Parking war sparked after council install controversial double yellow lines

A war over parking has been sparked on a small street in Rochdale after double yellow lines were painted by the council. 

Residents in and around Major Street in Milnrow were left shocked when the new lines were brought in by the local authority on 7 November in a bid to solve the parking problem. Historically there had been issues previously with people parking their cars right up to the junction with Smith Hill.

Those issues have been exacerbated by the council’s latest actions, according to those living on the street. 

Denise Murphy, who is one of the few on Major Street with a driveway, said: “It’s only been a week but already it’s a nightmare. I’d only been out to Aldi for 45 minutes and when I was back the lines were done. I was like, oh my god.

 

 

“We were all out on the street wondering what had happened. But the lines are causing more problems than we had before.

“Surely someone at the council has some common sense. Nobody has put any thought into that whatsoever. 

“I couldn’t even get off my drive the other night because I was blocked in (by a car on the other side of the street). It’s never been a perfect street for parking, but it was much better than it is now, and I’ve been here more than 50 years.

“When the double yellow lines came in, that’s when all the problems kicked in. There was harmony on the street before.”

Those in the area say that if big vehicles like an ambulance, bin wagon, gritter or fire engine were to come to the street, there would be a big problem for them getting through.

A petition, which has already gathered more than 100 signatures, urged the council to reconsider the lines, which go 47m up the road. Locals feel they went too far and should’ve only drawn the lines 10m into the street.

Campaigners have already brought the matter to the attention of the latest Pennines Township Committee. Councillors on the committee agreed to look into the matter and cost up an alternative to provide more parking on the street.

One scheme being considered is to take out the strip of underused green space and replace it with car parking spaces. However, locals fear this could cost too much money and not materialise.

Another Major Street resident, Michelle Kight, added: “People have had arguments over parking. Before everyone just got on with it. 

“One person has been threatened for parking outside someone’s house recently, I’ve been told. 

“Not a single person saw the consultation posters in summer. A lot of the residents didn’t know yellow lines were going to be put down before they were actually done.

“We were told one resident complained about the parking. We want to know why potentially one person has been listened to but everyone else wasn’t consulted.

“This impacts on other streets as well because there are more cars on this street than houses and if we can’t park on here we have to go to neighbouring streets. Parking is tight on them as well.

“So if you push parking out of this street it just goes to another one, which is the point I made to the council. It is just moving the problem, it’s not solving anything.

“Before, the situation was bad but manageable. This seems to have been brought in to alleviate the problem, but it’s just made things worse.”

Michelle went on to say how she fears moving her car because she may not be able to get a space again when she gets home. The alternative would be to park hundreds of yards away on another street up the hill.

The issue of consultation has been disputed by the council, who say the proposal was advertised for 21 days. The local authority did say they would look into the matter.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The proposal for double yellow lines was put together following complaints from residents in the area about inconsiderate parking which affected their ability to access their drives.

“As per our usual process, we advertised this proposal on lamp posts and in the local press for 21 days and we received no objections during this period, so the proposal was implemented.

“We’re aware that concerns have now been raised at Pennines Township Committee, so we will be discussing these concerns with local councillors.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter