No trams will run between two key Manchester city centre stops this summer while “essential” track replacement work is carried out.
In what is another part of Transport for Greater Manchester‘s (TfGM) ongoing programme of works intended to “maintain and improve” the Metrolink system and ensure tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain “safe, reliable, and accessible”, it’s been confirmed that trams will not be run between Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens for a total of 17 days.
Beginning from this Saturday (22 June), a replacement service will instead operate between the two stops up until Tuesday 9 July.
A signposted walking route will also be put in place, taking pedestrians about five minutes.
Trams on the Ashton line will operate between Ashton and Piccadilly station, and then any passengers wanting to make an onward journey will need to walk or use the bus replacement service to get themselves over to Piccadilly Gardens.
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From Saturday 22 June, until 9 July, no trams will run between Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens
This is due to works on London Road.
Customers on the Ashton, Altrincham and Bury lines, check if your journey will be affected.
On top of this, London Road will also be closed to traffic leaving the city centre where the Metrolink tracks cross the street close to Piccadilly station, and although a signed diversion will be in place for all traffic heading away from the city centre, via Portland Street and Princess Street, with an alternative diversion via Store Street, TfGM say people should expect there to be “increased traffic”.
A higher volume of traffic is anticipated on Fairfield Street, Store Street, Princess Street, Newton Street, and on the inner ring road, while the works are carried out.
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In a bid to mitigate the impact on some of the region’s busiest and most-frequent bus services during the 17-days of track replacement works, TfGM has confirmed that the buses that normally use London Road to leave the city centre will, instead, be re-routed.
They’ll be re-routed via Chorlton Street and Fairfield Street to “avoid congestion hotspots”.
‘Essential’ track replacement work means no trams will run between two key Manchester stops / Credit: TfGM
Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Metrolink Director, is encouraging anyone travelling to “plan ahead” and “leave plenty of time” for any journeys.
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“During these essential works, we will be doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum with replacement bus services and signed diversions for vehicles and pedestrians,” Mr Sommers continued.
“We also have support from our traffic signals team to ensure city centre traffic flows as freely as possible.”
Find out more about the planned tram improvement works on the TfGM website here.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Former GMP officer jailed after being found guilty of several online child sex offences
Emily Sergeant
A former police officer from Salford has been sentenced after being found guilty of a string of online child sex offences.
Following a trial back in July, 35-year-old Michael Aspinall was sentenced at Preston Crown Court earlier this week (Monday 14 September) after being found guilty of three counts of attempting sexual communication with a child.
It comes after Aspinall – who was employed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at the time of the offences – was arrested in October 2024 by detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), and was immediately suspended from duty following his arrest.
The investigation began after evidence was obtained that Aspinall had been communicating online with individuals that he believed to be children, but he was in fact communicating with a police officer.
Following this series of interactions, he was charged with various offences.
In addition to his eight-month sentence – which has been suspended for two years – Aspinall will also be placed on the sex offender’s register for 10 years, subject to a five-year serious crime prevention order, and have undertake 20 days of rehabilitation, GMP has confirmed.
He has additionally been added to the College of Policing’s barred list.
An application to request forfeiture of Aspinall’s police pension has also been made to the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester.
“Aspinall’s offending was clearly unacceptable for any right-minded member of society and particularly inappropriate for a serving police officer,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys, from GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate.
“His actions put the whole police service under scrutiny, but thanks to the hard work and diligence of undercover officers, he was arrested, found guilty, and has now received his punishment.”
DCI Humphreys concluded: “[Aspinall’s] actions take away from the hard work of the men and women who work so hard for their communities every day, and it is only right that anyone committing these sort of offences are rooted out.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Council announces return of FREE firework displays in Manchester parks
Emily Sergeant
The skies over Manchester will light up once again, as free firework displays are set to return to several of the city’s parks.
You may remember that major fireworks events throughout the city had been paused following the COVID-19 pandemic, due to funding challenges, with Manchester City Council choosing to invest in a range of other community-focused events across throughout the autumn season instead, rather than one-off firework celebrations.
But now, once this November rolls around, all of that is set to change.
That’s because, on Saturday 7 November, free fireworks events will return to Heaton Park, Wythenshawe Park, and Platt Fields Park.
First up, there will be a reduced-noise, low-impact display at 5pm for families and SEND audiences, and a main fireworks display then to follow a little later at 8pm.
The Council has announced the return of free firework displays in Manchester parks / Credit: Unsplash
Each of the three parks will host lantern making workshops in the weeks leading up to the events too, with family-friendly lantern parades taking place ahead of the 8pm firework shows.
The Council says that the return of the free fireworks events reflects residents’ recent feedback about what they want to see in their community and how they want funding to be distributed.
“It’s a chance, at the start of the shorter days and beginning of the dark winter months, to come together and resume a much-loved annual tradition as well as enjoying an evening of safe entertainment and spectacular fireworks displays,” Manchester City Council said in a statement.
Councillor Basat Sheikh, who is the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, added: “We are delighted to announce and welcome the return of our much-loved fireworks celebrations.
It’s the first time they’ve returned since the COVID-19 pandemic / Credit: Elisha Terada (via Unsplash)
“Our parks should be shared spaces that create opportunities for Manchester people to gather, which is why bringing back the fireworks displays was top of our agenda. And we also recognise the importance of community which is why we will also continue to invest in a wide range of activities in our parks throughout the year.
“The return of these events is a wonderful opportunity for families and communities to create lasting memories and enjoy the long-standing tradition of fireworks in our parks in a safe way.”
Emily Sergeant -
18th June 2024 
