Residents of Vulcan Street in Oldham are again calling for urgent action to tackle dangerous speeding on the road, warning that it is only a matter of time before someone is killed. The concerns have been reignited after a crash on 22 May, the latest in a long history of accidents on the long, straight stretch.

Vulcan Street runs from Ripponden Road past an industrial estate, homes, shops, Stoneleigh Park and Willowpark Academy, and serves as a cut-through for drivers heading between major routes. Local people say the road's layout does little to slow traffic, with cars frequently travelling at high speeds and motorcycles adding to the danger, especially at night.

Sharon McLean told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that her son was knocked down on Vulcan Street 26 years ago. He spent 11 weeks in hospital with a broken femur and she lost her job as a result of caring for him. "It's terrible. For it to be going on for that long and nothing has been done, it's just ridiculous," she said. "When the sun comes out, they just speed up and down here." Now she fears for the safety of her granddaughter. "Having gone through it once, you really wouldn't want to go through it again."

Other residents described the fear of letting children out of sight. Jordie Foote said: "It's scary to worry when your kids go out. You double look and you double check. You have got to be cautious." Julie Smith added: "There's been quite a lot of accidents up here over the years and it shouldn't take a kid being run over for someone to do something." She said she had tried to get road bumps installed more than 25 years ago. "Just this stretch where it's the kids from the park and school, that would be enough. I think it's going to take a kid to be killed for something to happen."

Jorden Rose-Vere walks her young son with a toddler safety harness and reins. "I'm just scared even going to the shops if he goes off and someone is coming, especially the motorbikes at night time," she said. "It's a nightmare especially when it's warm. It's not the first time a child has been hit."

Labour councillor Josh Charters, who represents the area, first raised the issue after being elected in 2023 following a crash that hospitalised a young boy and damaged properties. He is now repeating his calls for action after the latest collision on 22 May. He has asked for a meeting with the council's highways team and Greater Manchester Police, and is pushing for traffic calming measures such as speed cushions, junction tables or full-width road humps.

"One of the first things I raised when I was elected was speeding on Vulcan Street, and although we are lucky we haven't had a fatality on this road, it's only a matter of time," he said. "With new homes being built on Abbotsford Road, now is the time to look at traffic calming measures. Before there are further collisions, I want the Highways Team and GMP to sit down and discuss what can be done."

Residents say they have repeatedly asked for action, including traffic lights, a lower speed limit, and speed bumps, but feel little has been done. The road continues to cause anxiety among families living nearby, with many describing serious injuries and near misses over the years.