Angry locals have erected spikes in the ground to stop people parking outside their homes after cars were vandalised.
Residents on Weybridge Road, Ancoats, Manchester, launched a petition earlier this month to call on the council to solve the parking problems plaguing the street.
The DIY project was instigated after United Utilities workers asked motorists to remove their cars from a grass verge in order to carry out necessary repairs to pipes.
But the water company’s work did not start as scheduled on March 30, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Residents also fear for the safety of road users, Jaime Lightbowne said, and want to stop people getting hurt.
Residents on Weybridge Road, Ancoats, Manchester, have erected spikes in the ground to stop nuisance parking
The road is typically busy and the parking problem has been made worse by a water company asking motorists not to park on the street, residents say
‘It’s an accident waiting to happen,’ the 36-year-old mother added.
‘I want to stop people getting hurt rather than waiting for someone to get hurt.
‘A mixture of neighbours have built the fence. Someone put some of the sticks up and others said “We will have a go at putting it up too.”‘
Ms Lightbowne added that as of 2.15pm on Thursday she had seen ‘no sign’ of United Utilities staff.
The Weybridge Road row has exploded into view in recent months, with Liberal Democrat campaigner and resident Chris Northwood saying some vehicles have been vandalised.
‘It’s become a flashpoint,’ she said. ‘Some have had windows smashed, and people leave cones out to stop people parking outside their house.’
Labour councillors in the area agree the situation is ‘disgraceful’.
Counsellor Irene Robinson and Majid Dar said in a joint statement that the parking was ‘disgraceful’ and was destroying the grass verge.
‘Parking down Weybridge Street and the surrounding area is disgraceful and we share residents’ anger on it.
‘It makes it harder to drive down the street and wrecks the grass. We’ve been fighting for more funding to combat this and last year Majid Dar secured an expansion of the Eastlands parking scheme, so we can tackle this head on.’
Ms Lightbowne said since launching the petition, council officers have promised to look at enforcement.
The DIY-project was inspired by United Utilities workers asking motorists to remove their cars from a grass verge in order to carry out necessary repairs to pipes
Liberal Democrat campaigner and resident Chris Northwood said some vehicles have been vandalised
The letter from the utility company asking locals not to park outside the address where pipe repairs are due to take place
She said: ‘Nothing concrete has come from the council, only because they are waiting for feedback from the Eastlands parking scheme before putting plans forward for the Ancoats one for consultation.
‘Officers have said though that they will speak to enforcement about short-term and long-term things.’
When the petition was launched, a spokesperson from Manchester council said: ‘Funding has been secured by the council to develop a residents’ parking scheme in Ancoats and New Islington, a project the council remains committed to.
‘This project is currently in the early stages of development, with data being collected on how residents and businesses use this area. It is important that engagement takes place to ensure the type and frequency of parking issues caused by out of area vehicles can be thoroughly assessed and understood.
‘When the time comes the council would encourage all residents to make their views known so that the final scheme is best suited to their needs.’
They added that the council was ‘limited in regards to enforcement’ due to the lack of double yellow lines or parking bays in the area.
‘The council has on several occasions lobbied central government to give greater powers to local authorities to allow problematic parking, such as the kind on display in Ancoats, can be properly addressed,’ they added.
A United Utilities spokesperson, said: ‘Our teams were due to carry out maintenance on one of our assets on Weybridge Road yesterday.
‘Unfortunately we were unable to gain access to carry out the repairs due to parked cars. We will now look to reschedule the job and will write to residents again once the date is confirmed.’
