‘Perfect storm’ brings traffic chaos to Shaw Town Centre

MEASURES are being put in place to avoid a repeat of the “perfect storm” that brought Shaw to a stand still last month.

Cllr Chris Gloster

There was gridlock for up to seven hours because of an unprecedented volume of heavy goods vehicles entering Shaw Town Centre to reach the Yodel Distribution Centre.

Since the meltdown on Tuesday, November 21, meetings have taken place to avert a similar problem arising in the future.

Shaw and Crompton Borough Councillors, Oldham Council Highways Officers, Greater Manchester Police Traffic Management and local business owners have met with senior national, regional and local managers at Yodel to express concern over the incident.

Cllr Chris Gloster said: “This was put down to wider road network issues caused by the closure of M56, restrictions on the M6, the Manchester United international game, Little Mix Concert and poor weather, as well as Tuesday being a busy day after weekend online shopping.

“Yodel have agreed to and already put in place exceptional traffic management measures, including diverting trailers to other sites and ensuring empty trailers are moved off site to maximise space.

“They have come up with a short term plan and will work with the Council Highways and GMP to look at longer term measures to prevent any recurrence that they described as a ‘perfect storm’ due to a simultaneous combination of factors that all occurred at once.

“Hopefully, these actions will prevent a recurrence but needless to say Shaw and Crompton Councillors will work hard with Yodel to ensure there is no repeat.”

 

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