Oldham Council is continuing to invest in Royton, improving how people move around the town centre, making it a cleaner, more welcoming place to visit whilst making safety a key priority.
Following the restoration of Royton Town Hall and Library, the next stage of investment focuses on Rochdale Road, improving public spaces and travel for everyone who lives, works and visits the town centre creating a more welcoming environment.
Working with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the scheme is the first phase of a wider programme to improve the Bee Network. Construction is expected to start next week.
Discussions between Oldham Council and TfGM were arranged following the MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Jim McMahon, raising concerns about the removal of railings. Following further discussions, Oldham Council and TfGM reviewed the plans to ensure the design retains the railings in the areas recommended by a coroner after past fatalities, whilst enabling the investment and delivery of the wider improvements to the town centre.
The Royton town centre scheme is part of the Rochdale–Oldham–Ashton corridor improvements, funded through the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, which has been awarded to Greater Manchester to help deliver the Bee Network. The project aims to improve bus reliability, make walking and wheeling easier and safer, and support local businesses with wider pavements, step-free bus stops, better lighting, seating and new planting to improve the look and feel of the town centre.
Oldham Council, TfGM and Jim McMahon recently took a walk around the Town Centre meeting with local businesses and residents to discuss the scheme and listen to their views.
Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council said: “Safety has always been at the heart of this scheme. We listened carefully to the concerns raised by Jim and residents, and we’ve worked with TfGM to make sure the guardrails remain in all the areas originally recommended after the coroner’s report.
This investment will still bring wider pavements, safer crossings and better bus access, but it’s right that we keep the protections people expect. We want a town centre that feels safe, welcoming and works for everyone.”
Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton said: “Local people were clear about their concerns, especially around the guardrails that were put in place after serious incidents in the past. I raised those concerns with the council and TfGM, and I’m pleased they have listened.
Keeping the guardrails in the coroner-recommended areas is the right decision and will help protect pedestrians whilst the wider improvements to the town centre go ahead.”
Chris Barnes, Interim Infrastructure Delivery Director at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: "We are pleased to have been able to support the Council in securing the funding to bring about these improvements in Royton, which will mark the first phase of a much bigger programme to enhance journeys between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton.
“Collectively with our Council colleagues we have listened to and acted on feedback from the public and we are pleased that these works, which will ease congestion and make bus journeys more reliable, comfortable and convenient, will be starting soon.”
More information about the scheme is available at: https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/201058/transport_parking_and_travel/3312/improving_journeys_royton.