Some members of the public are calling for vehicles to be completely banned from travelling through Manchester city centre.
Manchester City Council has already been vocal in stating that it wants 90% of all trips to the city centre to be made on foot, by bike or using public transport by 2040, with several proposals – including reducing the number of buses idling in Piccadilly Gardens, permanently pedestrianising areas like Deansgate, and creating a cycling ‘triangle’ – put forward as ways to meet these ambitions.
The council has also indicated that the building of a Metrolink tunnel beneath the city centre is an idea that could be revisited.
And it’s also been confirmed that an Ultra Low Emission Zone – where polluting vehicles will need to pay a daily charge to travel through specific areas – alongside 20mph limits, are also being considered.
But this suggestion to forbid cars entirely was just one of several put forward by the public as part of a consultation on the new transport strategy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Others also suggested that all car parks should be removed from the city centre too.
The strategy – which is being developed by Manchester City Council, alongside Salford City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) – went out to consultation at the end of last year, with nearly 2,500 people, groups, political parties and transport operators taking part.
ADVERTISEMENT
Geograph
The majority of those who took part in the public consultation last year expressed support for the strategy, but almost a quarter of respondents were not supportive of how the council wanted to manage traffic in the city centre, arguing that the plans did not go far enough and that all cars should be banned, alongside the removal of all car parks.
This is said to be one of the highest negative responses received in a public consultation of this kind.
And some local councillors are also joining many respondents in asking Manchester City Council to make more parts of the city centre car-free.
ADVERTISEMENT
Councillor Angeliki Stogia – Executive Member for Transport at Manchester City Council – has described the challenge of satisfying both sides in the matter as a “difficult” one, saying: “We acknowledge the strength of feeling on both sides, I don’t want to be gaslighting either side and dismiss what people feel.
“What I want is to work with everyone to bring forward projects that bridge the gap and will get us to a place where we give people viable options to get in and out and move around the city.
“[All] while we continue to reduce private vehicle journeys and car parks to manage traffic in the city centre”.
___
A final version of the transport strategy will go before Manchester City Council’s executive on 17th March 2020, before being submitted to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) for approval on 26th March 2020.
You can find more information via the Manchester City Council website here.
News
Manchester announces ‘poignant’ plans to mark Remembrance Sunday with free city centre service
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to honour the ‘service and sacrifice’ of members of the armed forces community during this year’s annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
With Remembrance Day only a couple weeks away now, just as it does each year, Manchester City Council has now revealed how the city will mark this important occasion, and has confirmed all the details of the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade.
Proceedings will start on John Dalton Street at 10:30am, and run right through until midday – with the service itself being held at 11am.
Veterans, military personnel and cadets, all led by Greater Manchester Police‘s Band, will march from John Dalton Street to the Cenotaph St. Peter’s Square.
This will be followed by a short return march to Mount Street across St Peter’s Square.
The service will begin at the Cenotaph at 10:58am, and a two-minute silence will be observed at 11am in tribute to those who have lost their lives in conflict. The start and conclusion of the silence will be marked by the firing of a maroon.
/ Credit: Manchester City Council
Following the service, veterans, military personnel and cadets will take part in a short return march across St Peter’s Square to Mount Street.
As the Council marks another year of its partnership with the Royal British Legion, further the Remembrance Sunday events will take place across the city following the service – including arts and crafts sessions, memorial services, and performances.
“Remembrance Sunday is one of the most important occasions in Manchester’s civic calendar,” declared Councillor Shaukat Ali, who it the Lord Mayor of Manchester.
“It is a time for us to come together as a city to remember and honour the courage, sacrifice and service of those from our diverse communities who have given so much in times of conflict. I want to encourage residents, families and visitors to join us at the Cenotaph as we pay our respects and ensure that the contribution of past and present generations is never forgotten.”
Manchester’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations will take place on Sunday 8 November from 10:30am onwards.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
Police issue statement following several stabbings in and around Manchester Arndale this month
Emily Sergeant
The police have issued an update following several stabbings, primarily involving teenagers, in and around Manchester Arndale this month.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers responded to reports of a stabbing on Withy Grove at around 7pm on Tuesday evening (27 October), and once they attended the scene, the found a 13-year-old boy who’d sustained injuries consistent with knife wounds, and he was subsequently rushed hospital where he’s said to remain in a ‘stable condition’.
Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident, and GMP confirmed there will be an ‘increased police presence’ in the area as the investigation continues.
Section 60 and Section 60AA ‘stop and search’ warrants have been authorised following this most recent incident, and remain in place.
It has also been confirmed that four teenagers have been arrested in connection.
Three boys – aged 14, 15 and 16 – have been arrested on suspicion of affray and remain in custody for questioning, while another boy, aged 13, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, GMP confirmed.
Providing an update following the several stabbings this month, Superintendent Simon Nasim, from GMP’s City of Manchester team, said: “Firstly my thoughts are with the young boy who was injured and I wish him a quick recovery.
“We are aware of the other incidents in the city centre of this nature, but at this stage they are not thought to be linked. Our communities should not be in fear of harm, and our priority is taking effective action with partners against those involved in anti-social behaviour and criminality.
“Knife crime is understandably a concern amongst our communities, and we have dedicated teams who will be deployed across the city centre to hotspot areas to strengthen our response to violent crime, and provide a reassuring message to our public.
“But we cannot tackle it alone. We rely on the cooperation of the public, to report anything that looks suspicious or any incidents to us, and we will be sure to act on it.
“Our investigation into [Tuesday’s] incident is ongoing, I urge anyone with information to please come forward.”
Can you help? Anyone with information, including witnesses or those with CCTV or mobile phone footage, are asked to contact police on 0161 856 1495, or via the LiveChat function on the GMP website, quoting log 3058 of 28/10/26.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Manc -
24th February 2021 
