Ted’s yellow peril

SPOT the difference... Alan Newbury where parking is now banned on Crompton Street and (right) nearby Rifle Street, where cars are parking on pavements and not being fined.

Resident unhappy as parking restrictions applied ‘unfairly’
New parking restrictions on a residential Oldham street are causing upset for a man who says his friends are being punished for visiting him.

Ted Wilkinson (75) has lived on Crompton Street, Coldhurst, for 28 years and says there have never been issues with people parking on a cobbled area outside his home.

But two months ago the council painted double yellow lines on the road - meaning Ted’s visitors can no longer park on the cobbled patch.

Ted said: “These houses have been around for decades and there have never been any issues or fines for parking on the cobbles.

“My friend came to visit the other week and got a fine. I thought it might have been a one-off, but now they have sent a traffic warden to say if we park on there again we’ll get a ticket.

“The cobbles aren’t part of the road. Parking there has never stopped emergency vehicles or buses so I can’t really understand the issue. This is what the cobbles were designed for.

Ted’s friend Alan Newbury, of Cherry Avenue, Alt, is now contesting his parking ticket.

Councillor Dave Hibbert said: “Over the last four years we have received a number of complaints regarding restricted access due to parking on both sides of the road.

“Following a survey it was proposed to stop parking on the north side of the street. Residents of Boundary Gardens directly affected were sent letters and advised how to object. No objections were received.”