A NEW kind of "road rage" has gripped an entire close of neighbours who claim new council bollards keep them virtual prisoners. The concrete barriers block off half of Foster Lane, in Breightmet, forcing residents of Marlow Close to turn out onto busy Red Lane, using what they describe as a "very dangerous" junction. The bollards were installed in Foster Lane earlier in the year, but Mrs Winifred Bleasdale says she and every one of her neighbours in Marlow Close are opposed to the new obstruction.
She said: "The bollards prevent us driving onto Dovedale Road from Foster Lane. We now have no option but to tackle a very dangerous junction.
"Turning right or left onto Red Lane from Foster Lane is very bad in the best of conditions, but in the icy weather it is almost impossible. The council says it did advertise the fact that these bollards were going to be put up, but I never caught sight of any notices, and neither did any of the neighbours.
"When I first saw the bollards, I was very upset and had no idea my feelings were shared by just about everyone else living in Marlow Close.
"It is only through a matter of time that we have come to realise we are all as upset as one another.
"The council says that the bollards were put up because there was a problem with thieves using that section of Foster Lane as a quick getaway.
"But a portion of that road is unadopted and I would defy anyone to be 'quick' on it.
"I am very upset that we were never consulted. We are now faced with a daily safety hazard every time we leave our homes."
Escape
A council spokesman replied: "There was an issue about crime in the area and it was felt that the bollards would stop a potential escape route.
"The proposals were advertised in the press and with street notices in the usual way and we liaised with the emergency services.
"Foster Lane at that point is unmade, while at the junction with Red Lane it is surfaced and of a better standard. Furthermore we do not have any record of any accidents at this junction."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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