Welcome

Report by the Medlock Road Traffic Problems sub-committee.

Update; 1/4/04.
Following our meeting with OMBC on 13/10/03 the promised response from them by early December was not received.  Both Councillor Heyes and the sub-committee wrote to OMBC asking for some feedback.  It took OMBC many weeks to respond but eventually we were invited to a meeting at OMBC on 22nd March when we met by Tony Noblett, who is a recently appointed Assistant Director in charge of, amongst other things, traffic.  T.N. stated that he was not aware of what had been discussed beforehand and that he was starting with a "clean sheet".  Although we were exasperated at the many wasted weeks we re-iterated the problems and agreed to meet in Woodhouses within days to show him the problems first hand.  Committee members and Councillor Jim McMahon duly met on with T.N. on 1st April and made a "tour" of Failsworth Road, Ashton Road and Medlock Road.  Certainly T.N. feels that something must be done and his attitude appears to be that some radical thinking is neccessary (as opposed to simply installing more traffic calming humps - which we heard OMBC were considering might be "the answer").  T.N. said he would revert within a few weeks with some ideas and confirmed that such ideas would be open to discussion with us.
We are fairly confident that OMBC will come up with some ideas that will go some way to relieving the present appalling situation. Whether such suggestions will go anything like far enough far enough remains to be seen (we are still suggesting to make Medlock Road a cul-de-sac)  - and then there is the question of OMBC finding the money to finance any improvements, but that is another matter."    

Presentation document to Woodhouses Village Association General Committee.

At the A.G.M. on 13th May 2003 the W.V.A. agreed that a sub-committee should be formed to cover the above subject.  The terms of reference were to identify the problems, considers ways and means that might overcome such problems and report to the General Committee for action.

Two sub-committee meetings were been held (10/6/03 and 24/6/03). 

The following notes cover the main points discussed and unanimously agreed by the sub-committee members.

Background to the problem

Medlock Road lies within the Woodhouses conservation area.  Other than the residents, it hosts  walkers, joggers, ramblers and horse riders (there are two stables adjoining Medlock Road and many public footpaths leading off it).  It also hosts such a massive number of vehicles each day that most residents feel it has become a “rat run”, is totally abused and that something must be done before the character of Woodhouses is totally destroyed by the current and increasing number, weight and speed of vehicles.

Medlock Road has many narrow footpaths and no footpath at all for almost a quarter mile from the Golf Club through Bottom Woodhouses.  On this stretch, for some obscure reason, the speed limit is 30mph as opposed to the 20mph that OMBC introduced along the major length of Medlock Road in 2001.  However, the vast majority of drivers do not observe the 20mph speed limit and, as there is no enforcement by any authority, the speed limits are almost entirely academic.

The road narrows considerably between the Golf Club , Bottom Woodhouses and Bunkers Hill.  Along this stretch even two normal width cars often have difficulty in negotiating  the bends and passing each other.  On the major part of the road (Failsworth Road. to the Golf Club) on-road parking is the norm.  Numerous approaches have been made by individuals to OMBC on the various difficulties created by the traffic but, OMBC’s general attitude seems to be that as there is as yet no record of anybody being seriously injured or killed on Medlock Road as a result of the traffic they are not prepared to take any further action.

In 2001 OMBC did build throttles at the Failsworth Road end of the village and near to the Cricket Club; opinion of these features is mixed.  Three traffic calming humps were also installed on Medlock Road plus one at the throttle.  Residents living adjacent to these appear to be unanimous in their condemnation. 

OMBC have also monitored the vehicle flow on three occasions in recent years and a brief summary of these is:

October 1996

a)         Average peak hour two way flow                                  300

b)         Average weekday 12 hour flow (7am to 7pm)               2,515

c)         Number of HGV’s per 12 hour flow                                33

d)         85th percentile speed of traffic                                   37.0/35.0

1999 (month unknown)

a)                                           370

b)                                           2164(?)

c)                                            8

d)                                           33.5/34.0 

June 2002

a)                                           502     

b)                                           not published

c)                                           not published

d)                                           23.5

(The 85th percentile is the speed at which 85 percent of the vehicles measured travel at or below).

M60 Link opened October 2000.

It is not known at which point on Medlock Road the monitoring was conducted in 1996 and 1999.  In 2002 it was at a midway point between Hartshead Crescent and Ashbridge Road.

Government projections indicate a potential 30% increase in traffic volume by 2010.

According to Thomas Broadbent & Co. (agents acting for some M60 compensation claimants) the M60 had not yet reached its full potential (so, presumably neither had Medlock Road).

OMBC told us very little after the 2002 monitoring and it left a number of questions to be answered, such as;                            

How many vehicles per day

How many H.G.V.’s per day

Heaviest vehicles.

Speed of vehicles

Neither did it reflect the fact that many H.G.V.’s do not use Medlock Road during the morning and evening rush hour.  Nor the fact that much of the population may be on holiday during June/July/August.

Based on the 1996 figure of 2515 vehicles per weekday 12 hour flow it is quite easy to imagine that currently the total number of vehicle movements along Medlock Road exceeds one million per annum.

Objectives  

To make Woodhouses safer, quieter and less polluted and to give the village back to its residents and others who wish to enjoy its semi-rural and unique nature by:                      

1)         Identifying the problems caused by traffic along Medlock Road.

2)         Examining and recommending methods which should improve the situation. 

3)         Reporting to the W.V.A. General committee in the expectation that they will approve and action the recommendations.

Why are we concerned?

For the Safety of:                                                                                                                                                                      children

            schoolchildren

            pedestrians

            joggers/walkers/ramblers                     

            horses/riders/cyclists

            residents

            drivers

Medlock Road is incapable of coping safely with the continual number of transient vehicles that use it, let alone the size and speed at which they travel.  Something has to be done quickly to avoid a massive accident occurring to persons and property.

Speed Limits.  There has not been any enforcement of the 20mph or, for that matter, the 30mph speed limit.  In fact, there hardly is any limit on speed on Medlock Road:  most drivers seem to travel as fast as they can (or as fast as they are able to do in the less-than-ideal conditions of Medlock Road).  50mph and higher is not uncommon and given the right conditions, 35-40mph is normal. 

There is no weight limit for vehicles.  Vehicles of up to the maximum of 44 tonnes are a regular feature on Medlock Road and this creates problems for other traffic, especially in the vicinity of Bottom Woodhouses. The potential for damage to property in that area is high.   At this point vehicles pass four feet or less from the front of the properties.  Such vehicles travelling at speed along the road and over the calming humps are a recipe for disaster.

Footpaths. There are no footpaths at all from the Golf Club to a point beyond Bottom Woodhouses.  In the main part of the village the footpath narrows to 22 inches.  This makes walking along Medlock Road a hazardous journey especially for families walking with toddlers or using a pram or pushchair.  This also applies to disabled residents using wheel or motorised Chairs.

Width of Road. The narrowest part of Medlock Road is at Bottom Woodhouses (approx 12 feet) but the stretches running alongside the Golf Club and on Bunkers Hill both vie for this dubious honour.  At these points two cars have some difficulty passing one another; if an H.G.V. is involved a way through has to be negotiated.  Minor damage to vehicles is common.  

Noise levels.  Traffic noise is enhanced along much of Medlock Road due to the close corridor created by the houses, the limited space between road and houses and the change of speed and vibration as vehicles cross the calming humps.  Normally this might be tolerable but excessive speeds and H.G.V.’s create a level of noise that is unacceptable.  Decibel limit monitoring may be appropriate.

Noise from Ghetto blasters (from transient cars travelling on Medlock Road.):  A regular annoyance to residents.  Do we really have to endure it?

Atmospheric pollution.  As far as is known monitoring, to ensure compliance with statutory levels, has never been conducted.  There must be a case for this considering the density of traffic using Medlock Road. 

Damage to property.  Evidence of damage is visible in Bottom Woodhouses (a recent incident was at 5a.m., Sunday 24th June 2003 when a stolen car demolished the power pole almost destroying a cottage roof and leaving that area without electricity for 10 hours).  This is by no means the first time this has happened (one can see a garden wall which has been rebuilt a number of times after damage).  In Bottom Woodhouses house walls have needed attention after being hit by vehicles and the ingress of water from inadequate road drainage and consequent spray from passing vehicles means that remedial action is now needed.

Potential damage to property.  Whilst traffic volume is high the potential for property to be damaged is also high.  National sources also highlight the possibility of structural damage occurring from vibration created by traffic hitting calming humps and also from general deterioration caused by continual traffic, especially H.G.V.’s    

Many residents have no option but to park their vehicles on Medlock Road.  This poses a constant risk and the instances of damage, although generally of a relatively minor nature, are regular, annoying and costly and, are not of course, normally reported.  

Traffic calming Humps.  Residents living on or near to these features seem to be unanimous in their condemnation.  The humps create noise, tremendous vibration, potential property damage and yet do little to calm (slow) traffic.  Much of the traffic acts as though the humps do not exist or, slow down, cross the feature and speed up again creating even more atmospheric and noise pollution. 

Manchester City stadium traffic.  When the new stadium opens this summer look out for a further reason for more traffic on Medlock Road – probably on match days initially but then as those driver learn to appreciate the short cut they may well decide to use it as their normal everyday route.  Woodhouses even got a mention on a Manchester City Supporters website suggesting Medlock Road as a “rabbit run” for vehicles travelling to City’s stadium!

Public House hours deregulation.  Effects are unclear but are hardly likely to reduce traffic on Medlock Road and probably lead to unsociable traffic at unsociable hours.  Pubs will, to a large extent be able to dictate the hours which they will open and, based on recent experience, don’t expect these establishments to give too much consideration to the concerns of residents.

Crime.  It is a widely held view that Medlock Road is an excellent “getaway” route for villains who have committed a crime (including “joy-riding”) either in Woodhouses or surrounding areas.  Difficult to quantify but Woodhouses village would not be such an attractive proposition and life would be made more difficult for them if the route in and out was not available to them.      

Litter/dumping.  Has anyone failed to notice an increase in roadside litter and fly-tipping along Medlock Road since the M60/increase in traffic occurred?

Tailgating.  Anybody who travels along Medlock Road at 20mph will regularly find it more than irritating to have another vehicle suddenly on their rear bumper trying to overtake at the first opportunity (even if this requires driving onto the pavement!).  For such vehicles speed limits are an irrelevancy.

Road rage.  A number of residents have reported instances of being verbally abused by drivers of vehicles who, for whatever reason, have been unable to travel down Medlock Road in a manner and at a speed of their choosing.  We can do without it! 

Accidents.  OMBC’s records do not reflect Woodhouses residents’ experiences.  There have been numerous accidents that are not reflected in their figures.

Personal stress. Residents have commented on the fact that their stress levels have increased in recent times due to the traffic situation on Medlock Road.

Road surfaces.  Will deteriorate faster due to heavy use.  This means even more noise.  Will OMBC agree to continually spend more and more money keeping it in decent order?  They must have spent tens of thousands of pounds in recent years repairing the road at Bunkers Hill after collapse.

Green Lane Industrial site.  Development is being encouraged and this has been reflected in the increase in H.G.V.’s using Medlock Road.

More new houses equals more vehicles  - Property prices.  Expect prices to reflect the fact that Medlock Road has become a “rat run”.  Such a trend would surely affect the whole of Woodhouses.  Some residents have pointed out that Woodhouses council taxpayers pay more than most other parts of Failsworth – and for what benefit?    It is possible that in the future residents’ may feel that they should all claim a reduction in Council Tax due to Medlock Road traffic problems and the resultant fall in property values. 

The situation on Medlock Road continues to deteriorate and will get worse unless action is taken.  This conservation area is losing its character and Woodhouses is becoming a less desirable place in which to live.

Various OMBC reports and plans state that every effort should be made for the Village to retain it’s unique, semi rural character.  The latest “Area Plans” introduced in June 2003 state that one of the main objectives for Hollinwood and Failsworth is to “develop the areas of excellent countryside as an attraction for residents and visitors”.  Medlock road traffic is definitely an obstacle to this aim.  It also asks “are there any parts of your area that need significant change to make a real improvement in quality of life?” Answer: most certainly!

Methods of Achieving the objectives.

Install road narrowing features:

Would exclude or limit the number of HGV’s using Medlock Road but is unlikely to reduce the number or speed of other vehicles using the road.  Service vehicles would also be excluded.

Install chicanes:

Useful for reducing traffic speeds, but only at the feature.  Does not overcome the problem of HGV’s, or the number and generally excessive speed of vehicles. 

Install speed cameras:

The only effective means of reducing vehicle speeds along a stretch of road.  However, it does not address the problem of HGV’s nor the volume of traffic.

Impose weight and width limit:

Would eliminate much of the HGV problem but not the volume and speed of other vehicles.

Install “punishing” calming humps:

Between the bottom of Bunkers Hill and the “Bay Horse” or Failsworth boundary to deter vehicles from using Medlock Road.

Would probably not have much effect except to encourage vehicles to increase speed along Medlock Road to make up for time lost

Make Medlock road a “Toll” road (free to residents):

Considered, but decided it would be too difficult to start up and maintain.

Close Medlock Road to most traffic at the Bottom of Bunkers Hill:

This is the only option that comes close to meeting the sub committee’s Objectives.  It will be resisted by many individuals and factions and would probably require some form of traffic regulation order procedure and public debate.  However, it is the sub-committee’s preferred choice and unanimous conclusion.  The suggestion is to install “Rising Bollards” at the bottom of Bunkers Hill; this would allow emergency services (and e.g. waste disposal service) to access Medlock Road as the need arose.

The technology exists and is tried and tested; indeed similar equipment has already been installed in Ashton and Manchester.

Recommendations to the General Committee and Action points:

1.         That they accept the action recommended by the sub committee – to pursue the closure of Medlock Road.  This will require the involvement of OMBC and Oldham Police.

2.         Approach local councillors to support the WVA’s actions

3.         With immediate effect have police conduct regular radar speed control

4.         Request the police to send warning letters to HGV owners identified as abusing Medlock Road. 

5.         The  “village” sign should be re-sited nearer to Bunkers Hill.

6.         20 mph limit to be extended to the bottom of Bunkers Hill. 

7.         Consider noise/pollution level survey.

8.         Ask for more information from the June 2002 monitoring – even though it is by now out of date.

9.         Consider a survey on ‘transient’ traffic.

10,       Establish exactly which services have a need to access Woodhouses from the Bunkers Hill approach.

Footnote: November 2003

1) Co-incidentally with the sub-committee meetings, O.M.B.C. conducted a further traffic survey along Medlock Road and Green Lane in July 2003.  Unfortunately, the criteria O.M.B.C. used makes it difficult to make a direct comparison between the results of this survey and those they obtained from previous surveys.  However, it is pretty clear, as most Medlock Road residents will testify that the volume, speed and numbers of HGV’s along the road continues to increase and, almost certainly, there are now more than one million vehicle movements per annum on Medlock Road.

2) The W.V.A. General Committee, having accepted the sub-committee “Presentation” document asked for a meeting with representatives of O.M.B.C. Environmental department (the department responsible for a range of “Traffic” matters).  The meeting was arranged by Councillor Judith Heyes and was held at O.M.B.C. offices on 13/10/03.  Four W.V.A. representatives plus Councillor Heyes met the Environmental Services Chief Executive and Group Traffic and Parking manager.  O.M.B.C. had received a copy of our “Presentation” document and it was felt that they are not unsympathetic in trying to resolve the Medlock Road problems. 

They advised us that they were in the process of preparing a Local Safety Scheme Proposal on three Failsworth roads, of which one is Medlock Road.  This had been prompted by the unusually high accident rate on these roads. The results should be available around End November after which we shall have a further meeting with OMBC to look at the results and discuss the possible solutions that OMBC propose.

As always, we invite your comments or suggestions on any matter concerning Woodhouses.  If you wish to contribute please contact any Committee member or E-Mail us through this web site.