Bid to block illegal rat-run

Date published: 06 April 2009

Bamford residents have been asked to cast their vote on proposed measures to stop illegal rat-running the wrong way up Half Acre Lane, from Roch Valley Way to Half Acre Road.

Highways Officers have proposed two possible solutions to the problem.

Option one would see the road closed to traffic completely using a Traffic Regulation Order. This would, if passed, see a bollard put at each end of the road, prohibiting vehicles but not pedestrians.

The other proposal is to change the contour of the road at its exit into Roch Valley Way, so that Half Acre Lane bends round to be perpendicular to Roch Valley Way. The thinking behind this is that it would make it much less easy for illegal turning into the Lane.

It would not stop illegal driving, but it could design out the problem and would still allow residents to drive down the Lane.

The cost for either project would need to be funded by Rochdale Township and/or the Bamford Area Forum and Township chairman Councillor William Hobhouse has said that he can not make any promises at this stage as to whether either scheme will get the green light.