Safety fears have been raised after the surfacing of a Wigan farm track have sparked an upsurge in dangerous driving incidents
Wigan residents are being urged to report dangerous and aggressive drivers to police after the surfacing of a popular walking route led to an upsurge in motor vehicle use.
Since Beech Walk and the bridleways to and from Standish Hall Farm via Arbour Lane in Standish were asphlated in the spring, residents say they have witnessed a huge increase in vehicles using them.
And there have been many complaints about drivers going too fast and too close, putting people and animals at risk.
Wigan Council is investigating the planning situation regarding the resurfacing.
And police have also been informed of dangerous and inconsiderate driving by agricultural vehicles, HGVs and non-farming traffic, which is now using the bridleways.
Residents, walkers and horse riders have also made a series of complaints to Standish Voice Neighbourhood Forum – and are asking anyone who witnesses driving that could be dangerous to report it to the police.
Standish councillors have been working to resolve the issue for many months after residents complained about a huge increase in farm vehicles using the routes to and from Standish Hall Farm.
This worsened when one and a half miles of Tarmac were put down.
The council has published information about the situation on its website as it continues to investigate the matter.
Reports can also be made to Greater Manchester Police on a link, by ringing 101 or using its live chat on the GMP website. A spokesperson for Standish Voice said: “We are very worried that the new surface on the tracks around the farm has effectively turned these historic and popular walking routes and bridleways into roads that are attracting even more vehicles.
“The frequency of vehicle movements to and from the farm has exploded over the past several months and this intensification has caused huge concern. Non-farm traffic is also now using the routes as a rat-run and some people drive with no consideration of other users of the bridleways.
“This is creating a highly anti-social and potentially dangerous situation and we would ask all drivers to slow right down and think of people and animals using those tracks.
"Any aggressive or dangerous driving should be reported to the police.
"The more reports that are logged, the better picture they will have of the situation.”