Playing field ‘death trap’ row erupts

PARENTS taking their children to play football and rugby at a Chadderton playing field are making life a misery for residents.

More than 100 neighbours of Cathedral Road have signed a petition objecting to the parking chaos.

They say people driving to Noddy’s Field, near North Chadderton School, block driveways, park on bends, double park and leave a trail of rubbish.

Residents have been abused when they have tackled the offenders and people have also urinated on the pitch because there are no toilets.

Beryl Jackson, of Cathedral Road, said: “The children are not the problem, I have no problem with them coming and I am all in favour of children’s sport.

“There is a problem with the parents who are parking their cars anywhere to get as near to the field as they can; they are bringing their children for sport but seem unable to walk. The school grounds have a car park but none of them want to use it.

“In the last two months there are more and more clubs coming because there is a shortage of playing fields, which we understand. We also understand the fields need to be used. It is just bad management.”

She called for a three strikes and you’re out policy for people causing problems and added: “The problem could be solved without spending much money. If they are coming to play the captains should make sure they pick the litter up and the council should make sure they have got facilities for parking.

“We do not want humps, we do not want double yellow lines, we do not want thousands of pounds spend on it. We just want someone to sort it out.

“We are getting it almost every day now and it is all day Saturday and Sunday. We are getting no peace at all.”

Councillor Len Quinn branded the situation appalling when it was highlighted at Chadderton Area Committee. He fears someone could be killed.

He said some people were using the field without booking and added: “They park on the bend, they double park. There have been several accidents there that have gone unreported.

“It is a death trap waiting to happen. How no child has been killed I do not know.”

Steve Smith, Oldham’s parks and open spaces boss, promised to investigate and added: “We want people to use open spaces, that’s what they are there for. What we have is a problem with is people using pitches, running the likes of soccer schools, without booking them.

“If they book we can make sure they are the right activities and carry out proper checks.”