The Bradford 'Wacky Races' street plagued by bad driving

BBC News

2 days ago

Residents of a Bradford cul‑de‑sac in an area dubbed "Wacky Races" have said anti-social driving and nuisance parking are making life "intolerable".One man told the BBC he missed visiting his dying father because his driveway was blocked, and his neighbours on Oakwood Grove in Toller said cars are often left across pavements and on double yellow lines.They also describe anti-social behaviour such as revving engines and drivers performing "donuts" in the road, garden walls being knocked down and emergency services and delivery workers forced to knock on people's doors to get access.A petition has now been handed to Bradford Council to demand tougher enforcement and is under consideration.
Residents blamed the inconsiderate parking on visitors and workers coming and going from takeaways on the main road, staff at nearby schools and nurseries, and parents on the school run.Asim Khan, who moved to Bradford five years ago, said the situation was so bad that he had considered returning to London."It's just making life unnecessarily difficult for us on a daily basis," he said."It reached boiling point for me in April. My dad was very sick in hospital and a lady blocked my driveway and I couldn't get to the hospital. Although I made it later on to see my dad, he died a few days later. That incident just left me really emotional and distressed.""The road is already quite narrow, and emergency vehicles can't get past," he added."It's a life‑or‑death situation, unfortunately."Mr Khan and his neighbours have now submitted a petition to Bradford Council which calls for tougher enforcement, including extended double yellow lines and ANPR cameras.
The wider Toller Lane area was recently described as a "Wacky Races" hotspot because of drivers ignoring rules around parking.Mohammed Asif, who has lived there for 27 years, said his disabled son often cannot be collected by an access bus.And Anna Lotycka, a resident of the street since 1967, said: "I've had my garden wall knocked down three times and the gate is all mangled up."It isn't just bad parking, it's actually bad driving that you're a victim of. "It's damage to the property and it puts my insurance up."She said the irresponsible behaviour also extended to lorry drivers making deliveries to nearby businesses and parking in the cul-de-sac.
Another woman who had lived in the street for nearly 50 years, but asked not to be named, said she felt "panic" every time she goes outside her house because of the traffic situation."Sometimes the grocery truck comes to sell us vegetables," she said. "You want to go out, but there are cars on both sides."Then when he wants to leave, he knocks on every house and window and says 'please can you move your car so we can get out'."It's very, very difficult for us."Another homeowner, Sajid Khaliq, added: "Sometimes we have service vehicles; they can't even get through. On a few occasions, I've had my driveway blocked, and it's inconvenient. "You need to get to work and you're outside, just waiting for somebody to come and move their vehicle. It's ridiculous."The road should be used by residents rather than other people. They come and park here when there's room on the main road."
Bradford Council has referred the petition to a local area committee before consideration by the decision-making executive.However the authority has recently increased its action on anti-social behaviour around driving including the expansion of a Public Space Protection Order.Last year, the council pledged to step up action on illegal parking and dangerous driving after rising complaints.The council says it employs 36 civil enforcement officers, with patrols during weekdays, evenings and weekends, and its School Streets schemes have been introduced in several parts of the district to ease congestion in residential areas.On pavement parking specifically, the council has said it is pressing the government for stronger national legislation. It also continues to work with West Yorkshire Police through its Operation Steerside to target anti-social driving."It was really quiet back then when I moved here," Ms Lotycka added."There was hardly any traffic. And now, it's just an absolute nightmare."
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