Mysterious 'residents only' signs appear on street, but nobody knows who put them there

Unofficial ‘residents only parking’ signs placed on a quiet cul-de-sac in Prestwich were not put there by the council. Three such signs have appeared on lampposts and metal poles on Scholes Walk in Prestwich.

Their appearance in the past few days has led to speculation that residents tired of being unable to park near their homes have placed the signs to deter motorists from leaving their vehicles on the narrow entrance section of the street. Bury Council have confirmed that there is no residents’ parking scheme at Scholes Walk and have urged the ‘prankster who put them up to take them down’.

A council spokesman, added: “These signs are not official and the road is available for anyone to park on.” The three signs have been fixed firmly in place with tie wraps around 10 feet from the ground so whoever installed them would have needed a step-ladder, or at least a piggyback.

Residents at Scholes Walk, close to Bury New Road, said the identity of the sign installer was a mystery to them. Francis Metcalfe, 52, was walking his dog on Scholes Lane.

He said he had noticed the signs and knew immediately they were fake. He said: “Someone’s taking the p*ss aren’t they?

“It made me smile when I saw them because there are few if any resident parking schemes around here so I had my doubts they were legit. “It must be frustrating not to be able to park outside your house but I don’t know if I’d go to those lengths.”

A 21-year-old Scholes Walk resident said she believed the changing nature of Prestwich had led to more cars on the road. She said: “Over the last few years this area around here has become more gentrified.

More and more new people are moving to Prestwich from areas like Chorlton and that brings households with more cars