A letter sent by two Coldhurst councillors has cast doubt on the future of the Active Neighbourhood plans currently under consultation.

An active travel campaign group has criticised the councillors for making a ‘knee-jerk’ decision.

The letter, signed by Cllr Abdul Jabbar and Cllr Ruji Surjan and printed on local Labour party letterhead, says that residents are “overwhelmingly opposed” to bus gates and traffic filters, so this aspect “will not go ahead.”

Bus gates and traffic filters restrict the types of vehicles that can go down certain streets.

ALSO READ: Active Neighbourhoods explained: Chadderton and Westwood.

Oldham Council said the consultation was ‘still running’ and that it was ‘keen to hear people’s views’, adding that it could not comment on Labour Party letters.

The letter follows consultation events described as ‘hostile’ by a local councillor, in which Oldham Council accused some attendees of attempting to ‘intimidate’ council officers explaining the plans for the scheme.

The scheme as planned was hoped to curb rat-running through the neighbourhood.

ALSO READ: Business staff fear for future if active neighbourhood plan approved.

Road closures ‘not to go ahead’

In a statement, Cllr Abdul Jabbar, who is also the deputy leader of Oldham Council, said: “The consultation on the proposed Chadderton North and Westwood Active Neighbourhood scheme has been running for a couple of weeks now.

“During that time four well-attended consultation events have been held and residents made clear that two elements of the scheme, the bus gate and the road closures, have caused significant concern amongst themselves and local businesses.

“The five Labour councillors representing Coldhurst and Chadderton North have all agreed that the strength of feeling is clear enough for the bus gate and road closures not to go ahead. 

“We are still keen to deliver a scheme in this area that will improve conditions for children and young people making their way to school and to residents in the wider area.

“We encourage all residents to use the consultation to share their thoughts on the best way forward for this area by November 4th.”

ALSO READ: What it’s like to live in an active neighbourhood.

Campaigners criticise ‘knee-jerk’ decision

Responding to the letter, a spokesperson from active travel campaign group Walk Ride Greater Manchester said: “We would encourage Councillors to not make knee-jerk decisions based on the initial reactions of people who fear change.

“Car ownership in the Chadderton North and Westwood area is at about 30-40 per cent of households - so a large majority of residents would benefit from the safer neighbourhoods for walking, wheeling and cycling.

“Measures like these have been proven to make neighbourhoods safer in other parts of Oldham.

“The engagement events are an opportunity for consultation to understand any potential improvements to proposed designs; they’re not yes/no referendums on whether the scheme should go ahead.

“Councillors should also understand that, where active neighbourhoods have been proposed and implemented elsewhere, the Councillors who support making neighbourhoods safer have been re-elected with greater majorities - because people like living with safer streets.”

Your say

The consultation, which runs until Friday, November 4, can be completed online on Oldham Council’s website.

Paper copies of the consultation packs which include the leaflet, survey and a paid return envelope can be requested at active.travel@oldham.gov.uk.

More information is available in our Active Neighbourhoods, bus gates, filters, and school streets explained article.

The letter in full

Here is the letter in full:

Dear Neighbour,

Thank you to all our residents who attended the recent consultation events in relation to the first draft of the Active Neighbourhoods proposal by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). It was pleasing to see how many residents care passionately about their neighbourhood.

The consultation is still live and runs until 04/11/2022, therefore we would urge anyone with a view to take part in the consultation to allow these views to be taken into account. You can find details of the proposals and the response form on Oldham Council's website.

The views of the four consultation events that have taken place has demonstrated that the residents are overwhelming opposed to the bus gates and road closures, therefore this element of the draft scheme will not go ahead.

We hope this provides reassurance that we are listening to you and are on your side. As your local Labour councillors we will continue to work with you to deliver improvements to the area.

Yours faithfully

Cllr Abdul Jabbar Cllr Ruji Surjan.