Minutes of the Traffic & Transport Sub-Committee held on Wednesday 20th September 2017 There were present: R. Franklin (RF) (Chairman) (District Partnership) Cllrs P. Fryer (PF) (Vice Chairman) (Saddleworth Parish Council) A. Alexander (AA) (District Partnership) N. Allsopp (NA) (Saddleworth Parish Council) K. Lucas (KL) (Saddleworth Parish Council) J. Betts (JB) (Oldham Council) A. Bhunu (AB) (Oldham Council) – for Item 17.13 only G. Sutcliffe (GS) (Unity Partnership) T. Baxter (TB) Joan Sykes (JS) Paul Clegg (PC) Paul Sykes (PS) Ian Merckel (IM) Alan Roughley (AR) David Slater (DS) M. Wilde (MW) 17.12 Welcome from the Chairman RF welcomed everyone to the meeting, in particular AB who had come to speak about flooding issues. 17.13 Flooding Issues – Anthony Bhunu, Oldham Council AB attended the meeting in response to a number of concerns which had been expressed following the flooding on 11th September, particularly in Greenfield, following which he had written to the Environment Agency to update them on the incidents. He said that there had been flooding at 65 locations throughout the Borough, 17 of which involved water getting into properties. A major concern is the Chew Valley / Manchester Road junction for which an application has been submitted to the Environment Agency for funding to install a flood tank which will hold floodwater until water levels have abated to a safe level, allowing it to be slowly released into Chew Brook. AB is working closely with the SPC Flooding group. A second concern is Arthur’s Lane where a brook crosses the bridleway and, when there is heavy rain, floods into the lane. Work is to be carried out on a culvert to take the excess water. The same brook causes problems at Greenbridge Lane near to the tennis courts. The damage is not due to the recent floods but was initially caused by the 2015 Boxing Day floods, following which some remedial work was undertaken. AR asked how much the schemes would cost and whether it was possible for Oldham Council to fund the work themselves and then claim the money back form the Environment Agency. TB said that this is the third time in 2 years that there has been flooding in these areas and flooding in Chew Valley Road results in the closure of 2 schools. He asked why this has not been identified as a priority area. AB said that Environment Agency scheme are dealt with nationally, not locally, and so are not within the control of the local council. Oldham has more schemes than any other Greater Manchester Authority and are ahead of the others on the funding list. He said that the solution is to catch water upstream before it causes flooding and a scheme to do this at Friezland Lane has already been submitted to the Environment Agency. TB said that the problem on Oak View Road is due to water coming up through the tarmac. He added that, in many places, new housing has been built in the wrong places and this exacerbates TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT 20-SEP-17 the problems. AB said that, following the 2010 Flood and Water Management Act require comment to be made from a flood risk perspective on any proposed developments. KL said there has been a problem for the past 9 years in Huddersfield Road, Diggle, caused by a soak away not being maintained. He said that the problem often happens in light rain, not just in flooding weather. RF proposed, Cllr Allsopp seconded and it was unanimously AGREED that the following 2 motions be RECOMMENDED to Saddleworth Parish Council for approval: Motion One We strongly urge Oldham Council, with urgency, to resolve the long-term flooding issues throughout Saddleworth with long-term solutions either through borrowing or from reserves. Motion Two Greater care must be given by the Planning Department about the approval of new properties on land which has a high risk of flooding. 17.14 Apologies for Absence Apologies were received from Cllrs Brown (SPC), Bayley (SPC), Harkness (DP), Hewitt (SPC), McCann (DP) and G. Anderson (Oldham Council). 17.15 Minutes of the meeting held on 19th July 2017 The minutes of the meeting held on 19th March 2017 were APPROVED and SIGNED. 17.16 Matters Arising Capital expenditure on roads GS said that that most schemes in the programme were either in progress or had been completed. The 2 areas where major concerns had been expressed – New Street, Uppermill, and outside the Navigation Inn, Diggle, - are complete. Buses JB said that she has spoken to Jonathan Hughes, TfGM, who is currently looking into the cost of providing a Saddleworth Circular bus service. She said that the Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has made a statement of intent to use his new powers for bus franchising. A lot of work is required before any proposals can go out to public consultation. RF said that there is a meeting with Andy Burnham on 29th September and GRAG have been invited to attend. RF expressed concern over the lack of special buses services being provided for special occasions e.g. Yanks Weekend, Saddleworth Rushcart, which bring a huge increase in the volume of traffic and added congestion throughout the villages. This had been included in the Parish Council’s response last year to the 2040 GM Transport Strategy. He suggested that Nick O’Neill be invited to the next meeting. JB asked for clarification that RF was referring to event planning. AR said that the problem is made worse by the size of most of the roads in Saddleworth. GS said that the electronic message boards on Oldham bypass do flag problems for motorists heading to Saddleworth when these events are taking place. RF commented that the provision of a single bus could remove up to 30 cars from the roads. 17.17 Update from the villages Denshaw (AR) The anticipated traffic problems envisaged due to motorway resurfacing had not materialised due to the work being carried out with lane closures rather than closing the entire carriageway. Another meeting with Debbie Abrahams, MP, will be held on 13th October. Junction 22 is one of the 2 Highways England pilot schemes for the North West. As yet there has been no solution found to the speeding problems. TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT 20-SEP-17 GS said that he has met with Balfour Beatty who maintain the motorway on behalf of Highways England and that a number of scoping issues have been identified including part or full time traffic lights or a roundabout. He said they are looking at both the junction and the diversion route as part of the smart motorways project as a whole. He added that the current legislation regarding the installation of speed cameras is that they will only be considered where fatalities have been recorded. Dobcross (PC) There are a number of blocked gullies – RF said that these need to be reported to Craig Dale at Oldham Council. Roundels have been painted on Wall Hill Road. The painting of yellow lines on Dobcross New Road is in progress. Diggle (KL) The yellow line painting on Ward Land is in progress. Uppermill (MW) The location of the taxi rank has raised objections. GS said that the decision to put it in the Square had been made to minimise the potential disturbance to residents and was considered to be the safest location for alighting and disembarking passengers. The duck signage is now installed. The District Partnership are dealing with the Uppermill baths car parking. Greenfield (TB) A voluntary speed check exercise is being carried out by the Residents’ Association in conjunction with the police along Chew Valley Road in the next couple of months. GS said that funding for speed surveys along this stretch has been earmarked in next year’s budget Scouthead & Austerlands (JS & PS) There are speeding issues on the A62 Huddersfield Road between Delph and Austerlands. Residents have been complaining about vehicles turning left at the Lower Turf Lane / Huddersfield Road junction and it has been asked if the junction can be monitored and a one-way system possible installed. GS said that he will look into it. RF offered to meet with Sarah Robinson and Joan or Paul Sykes to discuss the issues. Grotton (AA) There are speeding issues along Under Lane and the number of lorries using this route is increasing. GS to investigate. Lydgate (IM) Similar issues are occurring on Stockport Road which was more heavily used during the recent closure of Under Lane. RF asked whether roundels could be put in. 17.18 Car Sharing RF deferred this item to the next meeting. 17.19 Train Issues RF reported that GRAG are still negotiating with the train operators regarding the proposed reduction in services form May 2018. Further meetings are scheduled but a significant improvement is not anticipated. 17.20 Letter to Andy Burnham from the District Partnership A response to the letter is awaited. TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT 20-SEP-17 17.21 Provision of Cycle Racks An email has been received requesting that cycle racks be provided in Uppermill. A number of possible locations were identified. JB said that the opportunity to bid for funding for cycle racks sometimes arises and she will look into it when the next funding round is announced. 17.22 Winter Gritting RF said that Craig Dale will shortly be reinstating the e-mail gritting bulletins. 17.23 Any Other Business NA asked that places where debris accumulates following flooding be added to the routine maintenance schedule by Oldham Council rather than Councillors having to report it every time it occurs. RF said that he will discuss this with Craig Dale.