Man arrested after Audenshaw landmarks destroyed by BMW

A man has been arrested after two historic landmarks in Audenshaw were destroyed after a car ploughed into them in the early hours of Monday morning (May 25).

Greater Manchester Police has confirmed that a 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and he remains in custody for questioning. 

Police were called just before 5am after reports of a crash involving one vehicle - a BMW 330. 

Known locally as The Trough, the monuments were erected at the junction of Manchester Road and Audenshaw Road at a time when both cattle and horses were still regular uses of public highways during the 19th century.

Local residents have been left devastated by the incident they have described as "a disaster". 

Kelly Louise Chapman, who lives opposite the trough, said: "I was asleep and I just heard something like a barrel - I thought it was one of the big wagons that pass here and a barrel coming off. I got up and went to the toilet, came back and lifted the blinds up and obviously saw this [the damage] as it was and a BMW literally sat on top of the trough.

"It's just a disaster and I'm just absolutely devastated. My husband has lived in Audenshaw all of his life, we've been in our house 20 years. We've previously planted the trough up with the council. It's such a sad shame - we want it repairing and want a proper job. 

"I've spoken to councillor Oliver Ryan and Andrew Gwynne who is the MP for the area and they've assured me they're going to do something about it and put it back together." 

Audenshaw councillors said in a joint statement: "We are distraught that someone has done such significant damage to an Audenshaw landmark. We are working quickly with Tameside Council to have it salvaged and repaired." 

After being contacted by kind-hearted locals offering to fundraise to repair the landmarks, Cllr Ryan later added that the council will foot the bill as the owner of the Grade II listed monuments. 

In a lengthy Facebook post on Monday evening, he said: "I know it's been an upsetting day for Audenshaw, and I've been contacted by some people wanting to start a public funding effort to repair the trough. This is really very generous but I want to be very clear.

"The council will be paying for the repair, either through pursuing the insurers of the driver or our own insurance. Both the Trough and the pillar box transformer are Grade 2 listed and so the council is required to repair these as the owner.

"We won't be able to accept any JustGiving money, and it's not necessary. I do not want people thinking the council won't be repairing this trough without public subscription. We 100 per cent will.

"Therefore at this stage I would advise against any fundraising for the trough, it's not required and won't be accepted. If at any time this is required, I'll make sure people know and do it through official channels. Please please consider fundraising for other local causes instead affected by Covid, Ryecroft Hall Community Association, local care homes, our NHS or a food bank."