Double yellows to be made permanent at Dovestone Reservoir

Double yellow lines introduced to tackle problem parking around Dovestone Reservoir are to be made permanent.

The popular Saddleworth beauty spot is one of Oldham’s biggest attractions for visitors from outside the borough.

However daytrippers flocking to the site has resulted in a parking nightmare around the reservoir as demand often outstrips the number of official parking spaces.

More than 170 drivers were slapped with fines for parking illegally at the reservoir over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

There is legal parking for around 125 vehicles at the Bank lane and Binn Green car parks, but when full, people often park on the roadside and surrounding lanes.

This had initially occurred on Holmfirth Road despite there being a central double white line on the road which prevents vehicles stopping or parking on the carriageway.

An Oldham council report states that enforcement of double white lines is undertaken by the police but ‘due to the need for a continual presence on site, it has not been possible for them to undertake effective enforcement’.

They add: “Motorists are therefore either happy to take a chance and park in the hope they do not get observed or they do not appreciate that parking adjacent double white lines is an offence.”

The introduction of the first lockdown also led to an increase in the visitor numbers at Dovestone as people wanted to use the area for their daily exercise. 

This saw more cars parking along Holmfirth Road and led to a ‘safety critical problem’ for moving traffic. 

Parking also started occurring on the side roads of Hollins Lane and Tunstead Lane which caused problems for residents living there. 

Officers add: “As well causing a safety issue for moving traffic, pedestrians were also being forced to walk within the carriageway to pass by parked vehicles, in conflict with moving traffic; pedestrians were also unable to practice social distancing.” 

Consequently the highways team at the council implemented waiting and loading restrictions along Holmfirth Road and parts of Tunstead Lane and Hollins Lane in June last year under emergency powers.

These were also extended to Manchester Road in Greenfield and the entrance to Waterside.

But emergency orders can only operate for a maximum of 18 months and officers say it was ‘hoped’ that this period would be long enough to quell problems while lockdown measures were eased.

“However, this has not been the case and the level of parking taking place is still problematic,” they state.

“Whilst it is not possible to address all the parking issues without severely affecting the Greenfield residents, it is felt that the orders introduced under emergency powers should be made permanent,” officers conclude.

 Saddleworth North councillor Graham Sheldon said he supported the proposal, adding he lived locally and could testify that the restrictions are ‘working well’.

The traffic restrictions are to be permanently introduced on Holmfirth Road, Hollins Lane, Tunstead Lane, Manchester Road and Waterside.

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