Residents who live in the shadow of Old Trafford are thinking of moving, with Manchester United matches causing parking chaos and a rise in anti-social behaviour in the area.
United’s stadium attracts thousands of visitors every week, with the 74,000-seater stadium playing host to a side who are still competing in four competitions. The success of Erik ten Hag’s side means the club has the chance to win silverware for the first time in six years this weekend.
The visit to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle will provide some much-needed respite for the people who live in the streets surrounding Old Trafford. Residents have spoken to Manchester Evening News about the problems which come with living in the area.
"These problems have been going on for donkeys years. The fly-tipping and dumping rubbish in the alleyways is just horrendous,” Graham Wright, who has lived on Partridge Street since 1989, told the newspaper.
“The parking is a nightmare. We are thinking of moving and I've actually had my house valued. They are forcing us away."
Wright says parking is the biggest irritation on the street, with visiting supporters ignoring restrictions around games. He believes that the fine for improper parking is not sufficient, meaning fans are happy to run the risk in order to get close to the stadium.
The United club website advises supporters to use official car parks E1 & E2 via Wharfside Way. But Wright says that Partridge Street and Railway Road are the favourite places for visitors.
Meanwhile, the problems of littering and people urinating in the street and down back alleyways remains an unpleasant thing the residents have to deal with. Ali Mirage, who has lived on Sir Matt Busby Way since 2014 says there are not enough police to stop anti-social behaviour.
"The back gates to the alleyway usually stay open, so people sneak in there, take their pants down and urinate. It's a nightmare to be honest, we need the police patrolling the area and the backstreets,” Mirage said.
"On match days it's just a chain of events. You can't park outside your own home which is a scam when we pay the council and our taxes every year.”
Back in January, Trafford Council opened an online consultation to ask residents and local business owners about the problems in the area. A torrent of complaints resulted, prompting the council to admit that they had various issues, including illegal and obstructive parking, supporters urinating in alleys and gardens and littering.
There could be further disruption on the horizon for residents, with a redevelopment of Old Trafford under consideration. Architects Populous, who designed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, have submitted plans to United which range from a £1billion redevelopment of the current structure, or a £2bn complete new-build stadium.
