There has been a chemists on Whittaker Lane for 100 years. There is also now a barbers, hairdressers, pet grooming parlour, sandwich shop, general store, two takeaways, beauty salon, upholstery repairs, a garage workshop, two haidressers, the Goods In restaurant, and the Royal Oak pub.
The council says there have been parking restrictions on the lane for decades but have opted for double yellow lines so they can enforce restrictions when signs get stolen or vandalised. They claim signs have been defaced or removed six times in the last year. They also claim that there is adequate parking available in the area.
"The double yellow lines are a blunt instrument and are heavy handed. The council is a democratic institution and should therefore act like one. These double yellow will effect livelihoods, local livelihoods. We have had no consultation at all. This is simply a diktat being brought down upon high and it's simply not the way we do things around here.
"It will impact on every single business on the whole street. Elderly customers will have to find parking half a mule away, they will not want to come in. If they make it hard for people to park they are going to say sod that I will go somewhere else." Irfan Ghani, who runs the Premier convenince store, said: "The council need to see our needs. My customers pop in and pop out - they need just five or ten minutes. In the current economic climate the council has put the rates bill up, my electricity bill has doubled from £2,000 to £4,000. Now this proposal could affect sales, shops will shut, - it will be a ghost town again."
“On wider traffic issues: Whittaker Lane is used by 2,400 vehicles every weekday and is the only thoroughfare linking Bury New Road to Bury Old Road in Prestwich, so is vital for our emergency services. It is also on two bus routes and is used by replacement Metrolink buses.