A VILLAGE’S Remembrance Sunday may be under threat after a dangerous sinkhole opened up opposite its war memorial.
The cause of the gap on Dean Terrace, in the Park Bridge area of Ashton-under-Lyne has not yet been established.
But with the November 8 date looming, residents have oved fast to try and get the problem solved.
Tameside Council has been contacted, with the issue has been reported to its highways team, local councillors, and MP Angela Rayner.
United Utilities has also been approached to see if it can investigate whether the sinkhole could be linked to a collapsed underground drain or other drainage infrastructure.
Dean Terrace, which is unadopted, has been in urgent need of repair for some time, with large potholes and deteriorating surfaces already making one end impassable.
Now the sinkhole outside the popular Park Bridge Institute has created an even greater hazard for residents, visitors, pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and vehicles, including Tameside Council’s own refuse collection teams.
Despite previously raising concerns about the condition of Dean Terrace, people living in Park Bridge have been advised that because the road is unadopted they would be responsible for funding repairs themselves.
But a spokesperson for Park Bridge Residents’ Action Group and Fund said: “It’s not enough that residents and visitors to Park Bridge already have to contend with speeding cut-through traffic, potholes and crumbling road surfaces.
“We now have a dangerous sinkhole outside the Park Bridge Institute, posing a serious risk to anyone using the road.
“In less than a month’s time, our community will gather at the cenotaph for its annual Remembrance Sunday service.
“The prospect of people attending, including older residents, families and those wishing to pay their respects, having to navigate a dangerous road collapse just metres away is deeply concerning.
“Tameside Council has been notified on several occasions about the deteriorating condition of Dean Terrace, but residents have been told they must pay for repairs themselves because the road is unadopted.
“We find that incredibly frustrating. This isn’t a private driveway serving a single household. It’s a road used by residents, visitors, local businesses and community groups, as well as the Council’s own refuse collection vehicles.
“To expect local residents to shoulder the financial burden of repairs while the wider community and public services continue to use the road raises serious questions about how this situation is being managed.
“Residents shouldn’t have to wait for somebody to get hurt before action is taken. We’re asking for an urgent safety assessment, clear communication about who is responsible and a practical plan to address the danger.
“With Remembrance Sunday just weeks away, time is running out to ensure people can gather safely to remember those who gave their lives.”