TAMESIDE Council is refusing to fill in potholes on a plagued road because it says they act as a cheap traffic calming measure.
Villagers in Mottram have complained about the terrible state of Littlemoor Road because it poses a danger to horse riders and people using it to reach a nearby school.
But they have been told to like it or lump it.
Council leader, Councillor Roy Oldham, believes the deep craters are worth keeping because they act as free speed bumps to the drivers who do not live locally, but use the rough road as a short cut during rush hour.
Residents want a complete resurfacing of the road and put their case at Longdendale district assembly.
One villager told the meeting: "It is in a dangerous condition and it has been like that for 20 years.
"Putting bits of patching in the holes is not working - cars are having to swerve to avoid them.
"Yet the road is widely used by people going to Mottram School and there are a lot of riders. Plus it is used for deliveries to several working farms and by vehicles carrying heavy loads and livestock."
The narrow road with tight bends is known locally as The Mudd and runs parallel to the main road from Broadbottom to Mottram.
Councillor Oldham said: "There are 30,000 privately-owned vehicles on the roads around here every day and it is possible for many of them to use this road as a short cut, which can help them get ahead of other cars.
"So, what we have tended to do is discourage motorists from driving on that section of road by not doing too much repair work to it.
"We are putting a sign up to say that the road is not very good for motorists and will probably place a 20mph limit on it."
Councillor Oldham hopes that if the Longdendale bypass is approved it will help ease much of the traffic congestion affecting Mottram.
Showing comments 1 to 10 and replies | View All
Steve, Stalybridge (09/03/2006 at 10:28)
Roseanne Kay (Callum's Mum), Stalybridge (09/03/2006 at 10:47)
You know the effects of potholes? but you just don't care! Did Callum and his family not enter you head for one second when you came out with this stupid and ridiculous remarks
God forgive you
Callum's Proud Mum
Joey, Ashton under Lyne (09/03/2006 at 14:47)
Good people of Tameside - Please remember Roy when re-election is due.
Mark Christie, Oxfordshire (09/03/2006 at 22:20)
Another great idea from your local "we really think it through" council.
Not
Simon, Aberdeen (09/03/2006 at 22:44)
Billy, Tameside (10/03/2006 at 09:31)
Badly repaired roads are known to be a danger to both road users and pedestrians. For this man to suggest keeping them that way is "cheap traffic calming" is absurd. Not only that, but it's yet another additional cost to locals in the form of increased maintenance costs due to suspension damage which can often go unseen until the next service or MOT OR until the vehicle has to perform an emergency manoeuvre, at which time it all goes pear-shaped and proper vehcle control becomes impossible.
Tameside councillors, I HOPE nobody is hurt because of your stupid, selfish actions but if it is, lets pray it's not one of YOUR children involved in a car accident because of your ridiculous cheapskate suggestions.
And lets all hope common sense prevails at the next election.
Callum's mum, stalybridge (10/03/2006 at 23:34)
please sign my 4 callum campaign on www.4callum.com and please be behind me when i hand in my petition later this year to parliament. The hgv driver will also be with me because it has also ruined his life.
I love you Callum
and they will not get away with it
Terry Hudson, Herne Bay. Kent (11/03/2006 at 17:26)
gareth(callums dad), stalybridge (13/03/2006 at 22:04)
Chris Davies, Stalybridge (19/07/2007 at 23:40)