Drivers could soon be handed fines of up to £70 at a handful of local junctions if Manchester City Council is granted new powers.
Following a recent change in legislation that allows local authorities to enforce moving traffic offences, like blocking yellow boxes and banning certain turns, Manchester City Council has now selected seven sites across the city where it would enforce such restrictions – which are already in place, but police do not have the resources to enforce.
If these powers are approved by the government, the Council will launch a six-week public consultation on the scheme before it would come into effect.
Enforcing these powers would come into effect in May 2023 if approved.
An initial list 15 sites identified based on suggested ‘problem areas’ provided by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the Council, and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) – with five potential trial sites then selected to create a shortlist, which was presented to councillors at a scrutiny committee meeting earlier this year.
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Although the committee was supportive of the scheme, it suggested that a range of restrictions are included in the trial – which would allow the Council to learn more from it.
The seven sites Manchester City Council has identified to exercise powers, should they be approved, are as follows:
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Cheetham Hill Road / Elizabeth Street – No right turn
Stockport Road – Box junction & no right turn
Princess Parkway / Palatine Road – Yellow box
Great Ancoats Street / Oldham Road / Oldham Street – Yellow box
Ashton Old Road / Chancellor Lane / Fairfield Street – Yellow box
Wilmslow Road / M56 junction 6 – Ahead Only
Kirkmanshulme Lane / Mount Road – Compulsory left turn / Yellow box
Drivers could soon be handed fines of up to £70 at a handful of local junctions if Manchester City Council is granted new powers / Credit: Google Maps
By using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at these proposed seven sites, first-time offenders would receive warning letters before the full £70 fine is issued, and any £70 fine would be reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days of the offence.
The Council says it’s hoped that dealing with “inconsiderate driving” will help public transport across the city by removing blockages, and potentially improving air quality too.
What’s next? How soon could drivers be handed fines?
If these seven sites are approved this week, then Manchester City Council will launch a public consultation lasting at least six weeks this autumn, and once objections are considered, the Council could then apply for the powers in November and would expect to gain approval from the government by May 2023.
If the Department for Transport (DfT) approves the application, then it means these offences would be decriminalised, and enforcement duties would be transferred to the Council.
The seven sites were all identified based on suggested ‘problem areas’ / Credit: Google Maps
What driving offences won’t be included?
These powers do not include enforcing speeding offences, red light violations, and cycling on the pavement – which all still remain a matter for the police.
When it comes to bus lanes, which Manchester is known for having a fair few of, any surplus income from penalty charge payments must only be used to cover enforcement costs, for highways or public transport.
Manchester City Council has said it will consider extending the enforcement trial in autumn 2023.
Altrincham named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2026 in The Sunday Times’ annual ranking
Emily Sergeant
A popular Greater Manchester town has been named among the UK’s best places to live by the Sunday Times in its annual ranking.
That’s right… it’s that time of year, once again.
The Sunday Times is known for pulling together a list of what it considers to be the most sought-after places to live in the UK every year, and 2026’s ranking has officially been published today – with dozens of locations across the country making up the comprehensive guide, and six of those coveted locations being right here in the North West.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all locations on the list, and assessed factors such as schools, transport, culture, broadband speeds, access to green spaces, the health of the high streets, and much more to devise the always-talked-about annual ranking.
Macclesfield in Cheshire, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Lancaster in Lancashire, and Aigburth in Liverpool are just some of the North West areas named by the publication in the 2026 list.
Altrincham has been named one of the best places to live in the UK / Credit: The Manc Group
A spotlight has also been shone on two Greater Manchester towns, and one of two has even been given the regional North West title… but which are they?
Where has taken the top spot as the best place to live in the North West for 2026, and is therefore one of the best places to live in the whole of the country? Well, that honour has been given to none other than Greater Manchester’s very-own Altrincham.
The publication described the Trafford town as ‘classy, cool and effortlessly comfortable’.
“Altrincham is a top-notch town brimming with independent businesses and big brands, and now it’s flying even higher,” The Sunday Times said.
The fact that co-working has now arrived on the high street thanks to the conversion of the old Rackhams department store, and that the town’s cultural and creative ‘cachet’ is also on the rise, have been highlighted as reasons as to why Altrincham has been chosen as the North West’s winner, as well its newly-flourishing fitness scene.
Of course, the town has also been praised for its transport links into Manchester city centre and across the region, as well as it being a great place for families thanks to the excellent local schools on offer.
Didsbury was the other Greater Manchester town chosen to represent the best of the North West – with the Manchester suburb described as being ‘stylish, solid, safe, and, yes, a little bit smug in parts… but that’s okay’.
You can read the full Altrincham feature here, and see where else The Sunday Times included in its list for 2026 here.
Featured Image – Geograph
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11 arrested and £70k cash seized during early-morning police drug raids across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
11 people have been arrested, as well as a large amount of cash and drugs seized, during early-morning raids across Greater Manchester.
The raids took place during the early hours of the morning yesterday (Thursday 19 March 2026), where Greater Manchester Police (GMP) successfully executed eight warrants simultaneously across Tameside, Oldham, and Rochdale to tackle a ‘suspected criminal network’ involved in the distribution of class A drugs and firearms.
Officers from Tameside Programme Challenger team, the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), and GMP’s Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) were deployed to each of the addresses.
Following weeks of intelligence gathering and preparation, a total of 11 people – each aged between 24 and 77 – were arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences during the raids.
Eight men and three women were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, being part of an organised crime group, possession with intent to supply, money laundering, and possession of an offensive weapon.
They all remain in police custody for questioning at this time, GMP confirmed.
During searches of the addresses, various class A, B and C drugs – including crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and nitrous oxide – were seized, while further recoveries of £70,000 in cash, a zombie knife, a BB gun, and four vehicles were also made at the same time.
Speaking following the success of the raids yesterday, Chief Superintendent Shan Nasim, District Commander for Tameside, said: “[This] operation has been a powerful example of our continued, determined effort to dismantle organised crime in our district and Greater Manchester.
“We have 11 people in custody being questioned by our investigation teams in relation to an organised crime group (OCG) that have been causing widespread harm across our communities.
“This action caused significant disruption of an organised crime group (OCG) and has prevented drugs and weapons from reaching the streets, as well as the associated harms that come hand in hand with organised crime.
“Organised criminals exploit vulnerable people and blight our communities; we will take robust action to catch offenders, keep our communities safe, and protect vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th September 2022 
