Manchester City Council has addressed concerns about new cycle lanes that have been installed through the Northern Quarter.
New road markings and concrete bollards have been installed along the newly-pedestrianised Thomas Street and already, cyclists are making use of the new road layout.
But in the first few days of the cycle lane provision being operational, people were sharing videos of a few teething issues, including cars driving down the road, people blocking the lanes, and broken glass littering the street.
Others have said that the road markings at the end of John Street, which are one-way markings despite it leading onto a pedestrian and cycle zone, are confusing.
The council has said that they are ‘pleased with how new cycle schemes are being implemented’ but stressed that people need to ‘use their common sense’ for pedestrians, cyclists and cars to integrate seamlessly.
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In one video viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter, Harry Gray shared a live tour of cycling along the new route, which featured a taxi trying to reverse back from Thomas Street on to John Street after taking a wrong turn.
Absolutely no enforcement of pedestrian and cycle zone with cars backing up to reverse out pic.twitter.com/gPbUjGTOUQ
He also posted a row of cars mistakenly driving into the pedestrian and cycle zone and having to reverse back out.
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Temporary signage has since been installed on Back Turner Street and John Street to tackle the issue of cars entering the area.
A spokesperson for the council said: “It is clearly signposted that this road is no entry and drivers who enter it are committing a traffic offence. It would be unfair to lay the blame of poor driving towards the Council. However, temporary signage has been installed this week to help this bedding in process.”
While the new cycle lanes are of a standard width, the busy nature of Thomas Street means that pedestrians are often sharing the space too.
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I want to say a few things about the new cycle paths in Manchester's Northern Quarter, primarily along Thomas Street. I've heard few negative comments, so let’s take a look. [1/10] pic.twitter.com/RONW6icfau
The council said: “There are pavements on both sides of Thomas Street, however as it is a busy public space we would expect all road users, including cyclists to be respectful of people’s space and travel through the area slowly and carefully.
“The Council has done everything in its power to clearly demarcate where cycle lanes are, but only so much can be done and we are not able to prevent people walking where they please.”
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’re pleased with how new cycle schemes across the city are being implemented. This is part of a wider drive by the Council to put walking and cycling at the heart of future transport policy.
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“As part of our city centre transport strategy we want 90% of journeys carried out via walking, cycling or public transport by 2040, so schemes like this are playing a vital part of achieving that goal.
“But, for it to work we need people to adapt to changes when they occur, follow the rules of the road and above all use their common sense to prevent the system being blocked up. We’ll be working with all concerned parties going forward to make sure that pedestrians, cyclists and cars can integrate seamlessly into our travel network.”
Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty sacked
Daisy Jackson
A ‘morally reprehensible’ police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty has been sacked and barred from service.
GMP held an accelerated misconduct hearing with PC Dean Dempster, 35, and he has been dismissed without notice.
The disgraced officer admitted ‘sexually touching’ the six-year-old child in December 2023 and is set to be sentenced at a later date.
He was a response officer in Oldham at the time that the offence was reported, and was arrested by a supervisor when he returned to work the next day.
A senior officer has now said that Dempster ‘has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public’.
Another said it was ‘among the most distressing cases ever presented’ and a ‘despicable betrayal’ of police duties.
Dempster was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl while responding to an incident on 29 December 2023.
He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court in February and remained suspended since being charged at the end of last year.
Presiding over today’s hearing, CC Watson found PC Dempster’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct, saying: “This sexual assault occurred whilst the officer was on duty and where the victim was totally trusting and reliant on him performing his duties professionally, compassionately and with her welfare uppermost in his thoughts.
“It is this most egregious breach of trust of an innocent young child that is most upsetting aspect of this case and something that clearly amounts to an aggravating factor.
“I consider this case to be among the most distressing ever presented to me such is the despicable betrayal of all that is inherent in being a decent police officer.
“I have no hesitation whatsoever in dismissing PC Dempster from the service with immediate effect.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Dean Dempster is not a police officer, he’s a child sex offender who has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public.
“We have no time for people like Dempster who should not be in GMP and does not represent us.
“This is why we’re increasingly using accelerated misconduct hearings to root out and boot out officers who are unfit to serve in our uniform, and this work will continue while ever they remain.”
Dempster has been added to the College of Policing Barred List by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who described Dempster’s actions as ‘morally reprehensible’.
GMP used accelerated proceedings as part of its pledge to ‘root and boot’ officers unfit to serve the public.
The force is now writing to the Deputy Mayor of GM to appeal for Dempster to lose his right to a police pension.
Manchester City reveals details around the first Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City have released the first details surrounding their inaugural Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Campus.
One of the most important charities in the UK when it comes to male mental health and suicide prevention, Andy’s Man Club and even its logo alone have become a recognisable force for good over the past few years, and the significance of bringing it to such a big scale as City cannot be overstated.
The football club first announced the partnership back in February and has already been working closely with the non-profit organisation to promote better wellbeing amongst men, getting first-team stars such as defender John Stones to open up about his own experiences with mental health just last month.
With that in mind, the word is now out that Man City will be providing yet another location for groups to meet and crucially talk through Andy’s Man Club sessions, confirming details around their first meeting from next week onwards.
It's less than two weeks before @andysmanclubuk launches at the Etihad Stadium! 🩵👌
Before we open doors on the 13th May, our fans sat down to share their experiences 💭
Set to kick off in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium from 7-9pm on Monday, 13 May, Man City will not only help deliver a vital outlet for men in the East Manchester area but become just the latest in a long line of teams to back the regular support group.
Joining over 180 clubs nationwide – including the likes of Altrincham FC, Ashton United and Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few in the Greater Manchester area – Andy’s Mans Club is currently helping well over 4,000 men open up and combat their struggles through peer-to-peer sessions.
Founded by a group of nine blokes from Halifax back in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club now helps gather men aged 18 and over across the country every week throughout the year.
In alignment with other partnered clubs Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.
We’re excited to be launching an Andy's Man Club at the Etihad Stadium next month 🩵
Ahead of the first session, John Stones sat down to find out what it is all about 🙌
The sessions are free with registration or ID required and, more importantly, there’s no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. The first step is easy: just listen.
Just because it’s being held at City’s ground doesn’t mean you have to be a season ticket holder, have an official Cityzens membership to attend or anything like that, you can simply arrive via the East Stand reception (Door F) and join the session.
Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteers from Andy’s Man Club who will guide them through the stadium. With the club now on board, group sessions will be running at the same time every week (except bank holiday Mondays) with the first dates scheduled for the following nights this month:
Monday 13 May
Monday 20 May
Monday 3 June
Monday 10 June
Well done to all those involved in bringing Andy’s Man Club to Manchester City and the East Manchester community. We hope the sessions will help those going along as they have done for thousands of others.