Residents’ parking plea

FRUSTRATED residents in Uppermill descended on the Saddleworth Parish Council meeting last night to plead for help in ending their parking woes.

A total of 18 residents, many of whom live on the busy Lee Street, were there to express concern that the pavements are becoming packed with parkers avoiding the village centre.

They argue time restrictions implemented on car parks in the village have pushed cars onto the side streets.

Angered Lee Street resident Gail Booth was at the end of her tether and asked the council for its help in implementing a residents’ parking permit scheme to alleviate the problems.

She held up a petition that she claimed showed 95 per cent of residents were in favour of such a scheme, despite a similar survey by the council discovering there wasn’t enough support to warrant such an introduction on the street.

She said: “This is causing a problem day and night and we need some action.

“We’ve tried and failed to get something done, it’s like we’re being whitewashed.

“The survey done was poorly constructed and executed — please tell us what to do.”

Chairman Bill Cullen reminded the residents that the decision lay in the hands of Oldham Council, but councillor John Hudson replied: “We have been perceived to be out of touch, this is something the public is asking us to do and we should be asking Oldham Council to make a decision.”

Uppermill business owner and resident Nick Watts called for short, medium and long-term action to resolve the situation as well as a full and fair consultation.

He said the restrictions, which limit parking to a maximum of two or three-hour stays, was causing hostility between business owners with differing opinions.

A resolution to organise a public meeting at the civic hall to discuss the issues was agreed and will be arranged as soon as practical.

Councillor Leslie Schofield said businesses in Uppermill could be approached to advise staff to park at the Saddleworth sports centre while councillor Alan Roughley argued the consultation should be fair, include various viewpoints and take on a wider form than a simple public meeting.