Oldham: New speed limit to improve safety on 'lethal road'

Oldham Council plans to introduce new safety measures on Stamford Road

A 20mph zone will be introduced to cut the number of accidents on a "lethal" road where two cyclists were killed.

The new speed limit is among the traffic calming measures planned for Stamford Road in Oldham.

Local councillor Mark Kenyon campaigned for changes after two deaths at the junction with Huddersfield Road which he said were "utterly preventable".

"People always say it's an accident waiting to happen, this is why it's so important to act now," he added.

The major thoroughfare in the village of Lees connects two main roads between Saddleworth and Oldham town centre.

It had long been described as "scary" and a "nightmare junction" by members of the community because of frequent speeding and dangerous driving, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. .

In 2020, 64-year-old cyclist Philip John Horsfall was killed in a collision with a van on the Stamford Road, while a year later, 43-year-old mother Louise Harrott was struck by a Range Rover, suffering fatal injuries.

The council's measures include the 20mph limit, a relocated bus stop, longer waiting restrictions, and a ban on right-hand turns both onto and off of Dunham Street and Huddersfield Road.

"Hopefully doing this now will prevent further tragedy in the future," Mr Kenyon said.

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