'I'm isolated from half of my hometown because of inconsiderate people who won't obey the rules'

A wheelchair user says parts of his hometown have become no-go zones thanks to inconsiderate drivers who ignore yellow lines and block pavements.

Terry Fleming, 65, now 'avoids' using Union Street in Oldham - notorious for its antisocial parking - out of fear of getting stuck. Describing the situation as a 'nightmare', he says the road has been a ‘problem area’ for years.

Despite being marked by double yellow lines and visible tram tracks, cars often mount the kerb and park along or even on the pavement throughout the afternoon and evening.

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The illegal parking is known to cause tram delays and problems for wheelchair users and pedestrians with prams. But the situation is difficult for traffic wardens to police, with councillors previously linking the problem to unregistered vehicles operating as delivery vehicles for Union Street businesses.

Fleming, who is ex-army and often has to use a chair because of his multiple sclerosis, said: "Any time after 5pm, there's cars everywhere on Union Street. I avoid it now.

"The parking issues are a nightmare. My wheelchair is just over 32 inches wide and sometimes, I just can’t get past."

The issue could put Fleming into dangerous situations, he says, having to push his wheelchair into the road or cross the street because he can't squeeze through the narrow gaps left by drivers. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they have 'no regard at all' for wheelchair users.

Cars also frequently park across dropped kerbs, which are 'essential' to wheelchair users being able to cross the road safely, Fleming explained.

"Pavement parking brings my blood to boiling point," he added, saying the