It's an event day at the Etihad and the bins are out.
Parking restrictions are in force, but no one seems to care. So, people living in the streets surrounding the stadium are preparing for parking chaos to ensue.
There are residential parking schemes in Bradford, Beswick and Clayton for event days – and Manchester council is considering extending them further.
READ MORE: Vision finally unveiled for ‘left behind’ estate in the shadow of the Etihad
But residents regularly see rulebreakers ignore these restrictions – so they take matters into their own hands and block the roadside with wheelie bins.
Elaine Burns, who is known by neighbours as the 'bouncer' of Charlesworth Street, calls the council to deploy the parking wardens – but it does not help. "They don't care," she said. "They just get tickets."
Louise, who lives a few doors down, says the whole street is lined with parked cars which have fines slapped on their windscreens when the football is on.
She is positive about the new Co-op Live Arena which is currently under construction and set to open next year – but fears parking will get worse.
The new live music, sports and entertainment venue, which is set to become the biggest indoor arena in the UK, with a capacity for 23,500 people, is one of the reasons why the existing residential parking scheme might be extended.
Currently, there are several such schemes spread out around the Etihad – but the council is considering creating a new all-encompassing Eastlands scheme.
Under the new scheme, which will include all of the estates between Pin Mill Brow and Clayton Vale, the restrictions would apply every day of the week.
Some streets would only allow permit holders to park between midday and 11pm, while others limit stays to a maximum of 90 minutes during those times.
For the residents who already need permits to park near their homes on event days, extending the scheme to operate all week will not make a difference – but acquiring visitor permits is a 'pain in the a***', according to Louise.
Maureen, who lives in a part of Openshaw which requires permits on event days, says parking is not a problem in her street when Man City play at home. However, she struggles to sort out visitor permits using the online system.
"I'm well educated – up to my masters," she said. "But I can't do it. We have to go to the library. They show you how to do it. But you won't go to the library every time you have a guest."
The NHS worker jokes that she no longer has friends because no one wants to visit her on match days. "If they do it every day," she adds, "it will be hell for us."
The town hall says the digital permit system was improved a few months ago following feedback and there are plans to further improve the ease of use. But some say extending the scheme will cause unnecessary nuisance.
Zinette Bates, who lives in Hinkley Street, says there's plenty of parking available around Bradford Park when it is not an event day at the Etihad.
She's not keen on restrictions being enforced every day of the week – but recognises that the situation might change when the new arena opens.
"It's a nuisance if you change your car or if you have a family member over," she said. "You've got to ask about people coming."
Over in Clayton, where some streets do not require parking permits at all, some residents are sceptical about the need to introduce new restrictions.
Two women walking along Folkestone Road say people don't park there during match days, while some businesses worry new restrictions might affect trade.
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Linh, who works at California Wines in North Road, says the shop relies on street parking for customers. "A lot of people drive past and park," she said.
For Eileen Finan, it's the fear she will not be able to apply for visitor permits. "I don't know how to use a computer," she said. "If my son came, he'd have to do it himself."
Carol Pridding, who also lives in Folkestone Road, is dead against the scheme.
"They did it where my sister lives," she said. "If someone comes and you're not expecting them, it's a pain in the backside."
Manchester council has launched a four-week public consultation on the expanded residents parking scheme for Eastlands on Monday (March 7).
It comes after councillors agreed to introduce a new residential parking scheme in Ancoats around Weybridge Road, Chippenham Road and Woodward Street using proceeds from recent developments in the area.
Ancoats and Beswick councillor Majid Dar who put forward the Labour proposal last week, says he wants the Eastlands scheme to be even bigger.
"I want it increased in Ancoats and Beswick to make sure New Islington and Bradford Road are covered," he said. "So I'm fighting to increase it. I don't want it to come back to bite us. Once it's done, it's done."
Manchester town hall sources say strict legal restrictions on parking schemes mean the current boundaries are as far as this specific scheme is likely to go – although councillors could propose introducing new separate schemes.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that the expansion of the Eastlands scheme will be funded as part of a Section 106 agreement - with the developer behind the arena - to implement the new residents' parking scheme.
The current scheme, which covers many of the same streets, was funded through a similar agreement associated with the Etihad Stadium expansion. The final cost of expanding will not be confirmed until after the consultation.
However, residents' electronic permits - which are linked to the registration plate of the holder - as well as paper permits for carers, are free to apply for. Business permits can also be applied for, but will carry a cost of £45 per year.
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, executive member for environment at Manchester council said: "Through other resident parking schemes in Manchester we know they can make a positive impact for people living within its boundaries.
"As Manchester continues to grow, particularly in East Manchester, we need to make sure there are measures in place to support the people who have called it their home for years.
"The further development of the Etihad Campus as well as the construction of a new arena are very exciting for the city’s future, but it can’t come at the expense of residents and local businesses.
"We need to make sure their needs are prioritised as the area attracts new visitors. We are also looking to promote public transport, as well as improved walking and cycling routes as the best means for people to travel to east Manchester during events or match days.
"By making parking for residents only we will hopefully see fewer car journeys to the area, helping to fulfil our ambition to make the city zero carbon by 2038."
A series of drop-in events will be held during the consultation period, where residents can visit to learn more about the impact of the proposed scheme. They will be run on:
Wednesday, March 16
3pm – 6pm
Church of the Apostles
40 Ridgway St, Manchester M40 7FY
Thursday, March 17
3pm – 6pm
Beswick Library
60 Grey Mare Lane, Manchester, M11 3DS
Monday, March 21
4.30pm – 7.30pm
Asda Eastlands (Community Room)
ASDA Sportcity, Ashton New Road, Manchester, M11 4BD
In addition to these events, there will be an online session where the proposals will be explained, and the public and businesses will be able to ask questions.
This online session will take place on Tuesday, March 15, at 4.30pm to 7.30pm via Microsoft Teams.
To take part, please email consult@eastlands-rps.co.uk.
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