A ‘nightmare’ parking issue is what the residents surrounding Leigh Sports Village Stadium expect next weekend, when Manchester United Women host Everton. Football supporters' cars were pictured parked up on kerbs, on double yellow lines, and crowding corners dangerously on streets around the ground by police recently.
Greater Manchester Police ticketed several vehicles that were blocking driveways and crowding pavements during the Red Devils 6-0 win over Liverpool on January 15. Now people who live in the area are calling for more action from police, complaining of being left “trapped” in their homes at weekends.
Man United Women share LSV stadium with local rugby league team Leigh Centurions and the Man United men's youth teams, and with the women's team drawing bigger crowds lately, parking issues have become a regular weekend problem.
READ MORE: Man jailed after a tip off about what was under his bed
The popularity of the women’s game has surged since the Women's Euros success last year, and while the boost in crowd numbers at the stadium, which hosted a number of Euros matches, has been welcomed, the streets in the Pennington area of Leigh, which back onto the complex, including Marshall Street, Ledgard Avenue and Wateredge Close, are feeling the impact.
“It’s a nightmare,” Norma Higginbotham stated. “It’s ridiculous. We’ve had to put a sign up asking to keep the driveway clear. They double park on the corner. We can’t get off the drive, fire engines and ambulances would have no chance of getting through.
“I have lived here for 22 years. I wish they hadn’t brought LSV here now, we used to have loads of fields and trees. It’s brought more problems than benefits. I’m now dreading this every weekend. We are forced to stay in as a result of this parking.”
The 62-year-old Marshall Street resident believes this is a safety issue that could be sorted with stricter punishment and residential permits. She claimed they were promised by Wigan Council years ago, but nothing has come about yet.
“They said they would give us permits," she continued. “It was supposed to be residents only. “The council is useless, they said this a few years back. We didn’t get them.
“I think that might help. We need more police presence and to actually ticket them.
“A resident did get a ticket the other weekend - so the permits are important. I’m concerned for my grandkids playing on the streets as well. We’ve seen a little dog getting killed after being hit by a car - it was such a shame, you don’t want that to be a child.”
Wigan Council has been asked whether they have considered putting in residential zones around the LSV complex, which is also home to a Morrisons supermarket, a hotel, Wigan and Leigh College, a gym and a sports complex for Leigh Harriers and Leigh East rugby league club.
They say they are aware of the problems and are working with police and sending Civil Enforcement Officers to issue tickets to cars parked illegally. The council added that it was looking at 'how best to tackle this issue in consultation with all residents, including a possible survey... to see whether a ‘Resident Permit Parking Scheme’ may be a suitable solution', and would encourage people to park in town and leave the car at home.
Other Marshall Street residents describe being blocked in. Jim Barker and his partner Barbara Scott have resorted to parking a car in front of their own drive to stop people blocking them in every match day.
The couple are pleased to see the women’s game grow - but believe organisation and consideration for residents should be a priority.
“They block everyone's entrances,” Jim said. “No one is giving them tickets like they used to do.
“Years ago there were plenty of traffic wardens, they are a bit thin on the ground now. Everybody is sick of them parking down the streets. I think traffic wardens should go around and stick tickets on them. It is a nightmare.”
His partner Barbara is concerned about the children being hit by cars. With grand children of her own, she worries they could be in danger if they go near the road, with cars on the pavement blocking the view for drivers going past.
“They are parking on the yellow lines and around the edge which is dangerous because they stop traffic getting through,” she added. “I have never seen so many cars during this last match.
“All the car parks were absolutely rammed. But they were parked on this corner. You wouldn’t get emergency service vehicles around the corner. If someone rang an ambulance or the fire brigade you’d have no chance of getting them down here.
“There are a lot of kids around here as well. Little kids would think nothing of going into the road.”
One resident described writing to the council, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and GMP about the issue. He said he could only just get his Range Rover out of Ledgard Avenue on January 15, so a fire engine “would have no chance”.
The Ledgard Avenue resident, who wanted to stay anonymous, said: “It is absolutely atrocious - the stadium holds about 8,000 people and they have car parking for 1,000. It’s open carnage and people park where they want with no consideration for residents.
“They know they won’t get a ticket. The problem is they’re lazy and don’t want to walk far and don’t want to pay for it. Slapping tickets- on the cars is the only way - if it hits your back pocket right now with the financial situation we are in, that will deter people. That signage won’t work.
“They [event organisers] need to think about parking. That day [January 15] was particularly bad - physically I could only just get in.”
The stadium has capacity for around 12,000 - but rarely has all the stands open at one time for games, with 1,000 parking spaces, all of them accessed by a roundabout on Sale Way.
A Wateredge Close resident, whose street can access LSV through a short ginnel on the south side of the complex, is also demanding residential zones. Kate Greenhalgh claimed that Leigh Cricket Club’s bonfire night event had better parking controls than the stadium on match days.
“Nobody seems to park there (at LSV),” she said. “I think we should have residential zones in our area as well. It puts children at risk playing in the street. You can’t see them when you’re coming around the corner.
“It’s really dangerous and I don’t think it should be allowed. It was like being in Piccadilly Square [on January 15].”
Residents want to see action of the kind taken by GMP on January 15 scaled up. After the Liverpool game, GMP Leigh posted on social media saying: "Following complaints from residents, several tickets have been issued to vehicles parked on the streets surrounding Leigh Sports Village, Leigh. Vehicles parked in an inconsiderate manner and causing an obstruction or posing a danger to pedestrians have been issued Traffic Offence Reports.
"Please be considerate to residents, pedestrians and other road users and park safely. When parking, please make sure that you don't block a driveway and make sure to leave sufficient room at junctions and on pavements for wheelchairs, pushchairs, mobility scooters and pedestrians to pass by without issue. We will continue to monitor the area and issue traffic offence reports to those who can't park responsibly."
A Wigan Council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the reported parking issues around Leigh Sports Village on match days. We are looking at how best to tackle this issue in consultation with all residents, including a possible survey of local streets surrounding the LSV to see whether a ‘Resident Permit Parking Scheme’ may be a suitable solution.
“In the shorter term, we will continue to work alongside the LSV and the police in tackling this parking concern on match days, including sending Civil Enforcement Officers to issue tickets to cars parked illegally. There is car parking available on site at the LSV, but on busy match days this does fill up quickly.
"We would encourage people to plan ahead and use car parks in town which are within walking distance of the ground. With alternative travel options available, including high quality walking and cycling paths around the LSV, and Leigh Bus Station a 10-minute walk away, we would also encourage visitors to leave the car at home if they can.”
READ NEXT:
- The tragedy of an 'adored' dad-of-three, 29, killed in tram crash
- Mum left with bald patches after 'drunk woman' hurled abuse and ripped out her hair in attack that halted Lewis Capaldi gig
- 'Selfish' parents caught parking across driveways near primary school
- The hilltop trail in Greater Manchester with stunning views on a clear winter’s day
- Perverted loner who took hundreds of pictures of women's bottoms is now behind bars
