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TRAFFIC troubles... Gary Smith, who wants a traffic engineer to resign.
Business chief declares war over A58 delays
Michael Byrne12/ 5/2006
ROCHDALE business chief John Kay has 'declared war' over traffic hold ups on the main Rochdale-Littleborough road.
Mr Kay claims businesses have told him they are losing money because of the traffic problems.
He took the battle to the Rochdale Borough Transport Partnership meeting on Thursday evening, where he put his complaints to council transport bosses.
Residents have complained bitterly for years about traffic delays along the A58 from Littleborough.
That anger has risen to fever pitch over the new pedestrian island being put in at the junction with Union Road.
One resident has gone so far as to call for the resignation of highways engineer Andrew Jackman, who was heavily involved in the project.
Work on altering the island to restore two lanes of traffic for vehicles heading towards Littleborough is expected to finish in about a week.
Mr Kay, president of the Rochdale Chamber Council, said: "I'm declaring war on the council and anyone who is responsible for works causing these delays on the A58.
"I've been complaining for many years about gridlock on the roads and suffered because I thought the council knew what it was doing. Now I'm worried it has got this wrong.
"This new island is causing problems, but so are all the little crossing refuges that have been installed at places such as Braddocks Close.
"The traffic calming lobby wants vehicles slowed down but roads are inherently dangerous and it's absolutely ludicrous that traffic is being slowed down so much. Perhaps some people want traffic to stop altogether."
Mr Kay said that the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce transport sub-committee was asking members what places they thought needed improving from a transport point of view.
Although the results were still being collated he said the A58 had been mentioned as a problem area.
He said: "I'm on a lot of committees with council officers and I'm not withdrawing support from those, but the gloves are definitely off.
"People are saying it is affecting their business. The only thing that has been done right is that the word 'slow' has been painted in big letters on the A58 near the Spring Mill Tavern, because the road is very slow."
Motorist Gary Smith, of Birch Road, Wardle, said: "The pedestrian island has become known as Jackman's Folly because it has caused so many problems and was never needed in the first place. I think he should resign."
A council spokesman declined to comment on Mr Smith's comments about Mr Jackman.
He said: "Changes on the A58 will have a positive effect on improving road safety and are expected to ease congestion."
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13/05/2006 at 10:28
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