Speeding & Parked Cars in Rochdale

 Editorial note:  The e-mail below was sent to Steve Rumbelow.

Rochdale Chief Executive, when Mick Coats failed to get a

satisfactory explanation from his local councillors.  As yet he

hasn't had an answer from Mr. Rumbelow either.  This all
relates to the traffic survey threatened by the councillors. 
See post below this one.

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Email to the Chief Executive

Actions of my local councillor for Spotland and Falinge 12/11/18

As a resident of Rooley Moor Road I have been concerned with the intended, and unintended consequences of the proposed survey.  The aims of the survey is to speed up traffic flow and to introduce more no parking and no waiting areas along the route of Rooley Moor Road from the Spotland mini roundabouts to Ings Lane.  It was commissioned by Councillor Biant earlier this year at a cost of £4,500.

The route takes approxiately one minute and thirty seconds to travel.  It is not a main through route such as Edenfield Road or Bury Road.  Even with pausing at points where cars are parked, this figure never exceeds two minutes.  In addition there have been few accidents and none causing any physical harm. (Numbers over the last two years not reaching double figures, unlike the traffic problems of Spotland roundabout).  Questions have been asked at local Spotland Forums by myself and others as to why this survey was commissioned.

The main problem is the unintended consequences of clearing the road of stopped or parked cars.

Cars will be able to speed even more along the road.  Speeding cars is our biggest problem,.as was acknowledged at the last council meeting.  Parked cars help to limit car speeds.  A survey conducted in 2017 over one week found 600 plus cars travelling at over 40mph.

At a meeting with Councillor Rana, he agreed that the survey was a mistake for the reasons outlined above and was asked to look into cancelling the survey.  He agreed to do this.

In a subsequent email he said that the survey could not be cancelled as it was 'imminent'.  However a later email from Highways says that 'Due to current workload the scheme has yet to be assigned to an engineer.'   It does not sound to be particularly 'imminent'

I was hoping that Councillor Biant would realize that her email was inappropriate and for her to give me an apology.  It may be that she was distracted or confused as she failed to appreciate the danger of increasing car speeds along Rooley Moor Road.

Councillor Biant says she has received complaints about parked cars but gives no further information. If she spoke to residents she would see that the overwhelming problem is speeding cars. In the process associated with the traffic survey, residents are not consulted until ward councillors agree recommendations made by the survey.  A back to front process, wasteful and inefficient.  It does not fit with the councillors as representative of residents.

I would like you to give your consideration to this issue, rather than refer it to the complaints procedure (which, in the past, I have found to be flawed).  I would also appreciates an apology from councillor Biant and possibly a token payment to a local charity such as Petrus.

Regards

Mick Coats