Ramsbottom: Businesses and locals react to one-way road system plans

Walking past the East Lancashire Railway station and strolling up Bridge Street, you are greeted with many independent shops, an array of cafés, restaurants and bars and several traditional pubs.

But people have been left unimpressed by proposals that could completely transform the roads in the town.

Plans from the council have emerged this week for a new one-way road system and 20mph speed limit to be introduced, alongside widened footpaths and new road crossings around the town centre.

The council says the new proposals would "enable traffic to flow more smoothly and safely around the town centre and to make streets and crossings better and safer for walking, wheeling and cycling".

Although exact details of the proposed "one-way system" and other measures have yet to be released by Bury Council, it’s fair to say that business owners and shoppers have already formed early opinions.

Stephen and Louise Coombes run Traditional Sweets and Gifts of Ramsbottom on Bridge Street.

Stephen said: “We’ve heard of the plans and to be honest it’s hard to think how a one way system will make things better and it could very well lead to chaos and mean traffic backing up on other roads.

"It’s not ideal but a lot of HGVs need access to the town centre.

“From what I hear it could be one way going up Bridge Street from the railway station up to Bolton Street and then one way coming down Kay Brow leading onto Railway Street.

"Kay Brow is awkward at the best of times, it only takes a bit of ice or snow and it gets closed off at the top.

“I just have difficulty seeing how it would improve matters.”

Louise and Stephen Coombes of Traditional Sweets and Gifts of Ramsbottom

Shopper Rick Pilkington, 54, lives in the town – and slammed the idea.

He said: “I think a one-way system is the stupidest idea I’ve heard in a long time.

“The type of thing someone who doesn’t know Ramsbottom and has no idea about the issues would think up.

"The traffic is bad enough as it is without restricting it further.

“There will be residents who will have to do a tour of Rammy every time they leave their house and the traffic will back up right up to Holcombe Moor.”

At one town centre businesses, though, there was some support for the imposition of 20mph limit in certain areas of the town centre.

Josh Lee works at Harry’s Barbers on Bridge Street.

Josh Lee is a barber at Harry's Barbers on Bridge Street

He says large cracks in the front window of the business were caused by vibrations from passing traffic.

“The traffic is already a nightmare and our shop front and door shake every time a lorry passes,” he said.

“We can’t even install double glazing as it’s all strictly controlled because we’re in a conservation area.

"Having a reduced speed limit would be okay but I’d need to know more about any one-way system to give an opinion.”

Bridge Street in Ramsbottom (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Lynne Townsend, 81, from Greenmount, was visiting the town centre to do some shopping.

She said: “I’ll definitely show an interest in the consultation when it’s launched.

“Wider pavements and slowing the traffic would definitely be a good thing for visitors and I think would help town centre shops.

"I’d need to be convinced about a one-way system as it’s hard for me to believe it would ease congestion.

“One thing I think they should learn from is similar work they have done in Bury town centre near the college.

"I think they’ve put in unnecessary bike lanes and confusing crossings there. It could have been done much better.”

Lynne Townsend, from Greenmount

Dave Roberts, from Prestwich, is a frequent visitor to Ramsbottom and often walks to the town from Bury.

He said: “I hike all over Greater Manchester and Ramsbottom’s a good place to visit. It’s got everything and I like to go to one or two fo the traditional pubs.

“I’m a non-driver and rely on public transport to get around. I’d be interested to see the plans in more detail.”

Dave Roberts often walks to Ramsbottom from Bury

The project is being funded by the government via the "Streets for All" element of Greater Manchester’s city region sustainable transport settlement.

Ramsbottom businesses have already been invited by Bury Council to book appointments this week to discuss the proposals with scheme consultants, AECOM, and to ask questions about the changes.

The letter to businesses states: “We want to improve Ramsbottom town centre to enable traffic to flow more smoothly and safely around the town centre and to make streets and crossings better and safer for walking, wheeling and cycling.

"Together, these proposals aim to make journeys safer and more efficient for everyone.”