Don’t give my car boots the boot

A CAR boot sales organiser has started a petition to ensure his events don’t get the permanent boot.

Steve Jackson (56) bought the old Hawthorn Pub and car park in Roundthorn Road two years ago.

From April to November 2010, he held a regular car boot sales following approval by Oldham Council.

The popular event proved a hit with people flocking to bag a bargain every Saturday and Sunday.

But Mr Jackson has been told he must now apply for formal planning permission because he held more than 14 in a calendar year and a traffic complaint has been submitted.

Residents and traders have been up in arms about the losing their local event.

Ian Yole (59), from Beaufont Drive, Glodwick, has traded at the event and said: “People from all nationalities come along and always come back as they know they have been treated well and fair.

“This car boot as been going for 20 months and is well organised and well set out.

“Steve Jackson, who owns the site, has single handedly cleaned up the former pub car park.”

Mr Jackson, a contract cleaner, said there had been no problems with the sales but had been told that one person had complained about traffic.

“I want to get support from my local councillor before I apply for permission in January and I’ve collected a few hundred signatures. I want to make sure I’m ready for business next year.”

An Oldham Council spokesman said Mr Jackson’s consent to hold car boot sales ended on August 28 but sales had been held without permission. He said: “A complaint was also received in June about the frequency of these events.

“On June 9 we informed Mr Jackson that he needed planning permission to continue the sales — as with all similar events across the borough.

“Officers told him to stop holding the events and remove fixtures from the site to avoid formal enforcement action.”