Lay-by car sales curbed

Curbing car sales on Bolton Road: Councillors Wera and William Hobhouse with members of the Council's Parking Services team.

Fly-by-night car salesmen on Bolton Road have been stopped in their tracks.

Used cars were regularly seen for sale at a lay-by on the corner of Manley Road but the Council hopes to curb the sales by enforcing a parking order.

The Lay-by now has an enforceable waiting one hour, no return for one hour restriction.

The Council's Parking Enforcement Officers are now issuing tickets to illegally parked cars.

Councillor William Hobhouse said: "In April 2006, I leafleted the area asking residents for their views. A number of issues were raised, including the problem of the lay-by being used inappropriately by second hand car salesmen. Soon after, Rochdale Township allocated money for the traffic regulation order to be advertised and determined.

"We have all been very frustrated by how slow the legal process has been. I understand that the order was challenged, which caused more delay.

"However, I am delighted that we have got there in the end, and that the Council has already demonstrated that it means business."