Dad driven to despair

WORRIED . . . Mark Ellis on Coalshaw Green Road, Chadderton, where his daughter Chloe was knocked down by a car

A WORRIED father is appealing for action on a busy Chadderton road after his daughter was knocked down and seriously injured.

Chloe Ellis (10) was unable to check for oncoming vehicles as she crossed Coalshaw Green Road after an irresponsible van driver had parked on double yellow lines, blocking the view of the nearby mini-roundabout. The Corpus Christi pupil, who was out with a friend, stepped out into the road, unable to check for dangers and was knocked backwards as she was clipped by a passing car.

The driver stopped and paramedics were called to the scene, with Chloe taken to hospital for treatment, managing to escape the collision with a fractured leg.

Luckily the car was only travelling at around 15mph, however the impact was enough to smash Chloe's new mobile phone prompting her dad Mark Ellis to warn that it could have been much worse.

He said: "People could be killed trying to cross the road. Cars and vans are constantly parking on the yellow lines outside the businesses so it is impossible for anyone ­- adults, children or elderly people, to see what is coming.

"There is never any parking wardens or anyone to check if people are parking properly so they know they can get away with it.

"It's a busy road with houses, shops and a park on it and it is only set to get busier as they build more houses nearby.

"I've only just started letting Chloe out to play but I know parents who let their children go out when they are younger.

"She knows about road safety and how to cross the road safely but it is impossible to see the traffic on the road when people park on the yellow lines.

"There is no safe place to cross at the moment and I'm worried about everyone's safety."

He added that Chloe is recovering from her accident at the family home on Coalshaw Green Road however is struggling with pain in her leg following the accident at 5pm on Monday.

She is also having to sleep downstairs as her injury makes it impossible to get upstairs to her bedroom every night.

Mark is calling for action on those who park on double yellow lines and wants to see a pedestrian crossing introduced to improve safety on the road.

The 46-year-old, who has two older children, said: "I live on the this road so I see the dangers every day.

"There was nothing the driver or Chloe could have done.

"Boy racers speed up the road at all hours ­- I hear their engines during the day and into the night.

"It could have been one of them that had hit Chloe.

"Something needs to be done on the road to make sure no-one else is injured or even killed here.

"We need people being fined or stopped from parking on the yellow lines.

"It also needs a proper pedestrian crossing with traffic lights as people just speed through Zebra crossings.

"I know there are a lot of residents in the area who feel the same and want change before it is too late.

"I've written a letter to the Council about the dangers of this road and I hope it will lead to something being done."