Dovestone dilemma - authorities 'don't care' about local residents and parking 'carnage'

Frustrated residents living at a popular beauty spot overrun with visitors have accused authorities of not caring about their plight.

Their criticism followed a crowd-thronged weekend at Dovestone Reservior in Greenfield, which was marred by chaotic traffic conditions and access fears to homes.

And locals slammed a multi agency publicity blitz warning visitors of safety and fire hazards as a “gung-ho exercise” which excluded them from pre-planning consultation about an event.

On Saturday in a bid to keep visitors safe, officers from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, backed by police and United Utilities who manage the site, warned of dangers from moorland fires, illegal bbqs, and swimming in open water.

But 24 hours later on Sunday, fire crews from Oldham, Stalybridge, Ashton, and Bolton North spent three hours at nearby Yoeman Hey reservior quelling a moorland blaze. 

One long-time resident said: “It would have been nice to publicise the ‘event’, so people who live close and are directly impacted by the minority that ruin it for visitors and residents could have had an input.  

“But no doubt this will be claimed as a raging success.

“I think it’s ludicrous they hold these stakeholder days and everybody is all gung-ho about them.

"But nothing changes for residents at all - they actually don’t care.

"The Dovestone Marshals made them look good on Saturday - but there were none on Sunday.

"It’s carnage - double parking and cars everywhere. No one cares.”

Another worried resident, who reported the traffic congestion issues, said: “Cars have illegally parked all the way along Bradbury Lane.

"You can hardly get in and out.

"No marshals or ticket inspectors to be seen anywhere. 

“I've reported it to the police as if there was an emergency, you won't get an ambulance or fire engine through.”

A GMFRS spokesman said they visited Dovestone because there is a ‘significant heightened risk’ during summer months of moorland fires and emergency incidents involving open water.

He added: “Our team were also speaking to people about not leaving litter or lighting any kind of fires or fireworks.

"With conditions currently dry and warm, the smallest of flames can quickly spread into a major wildfire.

"Please help us protect our moorland.

“Warmer conditions can also sometimes make people want jump into open water, so we’ve also been urging visitors not to do this in any circumstances. 

“Cold water shock can kill even the strongest swimmers, and under-water currents can be deadly.

"We’ve also seen the devastating consequences of this.

“We’re urging the public to stay safe this summer.”

A Dovestone partnership spokesperson said: “We’re grateful to our partners at GMP and GMFRS who helped to make Saturday’s activity a success.  

‘It was great to be able to engage with visitors to remind them not to light any fires or BBQs on site and also the dangers of swimming in reservoirs.  

“We continue to urge any visitors to Dovestone to respect the environment and the local community.”

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