‘Drug taking, sex and squealing tyres’ at car parks are blighting the lives of residents in Chadderton – and the town hall has vowed to take action.

Regular anti-social behaviour at car parks which serve the Crossley Playing Fields is causing a serious nuisance to neighbours, ward Councillor Colin McLaren told a full council meeting.

The fields are an ‘asset’ which are used and enjoyed by football teams across Oldham, he said.

However the two car parks for those that use the fields, one off Petworth Road and the other next to the Ancora restaurant on Broadway, have become hotspots for bad behaviour.

This has led to part of the Ancora car park being fenced off, with use restricted to match days only.

Addressing Oldham councillors, Coun McLaren called for this same measure to be extended to the Petworth Road site to deter further incidents.

He said: “Both these car parks are subject to serious anti social behaviour involving cars spinning their tyres, drug use and sexual activity which are obviously a major concern for residents in neighbouring properties.

“Ward councillors have worked with local residents, Oldham council officers and Greater Manchester Police to try and solve these issues.

“A scheme has been put in place to fence off a section of the Ancora car park, and this section of the car park will only be available when matches are being played.

“The car park on Petworth Road lies within the Crossley estate and a number of adjacent properties are adapted for people with disabilities and the anti-social behaviour is having a particularly adverse impact on them.

“It would be of great benefit to the residents of Petworth Road and the adjoining tower blocks if the use of this car park was also restricted to match day.”

Deputy cabinet member for policing and community safety, Coun Steve Williams, replied that it was a ‘difficult’ issue.

He said that the community safety officer for that part of Chadderton had been made aware of the issues around Petworth Road and was to visit the site with members of the town hall regeneration department.

“However due to the lack of information, work is ongoing to confirm who actually owns the car park and who is actually responsible for maintaining the land,” he added.

“We recognise the impact that behaviour like this is having on members of our society that may be vulnerable or disabled, and as soon as the land status is confirmed community safety officers will work in partnership with some of our colleagues to develop a response which will seek to resolve the problems currently being faced by residents who live adjacent to this car park.

“However if that was my area, and I was one of your constituents I would be saying absolutely the same thing, because I would not want to put up with that.”