Residents in Chorlton are becoming increasingly frustrated by persistent pavement parking, claiming it is leaving pavements difficult to use, creating safety concerns, and in some cases, disrupting essential services.
People living in the south Manchester suburb say vehicles regularly mount pavements, forcing wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs, and other pedestrians into the road. Residents also report difficulties accessing driveways and navigating narrow residential streets where parked cars restrict movement.
Bin Collections Disrupted
One incident, shared on social media, saw a refuse lorry unable to access a residential road because vehicles had been parked on both sides of the street, leaving bins uncollected.
A Biffa spokesperson said: "Incorrectly parked vehicles can occasionally prevent our crews from safely driving down some streets and collecting people's bins. As a result, we've been leaving notes on vehicles that block access to help raise awareness of the impact this can have on our work. When this happens crews will return either later that day or the next day to attempt collection if the cars have moved. Our crews also plan routes to avoid school run congestion where possible."
Residents Speak Out
The issue is said to be particularly noticeable around Beech Road, where busy bars and restaurants attract visitors at weekends, with some drivers leaving vehicles on nearby residential streets.
Stephen Allen said the situation had steadily worsened. "It's gotten a lot worse and people are getting a lot more cars," he said. "Some people do park considerably and others can't park. They put half the car on the pavement and there isn't enough space for prams to get down." He said the impact is felt directly outside his home. "A lot of the time I've not been able to get in front of my own house," he said. "I've seen people walking in the road because they haven't been able to access the pavement. I've seen cars virtually on the pavement, they don't show any consideration. It's frustrating because my wife has arthritis and it's hard for us to walk, we should be able to walk outside our own house."
Frank O'Neill, 74, said he has lived in the area all his life and has seen significant change. "I've lived round here all my life and seen massive changes," he said. "On really nice days you get cars coming this way and that way and blocking the roads." He added: "There's been times when I haven't found parking on the street."
Chris Phillips, 72, said increased demand from visitors to Beech Road has contributed to pressure on surrounding streets. "It's a common issue and you have the added issue of the bars and restaurants where more cars come to park and they don't seem to have any sense," he said. "It's gotten worse in the last 5 to 6 years as Beech Road is popular." Mr Phillips said residents had previously called for stronger parking restrictions. "There has been a petition for yellow lines and they've said that there isn't a case for it but I don't know why," he said. "We also asked for double yellow lines around the corners because there's always someone parked there and you can't see around the corner." He added: "People park outside your house so you can't get out. On the weekend you'll find cars parked anywhere on the pavement. A lot of people in pushchairs struggle to get around on the pavement and have had to use the road."
Campaign Group Weighs In
While many residents are calling for stronger enforcement, others say the issue reflects wider pressures on residential streets, including increased car ownership and limited off-street parking, with some motorists arguing they have little choice but to park partly on pavements to allow traffic to pass.
Campaign group Walk Ride GM, which campaigns for safer and more accessible streets, said the problem highlights wider concerns around public space and accessibility. A Walk Ride GM spokesperson said: "It doesn't surprise us that people are expressing their frustration and we are happy to work with anyone who shares our vision that our public spaces need to prioritise accessibility for people and clamp down on antisocial parking that has blighted that vision for so long. We all know how this has negatively impacted people who rely most on having accessible routes available, people using wheelchairs, parents with children in a buggy. It also impacts us all, we're all pedestrians, and we can't even continue a conversation side-by-side when forced into a long, single-file squeeze. Pavement parking is to the huge detriment of our enjoyment of public spaces. There are some big hotspots for antisocial parking in Chorlton, just as there are across the wider area. Imagine how much better Beech Road would be for the traders, the residents, and the people visiting if they weren't compacted like sardines between obstacles such as cars with ever-growing dimensions. The vision is now within reach, and there needs to be a cultural shift back to using our public spaces how they were intended when built and that means private cars stay on private drives, in dedicated car parking areas or, where there's space, on the carriageway road. We know the council is awaiting news from the Government of the new powers that will be available, that needs to include a London-style pavement parking ban so we can reclaim the public spaces that have been squatted for so long."
Council Response
Residents say they hope stronger enforcement and clearer rules around obstructive parking will improve accessibility and safety across Chorlton’s residential streets.
Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin, Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport, said: "We share people's justified annoyance when it comes to cars blocking pavements. It poses a real danger to members of the public, but especially to those who may have mobility issues like people who use wheelchairs, or families who may have to navigate our streets with pushchairs, or young children. For many years the Council has done everything in its power to lobby successive governments to grant councils more powers which would allow us greater control over our streets, and allow us to punish drivers who flout the rules of the road. Under the current government we understand that measures are being put in place that would allow the Council to prosecute inconsiderate parking, powers that were until now were reserved for the police. In the interim we have tried to use the resources at our disposal to address the issue. Putting in place a range of interventions to combat this issue and respond to what our residents are telling us. These measures can be effective, but, with additional resources at our disposal and the backing of central government we can do more, and will be able to go further."
