Dovestone: over FIVE HUNDRED parking tickets handed out since December

Traffic chaos at Dovestone Reservoir

More than 500 fixed penalty notices have been issued at weekends since December 1 in the area surrounding a popular beauty spot besieged by unthinking motorists.

Oldham council said drivers clocked up 259 car park offences  at Dovestone reservior Greenfield with 229 additional vehicles booked the nearby A635 Greenfield- Holmfirth road.

A three strong team of Dovestone marshals are on regular weekend duty at the site supervising traffic flow but on Sunday, GMP Saddleworth and Lees reported the car park was full by 12.30 pm  and surrounding areas were busy.

And they posed the question: 'Is your journey necessary? Please stay local and stay safe.'

The reservoir has been ihas been the sounding board off borough wide parking problems snd at Greenfield illegal parking has prevented locals reaching their homes and impacted on farmers who cannot reach pregnant flocks because of blocked farm entrances.

Police, water, and council chiefs  stepped up measures  to reduce the number of day-trippers flouting Covid guidance. In addition to enforcing parking regulations, police patrolled the reservior to help ensure visitors followed the Government’s advice on coronavirus.

The problems at the Dovestones have been highlighted  by Dr Andrew Taylor, chairman of the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents Association and MP Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth.

Meanwhile United Utilities temporary electronic signs which will indicate when the car park is full will remain.

The signs on the roundabout at the junction of Holmfirth Road and Chew Valley Road, however they can be moved to alternative locations if the impact could be improved.

And a UU spokesperson said: “It is hoped  the measures will emphasise the message the site can only be used by local people who are taking their daily exercise.”

Ross Evans, Estates and Land Manager at United Utilities, said: “As a partnership we have been doing our best to manage the site but the job is made incredibly difficult by members of the public who refuse to follow the rules.
 
“We have seen dangerous parking, people congregating in large groups and anti-social behaviour which is not fair on the people who live here or our employees who work here.
 
“The message is simple – if you drive past other parks or green spaces to get here you are travelling too far.”
 
Councillor Sean Fielding, Leader of Oldham Council said: “Some of the visitors need  to start taking responsibility for their own actions.
 
“It’s easy to blame the authorities for a perceived lack of action, but this simply isn’t true. The members of the partnership are doing their best in very difficult circumstances and we only have limited resources which are already being stretched.
 
“If you live in Oldham try one of our many parks or green spaces near you rather than getting in your car and possibly having to wait ages for a spot on the car park. If you do take a chance and park illegally then you risk a fine.
 
“If you do visit Dovestone then please remember Hands, Face, Space and let’s protect ourselves, our families and the NHS.”

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