18 June 2023 , 07:59
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People living in a village in Greater Manchester have complained their local beauty spot is so popular visitors "drive like d***heads" to get a spot when it's nice weather.
The village of Greenfield is home to the Dovestone Reservoir, located on the western edge of the Peak District National Park.
It is a popular destination for visitors, especially at the weekend, during school holidays and when the weather is sunny.
But the reservoir's popularity means that villagers struggle to cope with the influx of visitors, and locals complain that because the car park often overflows, people are left to park on side streets and outside homes or, as is often the case, illegally on grass verges or double yellow lines.
A Holmfirth Road resident told the Manchester Evening News: "Every time it's nice weather, it's busy. They park on the side roads, on Hollins Lane. It's just gridlocked.
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Many people drive to the area to visit Dovestone Reservoir (MEN Media)"And there are quite a few accidents with people slowing down trying to find a parking place. But it's a nice place for people to enjoy. I think people should be able to come and enjoy it, we just need better facilities."
Police and traffic wardens occasionally patrol the area dishing out tickets to anyone caught parking illegally - but the gridlock has led to angry rows between villagers and visitors.
Last month Louise Donnelly, who lives near to the reservoir, shared a video showing the area packed with cars while neighbours asked drivers to park considerately.
"Me and the neighbours are trying to get everybody to move from here but there is lots and lots of cars and they are starting to park down the lane. There are no wardens on," she said at the time.
Greenfield is a small village near Manchester (Men Media)"We are telling people to move in case we need to get the emergency services through. However, we are getting shouted at, sworn at, and it's the same story all the time. Something really needs to be done about it because it's getting out of hand."
Another village also said there are concerns about visitors risking moor fires by having barbecues and of dog walkers letting their pets off the lead and worrying the livestock.
"I never go," she said. "I used to walk my dog there all the time, but there's no pleasure in going any more.
"Every Saturday and Sunday it's chokka block. They put double yellow lines down from here to the Yorkshire border, but people just ignore them.
"If there's four of them in the car they just think 'We'll pay the £60 fine'. Yes, it's for everyone but people just need to respect the countryside and the people who live here."
The reservoir's car park is often full so people leave their cars along the road (MEN Media)Louise Donnelly, who lives at Hey Top, a row of cottages overlooking Dovestone, said sometimes it can take 30 to 40 minutes to get to the main road because of the high number of people driving to Dovestone.
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She said: "People think it's a one way road, so they're shouting and swearing at you as you try to get out."
She added that due to this issue, many locals stay indoors at the weekend and do their grocery shopping during the week as it takes time to get to the main road.
Ms Donnelly also said: "We get loads of walkers coming past gawking in the window. I'm getting quite rude in my old age, so I say to them 'It's five for a look, 10 for a stare'.
"But the parking and the access is the main thing. It's mental. They drive like d***heads, they park all along the lane. You couldn't get an ambulance up here if you needed one."
Parking fines being issued for illegal parking around Dovestone Reservoir in February 2021 (MEN Media)It's a tricky balance between visitors' enjoyment of the landscape and the comfort and convenience of locals, as one Manchester Road resident acknowledges.
"I think a lot of people discovered Dovestone during lockdown when walking was the only thing to do," she said. "It was definitely a lot quieter before.
"I know it gets to a lot of people, but I've lived here all my life and it doesn't bother me. If you’re going to live in a beautiful place like this, you can't keep it to yourself."
In a statement earlier this month United Utilities, which owns the reservoir, said: "We remind all visitors to park considerately when visiting the recreation site and to be respectful to the local community and environment."