Residents see red over new double yellow lines

Residents Michelle Kight and Denise Murphy said the newly painted double yellow lines had made things worse

New parking restrictions designed to ease traffic congestion have actually made matters worse, some residents have complained.

Double yellow lines were painted on Major Street in Milnrow earlier this month after Rochdale Council received complaints about driveways being blocked by parked cars.

Resident Michelle Kight said the "bad but manageable" situation had deteriorated due to even fewer parking spaces now being available.

A council spokesman said councillors would discuss any concerns raised.

The yellow lines were painted by council workers within the space of an hour, said Denise Murphy, causing her fellow residents to gather on the street to "wonder what had happened",

"It’s only been a week but already it’s a nightmare," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, adding that there had previously been "harmony on the street".

"I’d only been out to Aldi for 45 minutes and when I was back the lines were done," she said.

"I was like, 'Oh My God!'. Surely someone at the council has some common sense? Nobody has put any thought into that whatsoever."

Residents said they feared moving their cars because they were worried they may not be able to find another space upon their return

A petition which has already gathered more than 100 signatures has urged the council to reconsider the 50-yard (47m) lines.

The matter was raised at the Pennines Township Committee, where Rochdale councillors agreed to look into the matter and examine the potential costs of providing more parking on the street.

A council spokesman said the local authority had not received any objections to the new parking restrictions during the three weeks they had been advertised on lampposts and in the local press.