TONGE Moor residents are furious over the destruction of bollards put up to try and stop lorries using their street as a short cut.

Union Road was blocked off with concrete bollards last March in an effort to stop huge lorries bound for the Tonge Valley Industrial Estate rumbling down the narrow street.

Residents were "over the moon" when the blockade was erected according to Cllr Margaret McFadden, who campaigned along with residents and Cllr Paul Perry to have the bollards installed when the problem first began in 1992. Since they were put up the bollards have had to be replaced six times at a cost to the council of over £100 apiece.

Residents and the councillors believe that drivers are smashing the bollards so they can get through to the industrial estate.

Bollards have been found dumped in the nearby river after having been demolished and once the lorries can get through they start using the short cut once again.

In the latest incident, two bollards were smashed and the steel reinforcements cut off from the base. There are clear tyre marks where a vehicle has driven through the gap left by the destruction. Ian Hardman, who has lived on Union Road for 11 years, said: "It's a complete disgrace. Lorries come through at all hours. We've had 32-ton articulated lorries down here and its deadly for the kids."

Ken Clare, of the council's highways department, said: "It would really take some effort to break these bollards. It can't be kids.

"The road has had to be re-surfaced countless times. It's just not meant for these huge lorries. It just gets worn out."

Cllr Perry said: "We've campaigned for years about this road but every time we replace the bollards they get demolished again. They just won't give up. This is the last straw. These residents want some peace and quiet, they don't need this kind of hassle." The highways department would like to put in removable bollards so that emergency services can get through, but this proved impossible after they were destroyed immediately the last time they were erected.

The next step will be for the highways department to replace the bollards once more. But if they get destroyed again then a new solution to the problem will have to be found.

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