I AM a resident of ten years in Kershaw Street, Bury, and in this time I have witnessed it change from a reasonably quiet street into a wagon-park and no-go area for kids.

The change came about when the supermarket was given planning permission to open six days a week from nine until six.

Originally, permission was not granted for Sunday trading, but the supermarket had the audacity to open its doors for the first time on a Sunday, regardless.

All other major supermarkets can open for only six hours on a Sunday, yet Al Masoon seem to be classed differently, as they are open nine till nine, seven days a week.

This has placed an intolerable strain on the residents, as 40ft wagons regularly park in the middle of the road, blocking it for such a period of time as allows them to unload.

I myself have been queuing for 15 minutes only 30 yards from my front door, unable to reach home because of a wagon blocking my way. This is a one-way street, so residents have no choice but to enter from Heywood Street.

Over the last few months, at least five parked vehicles have been damaged due to large delivery vans or supermarket customers hitting them.

The number of vehicles which drive the wrong way down Kershaw Street and Tinline Street has increased, making it difficult to allow children who do know the rules of the road to play safely. Only last week, a large van struck my wife's car, yet when this was reported to the police they said it was a civil matter; it leaves us, the innocent party, to foot the bill, which runs into hundreds of pounds, because the driver is unforthcoming with his insurance details - which, if they come into the same category as his operator's licence, are non-existent!

A good neighbour of ours chased the van after the driver had hit our car and set off the alarm, because he had left the scene of an accident.

As it now transpires, it would have been beneficial to us if he had been allowed to flee the scene as it then becomes a crime.

The police would have then traced him through his registration and he would have had to show his documents and we would be compensated by his insurers.

As it is, if the driver has no insurance we have to foot the bill and he avoids prosecution as it is a civil matter.

It is a sad day for the innocent insurance-paying citizen, when British law fails them; when a driver with no operator's licence and no insurance can be apprehended and brought to book only on committing a road traffic offence under the noses of the police.

Having no insurance is a crime. So would ringing Crimestoppers be an option before a more serious accident occurs?

A car can be written off and replaced; a child can't!

DISAPPOINTED

AND DISILLUSIONED

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