Stansfield Estate residents' fears over plans for estate taxi office

Photo: Rob Harrison

The shop units on Drake Road

Residents of Stansfield Estate are objecting to a planning application to turn a shop premises into a taxi booking office.

Mohammed Nabeel has applied to use the currently empty shop on Drake Road as a taxi base.  The application states that the office will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with parking spaces for up to 10 cars at the rear of the building.

Adele Jones, of Drake Road, said: "I am deeply concerned about this. I have two boys who play on the estate. There is really no need for this as we have a good enough bus service with routes to the village centre. This proposal of a taxi rank would only increase traffic and possible accidents."

Joanne Black, of Hawkins Way, said: "What a ridiculous idea on such a small estate. This area is very quiet and there are a lot of children that play around the shop. There are also a lot of elderly residents that live very close by. Traffic and parking is already a problem in the area and with the extra houses being built in the area this will only add to the problem.  In winter, when it snows, the roads up here are a nightmare and buses and taxis cannot get onto the estate half of the time. I also wouldn't be happy about the noise through the night."

The public have until 30 September to make their comments on the application.

Have your say on the proposal on the Rochdale Council website.