'It's like being in the Sahara': The street with 'horrendous' dust clouds that make you 'itch all over'

Standing outside her backyard in Oldham, Susan Bartie lifts her finger and glides it across the roof of her car.

The thin layer of dust leaves her fingertip caked in dirt. She dreads to think how much she’s breathed in over the last few months.

She isn’t not alone in her fears. Those living on Oak Street in Shaw say they’ve endured “horrendous” dust clouds in the area lately – with one resident likening the scenes to the Sahara Desert.

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Locals claim problems started following the demolition of Shaw Distribution Centre on opposite Linney Lane. The project, which began last summer, involves destroying three mills to make way for 400 new homes.

Residents say dust and noise from the site has left them unable to open their windows or hang their clothes outside – with some claiming the dust clouds have triggered itchy rashes.

But Metropolitan Demolition, which is responsible for the demolition, says it's taking every step to comply with legislation – from asbestos surveys to water suppression to keep dust levels down. The demolition is set to be completed within four weeks.

“My husband has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and he has to sit in the car until the dust cloud is gone,” resident Susan, 69, told the Manchester Evening News.

“I’ve not been able to go into my garden for years. We’ve been shielding and we’ve been really affected by it. The garden was the only place we felt safe.

“There’s an awful lot of dust. I phone [environmental health] up twice a week.

“The car is filthy. It’s just been horrendous but we know they have a job to do. We have to have the car cleaned once a week. [The dust] just sweeps in.