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Rage over roadworks

Sam Kirby
17/ 4/2008

RAGING residents clashed with council members in a heated debate over controversial plans to close a busy street for structural maintenance.

Speaking at the Whitefield and Unsworth Local Area Partnership, disgruntled residents voiced dismay over the lack of available information about the project, in Croft Lane, Unsworth, and the motivations behind the work.

There were also fears raised on the impact it would have on local business.

For 16 weeks, from July 1, Croft Lane will be closed between Hollins Lane and Croft Lane Bridge.

Bury Council insists the work is essential because the road ‘has exceeded its serviceable life and is in need of replacement’.

Pub landlord Tony Hooley, who has run the Roach Bank Inn, in Croft Lane, with his wife Gillian for two years, said: "I think their approach is all wrong, they’ve not even consulted us.

"The roadworks are going to create a six-mile detour to my pub, and realistically who’s going to drive six miles for a pint or a bite to eat.

"I rely on about 50 per cent passing trade.

"If I go bankrupt or suffer severe loss of earnings 14 members of my staff could potentially lose their jobs.

"I really don’t think they understand or realise the magnitude of this, the residents are so annoyed, we’re not just going to sit back and take it."

Residents also claim the extent of the work is unnecessary and aimed at accommodating the numerous HGVs that use the road as a shortcut.

However, highways officer Peter Stokes denied this.

He said: "That isn’t the case, the road currently fails on every performance indicator and could soon become unsafe.

"We have a duty to maintain the road regardless of the weight issues and the structural maintenance we have to carry out is not intrinsically linked to any weight restrictions."

Mr Stokes added that complaints about the HGVs were one of the reasons for the maintenance.

He said: "We’ve had a lot of complaints from residents regarding vibrations they feel in their homes, which comes partly from the HGVs but also from the deteriorating state of the road and our actions are in part a response to these complaints."

Despite this, the residents and traders are now investigating a course of legal action against the council to pursue compensation for loss of earnings and inconvenience.

But Peter Stokes was quick to quash any talk of compensation.

He added: "We have a duty to maintain the highways and the highways act stipulates we do not have to compensate for loss of earnings.

"If we had to pay compensation every time we closed a road no maintenance would ever get done."

However, the council are investigating placing possible weight restrictions on the road, as part of a review of HGV movements across the borough.

- Melton Drive will be temporarily opened to allow access from Hollins Lane and a temporary access road will be constructed in White Brow to allow access to Alnwick Drive Estate via Blenheim Close.