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Driver brings Bolton town centre to a standstill
8:58am Tuesday 18th August 2009



A motorist sparked lunchtime chaos when he parked in a busy town centre street — blocking a major bus route.

At the height of the confusion, 13 buses and more than 100 passengers were stuck in a queue from Bridge Street, along Deansgate, and on to Bradshawgate.

Police arrived as a crowd formed near the abandoned pick-up truck.

A tow truck was called to remove it, but the owner arrived — an hour after parking — with just minutes to spare.

The man, who told police he was called John Collins, was landed with a £150 pick-up truck fee, a £30 fine and was given a stern talking to by officers.

PC Rob Bolton said: “This caused mayhem in Bolton town centre and it was all down to one car.

“He could have paid £2 for an hour in one of Bolton’s many car parks like other drivers. He didn’t consider others at all when he parked there and I think he has got what he deserved.”

The drama unfolded at just after 1pm yesterday.

A double-decker bus came to a halt behind the parked up car, a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck, because the driver could not manoeuvre past it.

A traffic jam of different style buses from a variety of companies soon formed.

Police arrived and established who the owner of the vehicle was. It was originally the plan to smash one of the vehicle’s windows and move it down the street, but that could not be done as no lives were in danger.

David Anton, who was driving a double-decker 126 Stagecoach bus to Preston, was at the front of the queue.

He said: “I saw the bus in front of me mount the kerb to get past the parked car, but I couldn’t do that because of the trees.

“I read a few chapters of a book while waiting and the customers were frustrated but there is nothing we can do until the car is moved.”

Michelle Mooney, aged 22, of Mornington Road, Heaton, was on a bus with her baby son Brandon but decided to get off after half-an-hour of waiting.

She said: “Brandon was starting to get upset so I decided that it would be better to get off and have some fresh air and walk home.”

Another customer added: “This is ridiculous, I can’t believe one parked car can cause so much chaos.

“What would happen if someone had a heart attack on the bus? There is no way an ambulance could get through.”

When the pick-up driver, Mr Collins, returned, a police officer took his keys and moved it out of the way.

Mr Collins, a traveller who is staying at a camp site in Hulton Lane, failed to accept that he had done anything wrong.

He said: “The police should be out catching child molesters and terrorists killing innocent children.

“I have parked on the street and paid a fine. It’s not like I am selling drugs to children and ruining people’s lives.”

“He could have paid £2 for an hour in one of Bolton’s many car parks

It was originally the plan to smash one of the vehicle’s windows and move it down the street, but that could not be done as no lives were in danger.

I pointed out that an artic had just got by, at which point he shut his window and just started tooting his horn at me. I did move, while laughing at him.