Residents say living near hospital is a parking ‘nightmare’
DELAYS in extending a parking scheme around The Christie have created a ‘nightmare’ on roads in south Manchester, residents say.
Cars left by staff along narrow residential streets are blocking delivery drivers and have created a long-running headache for those living near the site.
Didsbury and Withington residents are now stepping up calls for the council to urgently bring in a previously-promised controlled parking zone, a move they say has been held-up ‘unnecessarily.’
Bosses say the final sign-off for the scheme – included in plans to create a multi-storey car park at the hospital – will come ‘imminently.’
Didsbury resident Claudine Edwards, 35, said: “It’s a nightmare. Before moving here we were advised that the street would have a permit scheme. Deliveries can’t get down here.”
Residents said they had no animosity towards Christie staff, but said the situation was affecting their lives, particularly when the areas are hit by schools traffic and commuters using the nearby tram stop.
When the M.E.N. visited the area this week, one road was so packed that a van was parked sideways across the pavement and road to create space for a builder’s vehicle.
The immediate residential area around The Christie is subject to a parking permit scheme, in place since 2015.
As part of plans to build a new multi-storey car park for hospital staff tabled last year, bosses said the scheme would be extended to more streets.
Liberal Democrat leader in Manchester John Leech said the plan had been held up ‘unnecessarily.’
The existing parking scheme has meant the problem has been displaced to areas slightly further away but still within walking distance of the hospital.
Resident Diane Frost said that when she leaves home at 6.30am, cars are waiting to take her space.
When she returns in the evening, she often can’t find a spot outside her house and has to park streets away, she said.
Diane said the problem wouldn’t be solved until Christie workers are guaranteed affordable parking by the hospital.
Christine Hoare, 60, said it is not only hospital staff who park in residential streets, and that the neighbouring West Didsbury tram stop adds to the problem. “People go on holiday and get the tram to the airport. They leave their cars on the street for several days,” she said.
Ward councillor for Didsbury West David Ellison said there was an urgent need for the parking scheme to be extended.
“We’ve had lots of people parking on residential roads for many years,” he said. “It’s a big concern.” Last year, The Christie was given planning permission for the multistorey car park, set back from Cotton Lane. The application said ‘section 106’ cash would be used to expand the controlled parking zone (CPZ).
But this agreement is yet to be finalised, preventing the CPZ from moving forward, while the building of the car park is also on hold.
Resident James Machin has started a petition urging the town hall and The Christie to unblock what he described as an ‘impasse.’
Residents have been waiting for the extended permits for more than a year, he said.
The proposed development plans were discussed by the council’s executive this week with members saying they were hopeful of progress in the near future.
A report tabled for the meeting said: “The revenue costs have not yet been agreed and need to be resolved as part of the implementation of further phases of work at the site.”
A spokesperson for the Christie said they were aware of the parking ‘challenges’ currently faced by residents.
A statement said: “We are keen to resolve the ongoing issue regarding the s106 parking zone around The Christie site with Manchester city council, and discussions are ongoing to finalise an agreement as soon as possible.
“We are keen to help (residents) in every way possible to keep inconvenience and disruption to a minimum.”