combination of chicanes and cushions would enable parking bays to be provided on the residential side of Royle Road with 'at any time' waiting restrictions on the opposite side to ensure the chicanes are not blocked.

The second scheme also proposes the road be made a 20mph zone but that only paired speed cushions are used to enforce the speed limit. Traffic would be free to flow in both directions. It is believed that this method will not be as effective as the first scheme, but there would be less 'clutter' in the form of traffic signs.

Local residents have been issued with full details of the two schemes and have until 25 September to give their views. Residents can email their views to engineers@rochdale.gov.uk or can obtain further information by calling the Road Safety Section on 01706 924582.