WORK to erect railings beside a problem stretch of road have finally got underway.

The railings will run parallel to a row of shops at the bottom of Walmersley Road, leading down to one of Bury's busiest junctions at the intersection of Peel Way and The Rock.

In recent years the area has been plagued by illegal parking leading to public anxiety, serious traffic disruption and safety risks.

Cars straddling the road and pavement, compounded by bus stops along the road, have also created problems for ambulances travelling to emergencies from the nearby station.

The implementation of the railings follows a longstanding campaign by ward councillors supported by Bury North MP James Frith.

Moorside councillor, Cllr Sandra Walmsley, said she welcomed the new railings and hopes this is the beginning of the end of the issue.

Cllr Walmsley said: "We have had hundreds of complaints from people on the issue and it's caused anxiety for people especially at rush hour.

"It has definitely worsened in recent years, and certainly in the last two or three years it has become quite an acute problem.

"We are pleased that the anxiety it has caused people for so long is being addressed and I hope people can see that we have listened to their concerns and are taking some action to try and deal with it."

"However this is an ongoing issue and it's not something that's possible to solve over night."

Councillors had considered implementing other solutions, such as installing CCTV cameras and changing the road layout, but railings were deemed the best solution to tackle the problem, particularly during rush hour.

The railings will be combined with a renewed traffic enforcement effort in a bid to eradicate the illegal parking, and the council is planning to work with businesses to encourage their customers to park legally.

Cllr Walmsley said: "We are hoping that the physical nature of these railings will stop people parking there.

"So if someone wants to park there illegally they will have to do that fully in the road, which they are less likely to do during busy periods.

"We know that most people parking there are doing so to use the shops on the row, so the railings will make it harder for them to stop and get out.

"There are still parking officers patrolling the area. They have issued tickets and will continue to issue tickets if people are parking there illegally."

Cllr Walmsley added: "We will continue to monitor the area and listen to local residents and businesses to find solutions to such problems."