Shock footage shows road block planters in Rochdale streets set on fire hours after installation

Planters closing a number of roads in a Rochdale neighbourhood as part of a new trial were set alight last week (March 23). It has led to the trial being paused and a further consultation will now take place to 'consider next steps'.

The active neighbourhood trial was launched on February 6 in the Deeplish and Milkstone area of Rochdale with the aim of encouraging use of public transport, walking and cycling, as well as making the area safer for children. Traffic filters prohibiting some vehicles from using certain roads, by putting planters with 'road closed' signs on them, were installed last Thursday as part of these plans.

However, just hours after these were put in place videos were shared showing vehicles driving on the pavement to go around them. And then just after 8pm emergency services were called after some were set alight and forcibly removed from the road.

READ MORE: Shocking moment teacher appears to throw student out of classroom and onto floor

The 'violence and threats' have been condemned by the council, who cleared up the debris on Friday morning, reopening all affected roads. The council later announced that the active travel trial this was part of has been paused after this direct action, meaning the roads will not be closed again while 'next steps' are considered.

The active travel trial came after a consultation started in 2021 and was due to last six months. The consultation was set to carry on during this period so that the measures could potentially be adapted, decommissioned or made permanent.

The 'vehicle filters' were put in place on Boundary Street, Durham Street, Leicester Street, New Barn Lane, Salkeld Street, and Whitby Street. Other streets were made one-way with double yellow lines