'Our children are at risk every day walking home'

Worried families and residents have called on a council to do something about a country road that they say is "too dangerous to walk down".

More than 200 residents have backed an online petition demanding a pavement be installed along the length of Bullcote Lane in Oldham, a winding road often used by local schoolchildren.

Lisa Jackson, who started the petition, said those who use the road are "taking high risks every day walking to and from their homes".

Oldham councillor Elaine Taylor said the route was "under review as part of ongoing discussions around future improvements in the area".

Ms Jackson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This hazardous situation has become a personal concern for many of us as we witness the potential dangers of this road frequently."

Karen Shore said her niece "almost got taken out by a boy racer" and the lane was known by locals as a hot spot for car accidents.

Ms Shore said the main issue was "speeding cars and people running red lights, and the fact that there’s no proper pavement for children to walk on".

The country road, which connects Royton and Sholver via Cop Road, has been described as "shocking" by mother-of-two Stephanie Smith.

She said she went on a test walk along the "horrible road" with her son to take him to school and "vans were flying past us" on the narrow sections.

Oldham councillor Josh Charters said the road was a "key route" for pupils from Sholver to Royton & Crompton school.

“We cannot carry on with the situation we have now where children are walking along an unpaved section of road with cars flying up and down, barely missing them,” he said.

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