'IT'S A LIVING NIGHTMARE'

THEY live less than two miles from United's Theatre of Dreams. But residents say living on the doorstep of one of the world's most famous football clubs is 'more like a nightmare!

- NICK JACKSON

People living in homes near Trafford Bar tram stop talk of fans urinating in gardens and shrubbery, illegal and inconsiderate parking and getting a hail of abuse when they challenge the culprits on matchdays.

Their ordeal is not restricted to matchdays. Motorists reluctant to pay the parking charges in the city centre are leaving their cars in the residential area off Stretford Road to catch the tram in to town. Manchester United and Trafford Council said they are working together to reduce the impact of events at the ground on neighbours.

But problems linger on. Issues around parking and antisocial behaviour were aired in public three weeks ago when an alcohol licensing application for the Walton Cottage Education Trust, on Stretford Road, was refused. A number of residents attended the hearing, backed by all three Old Trafford ward councillors, to register their opposition to the application.

A petition against the application was also presented at the hearing, citing difficulties around parking, littering and public nuisance. The complaints around the behaviour of the football fans are not new and have been summarised neatly by the chair of the Love Old Trafford pressure group, Liz Madge.

"I am a resident of the area and we've been campaigning around the issues around parking, particularly on match days, for a long time.