Extreme measures on the housing estate where parking is becoming ‘chaotic’ and ‘dangerous’

Parking has become such a problem at one housing estate in Rochdale, there are now plans to redesign the entire layout to solve the issue.

The Smallbridge estate of Ditton Mead and Armstrong Hurst Close was never meant for so many families using cars – now the residents are suffering from a lack of parking and are fighting for space.

The latest Pennines Township Committee meeting heard how the homes were built at a time when car ownership was low and were not designed to current road and parking standards with higher car ownership in mind.

After consulting with their local ward councillors, a petition has been signed by the majority of the estate to sort the issue out.

Councillor John Blundell told the committee on 17 September: “The estate was one of those where everyone was supposed to walk and cycle to work or get the bus. There is a small car park which has lots of houses around it.

“There isn’t a parking space per house here. There are simply not enough parking spaces for the people that live there. This is by far the worst situation for parking in the area. I have half the estate who have signed the petition.”

Although the usual practice is that 1,000 signatures are needed to spark a debate by the full council, where this can’t be possible in an estate where around 400 people live, a large proportion of resident signatures is enough.

The meeting at Number One Riverside was told that the petition seeks to redesign the estate in a way that suits the residents. 

Councillor Blundell explained that he has worked with his fellow ward colleagues to rally residents together on this, and believes a consultation asking locals what they want to see happen to achieve change is the way forward.

The Smallbridge and Firgrove ward member thought removing sections of raised kerbs and grassed areas and providing a tarmac finish could be one solution.

Councillor Blundell continued: “If we continue as we are it’s only going to get worse. Some residents don’t want a car park but some want verges taken away. That is why we need consultation to see how they want it to be redesigned.

“If nothing is done it will just become more and more dangerous.”

Other committee members who have visited the estate agreed that the parking situation was “chaotic” and something needed to be done.

Council papers estimate dropping kerbs and replacing grass verges could cost around £100,000 to do.

A report also highlighted that two locations have been identified for a new car park area off Stonie Heyes Avenue, but this could cost between £300,00 and 600,000.

Plans for a consultation process were approved by the committee, subject to cost not exceeding the financial threshold of around £5,000. 

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter