RESIDENTS of a narrow cul-de-sac in Sale are furious about refurbishment work going ahead at a nearby factory - bringing havoc to their homes.

They say construction at the Floorbrite Cleaning company on Cranford Avenue has caused them no end of heartache.

And they want to know how the company managed to obtain planning consent for the work when the vast majority of local homeowners objected.

Michelle Reece, who lives on the avenue, told SAM: "The avenue is not very wide and is made up of terraced houses so there is no other place for people to park their cars apart from on the road. This leads to problems almost every 10 minutes when articulated trucks come past and demand that we move our cars."

Neighbour Bernard Massey said: "It is outrageous and is forcing me and my wife to move out after over twenty years here.

"No provision has been made for the damage that will be inevitably caused to the road surface with the extra volume of traffic and the 'short-term' work is set to go on until December."

Mr Massey added: "Add to this the fact that they start work at 7am and also work weekends as well as talking down to you, and you have no quality of life."

Senior assistant director for planning at Trafford council, Mike Crawley told SAM: "The company has been at that site for some years and although we did take on board the concerns of local residents, we felt that the reconstruction of the site was needed."

He added: "The traffic increase is due to the construction work which is only likely to be temporary and although it may be of some inconvenience to residents, everybody has to try and cooperate with each other as there is no easy way around the situation."

Works director at Floorbrite, Mike Burley told SAM: "The work involves the building of a new warehouse and the articulated trucks are shipping earth in and out of the premises for the foundations.

"As with any construction, it is inevitable that there will be some inconvenience and it is unfortunate but we are doing everything that we possibly can to keep the disruption to a minimum."

He added: "The trucks have been warned that Cranford Avenue is a small cul-de-sac and we do understand the feelings of the local residents but if there was any other way then we would do it that way.

"We have asked neighbours for their co-operation and want to put their minds at rest, with the major works coming to an end within the next month."

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