Longford Park, Trafford is a beautiful 54-acre park for families to enjoy on the border of Chorlton.

In recent years, the popularity of the park has increased and so has the rise of cars using the non-visitor carpark located off Cromwell Road, and not the Ryebank Road entrance for all visitors. 
This has created a ‘death trap’, of sorts for toddlers and children as well as dogs, cyclists and the vulnerable, whom roam freely up and down, frequenting the seating area outside the cafe’. 

Essential vehicles, residents and disabled parking should be the ONLY vehicles using the lane. The lane would still be open for them, so access would not be compromised. 
These essential vehicles would be:

•RESIDENTS/EMERGENCY, REFUGE, DELIVERY VEHICLES                                            •CAFE’ STAFF/SCOUT LEADERS AND PARENTS (the park is dark in Winter for parents picking up children).                            
•DISABLED PARKING AND THOSE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES 

VISITORS TO THE PARK SHOULD NOT BE ON THE LANE AS CURRENT SIGNS STATE- USE THE VISITOR CARPARK OFF RYEBANK ROAD. THIS INCLUDES DISC GOLFERS OR OTHER ATHLETIC TOURNAMENTS - YOU ARE A VISITOR.

I don’t want to wait to see a child killed on the lane. If a car hits you, even at 5-10 mph, it will crush anything underneath. I am hopeful to attain as many signatures as possible whilst the planning application is still being considered. There is a small window of opportunity still left and I am aware, hundreds feel the same as me.

HERE’S WHAT WILL HAPPEN:

 • The small carpark needs to be shut or, at the very least, the gate would need to be kept locked, that runs across it to stop people using the smaller carpark. I don’t care if this upsets a few lazy people who think their own comforts come before the safety of young children and frightened parents every busy weekend.
Fob access for essential vehicles wouldn’t work for cost and logistical reasons. The solution of the gate is simple and wildly obvious, cost-effective and is an instant fix.

•BETTER SIGNAGE ON EDGE LANE TO DIVERT TRAFFIC TO THE CORRECT CARPARK:

Large, red signs on every corner of the turn-offs on Edge Lane, Cromwell Road and Ryebank Road.

The Cromwell Road carpark holds only 12 cars, plus an additional two disabled slots. At the bottom right of the lane are 5 essential disabled spots.

’If the streets are busy from overflow near Ryebank Road carpark, it is because the park is busy and NOT because the lane isn’t allowing visitors. It will make no impact. 12-14 cars will not do this’.

The Lottery Bid consultations have assured us that the visitor carpark will be extended near the tennis courts, allowing the deficit from the non-visitor entrance and extending the main carpark for accommodate an additional 20-30 cars.  
The distance from the main carpark is minutes only on foot and is almost equal in distance to all facilities within the park.

Lastly, a lot of the resident’s are increasingly worried about not being able to park in their designated parking spots.
On warm or weekend days, cars speed into the crescent who do not live there, almost hitting unsuspecting children and dogs as they swing right.

With the Lottery Bid for the Old Barn to be restored, the traffic will inevitably become even worse around that area and must be tackled now, to avoid a tragedy before developments take place. When the Barn and is completed, it will be beautiful. We need to keep this area safe for people visiting it.

THIS MUST TAKE PRESIDENCE OVER ANY OTHER PLAN. SAFETY MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS CAMPAIGN FOR SOMETHING THAT IS SO GLARINGLY OBVIOUS AND DANGEROUS. ITS ABOUT TIME IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY.

If we win, it will reduce the car presence on the lane by over 90%.

Thank you.