A heavily pregnant nurse is among a number of Ancoats residents who were told they couldn’t use parking spaces they paid for — with two days notice.
Residents in The Chips building, on Lampwick Lane, received emails and letters on their vehicles on Friday afternoon (May 12), advising them that they would need to leave their spaces by Monday (May 16). Currently, cladding replacement work is ongoing at the building.
It’s left residents in arms over the decision, with those affected paying for spaces. Residential Management Group (RMG), the firm which manages the building, says it is now looking at alternative sites.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
In total, 12 bays have been fenced off to allow scaffolding to go up, with six of these being commercial spaces, and six owned or leased by residents.
“We weren’t given even one working day's notice,” the nurse, who has asked to stay anonymous, told the Manchester Evening News. “I called customer service and was told that they knew nothing about it but that someone would get back to me, but they did not. I’ve spoken to multiple people at RMG including the regional manager.
“Despite explaining the impact this issue of having nowhere to park is going to have — I’m six months pregnant, and work 13 hour shifts as a nurse, so need to be able to park my car when I get home at 10pm — I was told that there are no available bays or alternative provisions for those affected.”
Another resident, who has called the building home for four years, added: “I have mobility issues and I need another space. I cannot park on the street. Crime is on the rise around here. Since Covid, people have got desperate.
“My friend who has a property has a space and I park there because he does not drive. I have it. He got the email saying they would suspend it but not suspend the payment, and then on top of that they are expecting you to sort another place.”
A spokesperson for RMG said that staff let residents know about the parking suspension ‘as we became aware’. They also said that alternative sites are being sought. The Manchester Evening News understands they include Stubbs Mill, and nearby SIP sites.
A statement from RMG said: “We totally sympathise with the six private owners whose car park spaces have had to be utilised for the scaffolding. We have informed residents as soon as we became aware and are currently trying to source alternative parking.
“Throughout the project the residents are supported by the Contractors Residents Liaison Manager who is working to keep residents updated and ensure minimum disruption, but the priority has to be the removal of the non-compliant external wall system having secured funding. We will continue to keep residents updated and will advise as soon as we can regarding the anticipated date the scaffolding can be removed for Phase 1.”
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
