‘I’m isolated from half of my hometown because of nightmare drivers’

A wheelchair user says parts of his hometown have become no-go zones thanks to inconsiderate drivers who ignore yellow lines and block pavements.

Terry Fleming, 65, now ‘avoids’ using Union Street in Oldham – notorious for its antisocial parking – out of fear of getting stuck.

Describing the situation as a ‘nightmare’, he says the road has been a ‘problem area’ for years.

Despite being marked by double yellow lines and visible tram tracks, cars often mount the kerb and park along or even on the pavement throughout the afternoon and evening.

The illegal parking is known to cause tram delays and problems for wheelchair users and pedestrians with prams.

But the situation is difficult for traffic wardens to police, with councillors previously linking the problem to unregistered vehicles operating as delivery vehicles for Union Street businesses.  

Fleming, who is ex-army and often has to use a chair because of his multiple sclerosis, said: “Any time after 5pm, there’s cars everywhere on Union Street. I avoid it now.

“The parking issues are a nightmare.

"My wheelchair is just over 32 inches wide and sometimes, I just can’t get past.” 

The issue could put Fleming into dangerous situations, he says, having to push his wheelchair into the road or cross the street because he can’t squeeze through the narrow gaps left by drivers.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they have ‘no regard at all’ for wheelchair users.

Cars also frequently park across dropped kerbs, which are ‘essential’ to wheelchair users being able to cross the road safely, Fleming explained. 

“Pavement parking brings my blood to boiling point,” he added, saying the behaviour was ‘absoltuely disgusting’ and made him feel ‘isolated’ from parts of the town.

Oldham Council have now pledged to crack down on rule-breaking drivers on Union Street with plans to introduce the borough’s first ‘red route’.

A strict camera-enforced no-stopping rule will be enforced on the high way.

Only emergency services will be allowed to park up on the road. 

Blue Badge holders and Hackney Carriage taxis will be allowed to stop briefly to let passengers in or out but won’t be allowed to wait.

And the highway will be monitored by an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) camera. 

One of the council’s transport leads, Josh Charters, said: “As many people will have seen in person or online, Union Street has had problems with antisocial parking, especially outside takeaways. 

“By establishing a red route here, we will be able to use ANPR cameras to police the prohibition of stopping on Union Street, rather than having to rely on Parking Enforcement Officers who cannot be in the area 24/7.” 

The plans are due to go to public consultation in the next few months, with the aim to implement them ‘early in the next financial year’ once funding is secured from Transport for Greater Manchester.

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