Driven to distraction by parking problems

THE FRIDAY THING: THEY have been talking about parking in Uppermill since the last horse and cart left the village because there was nowhere to load or unload and visitors got manure on their clogs.

After what seems like decades of talking about it, the parish council has finally come up with what it says is a solution.

It wants shoppers, workers and visitors to be able to park anywhere, but those who actually live there are basically being told to just drive round until they find a space.

Previous attempts at solutions to the parking problem in Uppermill (especially for visitors) have included creating a free car park in Chapel Road and another near the swimming baths.

Anyone with active brain cells will know that visitors to Uppermill will not park on Chapel Road nor near the baths because it is too far to walk into the centre, where they can look at shops but buy very little before driving off to the local garden centre for something to eat and drink and where they can park their cars free and without restriction.

The prospect of residents-only parking in streets around Uppermill — where the people who spend most money in the village shops, pubs and cafes live — is a non-starter.

How about a multi-storey car park on the museum park for visitors and those who work in Uppermill, allowing local residents to park within walking distance of their homes?

I’m sure the amazing Frank Rothwell could have one up in a jiffy. Problem solved.



IT is all very well chubby Dave and money bags Osborne talking about building our way out of recession and putting up hundreds or even thousands of new homes, but if Oldham is anything to go by they face massive opposition.

Recently we had news of a major development on land at Foxdenton, Chadderton, and this week it was 200 residents of Haven Lane, Moorside up in arms about 59 two, three and four-bedroom homes on a greenfield site.

The Moorside development is not on the scale of that in Chadderton, but local residents (and councillors) believed new houses there should be built on the former Counthill School site – which is designated for building.

Why use a much-loved area next to green-belt land when there is a perfectly adequate space nearby?

Moorside residents — who failed to prevent the plan being approved, by the way — will no doubt be branded nimbys by the developers, but what is wrong with defending a much-loved home environment?

Maybe the answer is in the numbers. The development will bring £500,000 to Oldham Council, plus a bonus £362,000 investment in affordable housing, traffic measures and open space on the site.

Is it coincidence, do you think, that councillors across the country are taking advantage of the upcoming relaxation of planning laws by offering their knowledge of the planning system to help developers press on with developments and, incidentally, claiming £20,000 for their advice?



FINAL WORD: Just to take your minds off the cold weather, here’s a snippet from Yorkshire Cricket Club.

Apparently the club wanted to change the name of the team after a sponsorship deal with Carnegie ended.

In its wisdom the club held a poll among fans for a new name. But the vote was hijacked by rival Lancashire supporters who made sure the vote was for... Yorkshire Puddings.

The club didn’t see the joke. The team will be the Yorkshire Vikings.