‘Dangerous’ parking has dad in fear
‘ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN’ AS DRIVERS ‘FORCE CHILDREN TO WALK IN ROAD’
A DAD says he is scared for his daughter’s safety because nuisance drivers keep parking dangerously on pavements.
Colin Stone, 41, says the parking situation near his home in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe is an accident waiting to happen.
He claims the road is often filled with vans and 4x4s, which block pedestrians from walking along the pavement.
Mr Stone says people are forced to walk on the road.
Mr Stone, who often has to accompany his four-year-old daughter around vehicles, says the parking is a hazard to his family - and school children who use the route every day.
He is worried that due to the proximity of the vehicles to the junction of his road, somebody could easily get hurt.
Speaking to the M.E.N, Mr Stone said: “Once again, I have had to walk in the road with my daughter while having my hands full with shopping, not knowing if a car is going to turn round the corner.
“Quite often, you have to walk on the road and you get some lunatics going round that corner really fast.
“I see it with other parents picking up their children from school who are having to cross the road and cross back again because it’s not safe.”
Last month, the driver of a Mercedes saw his car towed away by police and was issued with a ticket after parking on the pavement in neighbouring Northenden.
The vehicle’s positioning on Lingard Road meant school kids were forced to walk in the road, Greater Manchester Police said.
In 2018, police warned drivers they could be fined if their cars blocked pavements to pram pushers and other pedestrians.
Mr Stone says he is unsure who to report the parking to as he doesn’t want to burden police, but is concerned drivers are not receiving tickets from traffic wardens.
But he said: “It’s a real hazard, especially with young children trying to get to and from school.”
Manchester council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, Coun Rabnawaz Akbar, said: “We are committed to working with partners, including Manchester Airport and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, to take action against illegal and irresponsible parking in Woodhouse Park and these efforts are continuing.
“We have the power to take enforcement action to deal with vehicles blocking driveways, road crossings, double yellow lines and bus stops and residents should contact us if they are experiencing these problems, or call Greater Manchester Police on 101 in situations where parking is causing a hazard for pedestrians.”