Residents anger at ‘lack of council support’

Residents of the Fieldway complex on Broad Lane have expressed their anger following a decision by the Council not to recognise there are parking issues on the site.

The situation has been getting worse for elderly and disabled residents over the last couple of years and in response, there was a proposal to introduce road safety measures to ease some of the hazardous nature of the road in and out of the complex - but it was rejected at a recent meeting of the Rochdale Township Action and Resources Committee.

The unhappy residents now plan to increase their efforts; they have already started a petition to gather support for another proposal which will respond to their concerns on the parking.

Vice-chairman of the Fieldway Resident’s Action Group, Alan Young, said: “The parking situation has been a topic that has dominated our residents meetings for the last couple of years and is the one issue that gets everyone down.

“I cannot understand this decision by the Council. Clearly those who have made it do not have a grasp of the seriousness of this problem for local residents.”

Extraordinarily, one Balderstone Councillor, Philip Bethel spoke against the residents in opposition to this scheme.

Secretary of the Action Group - Barry Haycox, added: “I am especially disappointed by our new Labour Councillor Phil Bethel, who during the election campaign earlier this year agreed with residents that there is a problem and that something needs to be done.

“I cannot understand why he has made a U-turn on this. Perhaps it is because now he has been elected he doesn’t need to bother with the residents of Fieldway anymore? No wonder people are cynical about politics.”

 Councillor Dale Mulgrew, said: “It is obvious that this issue is not going to go away. I am disappointed there could not be any agreement on this proposal, but we will develop another one that might be more appropriate.

“However, I would like to see a solution that recognises the needs of the Fieldway residents, and also acknowledges the residents of Broad Lane. But if certain parties think there is no problem, then this does not help us arrive at a constructive resolution for those people who are aggrieved at this issue.”

Councillor Bethel declined to comment.