An Oldham department store is at the centre of a parking row as residents claim the company has objected to their traffic measurement plans while their drivers continue to flock to the street to buy sandwiches.

Those who live around the Wrigley Head area of Failsworth are currently in the midst of a campaign to stop heavy goods vehicles from driving to and getting stuck down their narrow, one-way streets.

They claim the nightmare began in 2019 when an industrial unit opened on George Street.

Footage over the years shows many of the wagons struggle to fit down the roads and have even caused damage to residents' parked cars. 

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One video shows how a wagon was unable to turn out of Ellesmere Street and residents were woken up and forced out of their homes at 5am to move their cars.

Another shows how an HGV shattered the back window of a parked car as it tried to squeeze past.

The heavy documentation which contains more than 50 videos also shows how the lorries hold up traffic, drive on the pavement and force other cars to either drive on the wrong side of the road or reverse out onto a main road.

The Oldham Times: Video footage shows Housing Units vans often park on a bend, on yellow lines and on the pavementVideo footage shows Housing Units vans often park on a bend, on yellow lines and on the pavement (Image: Gareth Dickson)

However, while Oldham Council proposed a number of traffic management measures to curb the issue on Wrigley Head and Wickentree Lane in August last year - such as a width restriction, additional double yellow lanes and parking amendments - residents claim progress ground to a halt.

This is partly due to objections the proposal received during the advertising period, an email seen by The Oldham Times in April this year revealed.

Neighbours believe the home department store, Housing Units, on Wickentree Lane has been one such business to object.

Gareth Dickson and Gary Bourne have been baffled by the objection as they claim Housing Units "don't have wagons" beyond a distribution centre in Hollinwood and they only see the company's much smaller green vans in the vicinity.

 

 

@theoldhamtimes All for a butty! 🤦🏻‍♀️🥪 #oldham #failsworth #housingunits #cantparkthere #sandwich ♬ original sound - The Oldham Times

 

They also claim the vans make a regular appearance on the street - at breakfast and lunchtime - and "only ever" visit their end of Wrigley Head to "grab a butty" from the sandwich bar on George Street.

Video footage taken over several days show Housing Unit staff parking the vans "in the way", including outside residents' homes, which require a parking permit, and on yellow lines, sharp bends and on the pavement.

Mr Dickson said the vans don't leave enough space for pedestrians, particularly wheelchair users and people with prams who would be forced to either go around the vans into the road or wait for the drivers to move. 

The Oldham Times: Residents also claim the vans park outside their homes, where residents are required to have permitsResidents also claim the vans park outside their homes, where residents are required to have permits (Image: Gareth Dickson)

In one video, two Housing Unit vans appear on George Street and park up on the yellow lines together.

Some of the footage also appears to show Housing Units employees returning to their vans with a bag from the sandwich shop.

Mr Dickson said: "That is the only reason they use the bottom end of Wrigley Head."

When contacted by The Oldham Times, a spokesperson for Housing Units said the company "apologises" for "any inconvenience this may have caused" and said the complaint has been passed on to the "relevant department".

Housing Units did not clarify if and why it had objected to the HGV restriction plan and did not comment further on the footage.

In the latest update on the street, Mr Bourne said neighbours arranged another meeting with Council staff last week and another site visit is in the works to identify solutions to the traffic issues.

Mr Bourne added: "I appreciate the reply, but won't hold my breath. 

"It's been going on for four years."

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.