RESIDENTS next to a controversial football ground have claimed fans ruin their lives on nightmare matchdays.
Neighbours of Rochdale AFC’s Crown Oil Arena have said it is “madness” that there are no parking restrictions in the streets surrounding the ground.
They say fans of the Greater Manchester club park across their driveways, block their cars in and take up all the spaces, leaving them in the lurch.
Ken Harris, 71, told The Sun Online: “It can be a nightmare on matchday.
“It’s not a small stadium and you can’t park outside most grounds in the country.
“Something needs to be done.”
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Rochdale Borough Council are currently considering bringing in parking restrictions amid complaints, which Ken said he is “glad” about.
Fellow local Sharon Atkison, 33, added: “It’s chaos…The streets can be gridlocked as the fans park anywhere.
“I’m sick of it.”
The stadium is regularly attended by 3,000 fans for home games as they cheer on their boys in blue.
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Flyers have now been sent out by the council asking whether residents’ permits should be required on matchday, all the time or not at all.
However, not everyone is fully supportive.
Lifelong ‘Dale fan Nick Abbott, 43, fumed: “Councils should be supporting clubs not trying to drive away fans.
“We’re a small club. It’s not as if we’re Man United down the road with more than 70,000 fans turning up.
“We have just a few thousand. The council should just back off and leave well alone.”
Colin Cavanaugh, chair of the Dale Trust fan group, said: “We have already had elderly members report back to us that they will be unable to attend matches should these restrictions be brought in and they are forced to park further away.”
The club declined to comment.
Councillor Shah Wazir, the cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We launched this consultation in the Spotland area after concerns were raised by local residents and ward councillors about inconsiderate parking.
“At this stage, we’re gauging the opinion of both residents and local stakeholders, and the response to this consultation will inform any next steps.”
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The consultation is open until June 30.
It comes after another group of residents near a major stadium said that the redevelopment of the ground will make their lives hell.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
