A Greater Manchester vicar says his church has been rendered inaccessible, due to cycle lanes and parking restrictions leaving worshippers “lost” and driving an extra half mile to park.

St Margaret’s Church in Altrincham has seen its congregation drop from 100 to 60 since the introduction of new road restrictions in 2023.

Gorsey Lane was made a one-way street, meaning worshippers had to make a round-the-block journey to its car park. The addition of a cycle lane has prevented cars from parking immediately outside the churchyard.

Vicar David Murray says restrictions have had a particular impact on elderly members and parents with prams, who rely on cars to access church.

“The roads around the church are covered with double yellow lines,” he said. “We feel we are being completely isolated

Pastoral worker Jackie Campbell said aged congregation members “wish they could be on a bike or take public transport, but they can't.”

The measures were intended to make the town more environmentally friendly and reduce pollution. A council spokesperson said: “This work is part of the Bee Network, a Greater Manchester-wide programme to make journeys on foot or by bike much easier and more attractive, to help create a more connected and accessible region.”

Now, local Conservative councillor Phil Eckersley has called for the road layout to be re-evaluated for violating the Equality Act due to “the needs of elderly and disabled parishioners”.

Rev Murray told the Mail: "Our bells have been ringing out since the mid-1800s and we've served this community through two world wars. Now we face extinction simply because of a crazy traffic system that closes access from the A56.”