CONCERNED residents have vented their anger at careless motorists using an Altrincham road – and are demanding action before lives are lost on the ‘dangerous’ stretch.

Friends of John Leigh Park called a meeting with neighbours, PCSO Dan Clarke and Trafford Councillor Alex Williams recently over concerns that parking arrangements and speeding drivers on Oldfield Road are putting lives at risk on a daily basis.

The group said that it has appealed to both Trafford Council and the police but problems persist.

One of the major concerns relate to motorists’ ‘inconsiderate, illegal and dangerous’ parking.

The group said that cars park up to both corners of the junction with Medway Crescent, so drivers coming out of the crescent are blind to oncoming traffic on the main road. This is made worse, they said, by cars parked directly opposite the junction, narrowing the road.

Other cars are parked on the footpath opposite the park which ‘makes it impossible’ for people in wheelchairs and buggies to get past, forcing them onto the road. Many of the cars are believed to belong to workers, who park up for the day and walk into Altrincham.

“There are also signs indicating 20mph but these are often ignored. Some drivers enter Oldfield Road from the A556, without slowing at the Wheatsheaf corner, and career on as if the road was a racetrack,” said Dave Jolley, from Friends of John Leigh Park.

“There have been six crashes on this section of road already this year. People want action taken before there are more crashes, injuries and death.”

The One Trafford partnership said it is ‘fully committed to road safety’. In 2013, a number of additional warning signs were installed, including new ‘SLOW’ road markings and new bend warning sign with advisory max speed 20MPH.

It said that an existing zebra crossing warning sign near the junction of Weldon Road is due to be moved to allow for greater visibility in the coming weeks.

The spokesperson said: “The budget to progress waiting restriction schemes in 2016/17 is now fully allocated; with 25 schemes identified. Towards the end of this financial year, the list of roads where requests for restrictions have been received will be revisited.

“If funding is allocated next financial year, work would commence as soon as is practicable on proposals followed by a statutory consultation period. As part of this process, frontage properties in the vicinity of any proposals would receive a letter and a plan detailing the proposals as part of a statutory three week period.”

Dave Jolley, from Friends of John Leigh Park, said: “It is good to know that the problems are recognised and that there are plans for improvements, but we are not comfortable with the delays implicit in this response.

“The fear is that something preventable will happen for lack of action now.

“Our view is that the 20mph limit should be compulsory and supported by cameras and fines for people who travel faster than the limit.

“We are urging the police to use the law now to make the situation safer by taking action against people who park illegally. This is especially at and near road junctions and against those who drive recklessly and fast in this road, which is so heavily used by children and families.”

And Oldfield Road is not the only headache for John Leigh Park.

Back in August, the park gate on Hartley Road, off Oldfield Road, was smashed into in the early hours of the morning.

The car drove into the gate at speed, knocking down a decades old pillar, which the group had hoped to protect due to its age and heritage.

If you notice any dangerous behaviour, contact the police on 101.