A range of new measures aimed at making Manchester’s roads safer and “free of congestion” are being introduced in a few weeks time.
It comes after, around this time last year, Manchester City Council consulted on some proposals that would grant it new powers to enforce Moving Traffic Contraventions (MTCs) across the city-region – which were powers that only the police were able to enforce prior to this.
Making roads safer for those walking or cycling, reducing congestion, and making overall improvements to journey times were some of the measures discussed.
Increased safety and cleaner air around the borough’s schools also formed an important part of the Council’s talks, as did improving air quality overall across Greater Manchester to help make it in-line with the Council’s zero-carbon target.
And from mid-November, some of these proposals will finally start to become a reality.
ADVERTISEMENT
New road safety measures are being introduced to make Manchester ‘congestion free’ / Credit: PassMeFast | NIF
To kick things off, from Monday 20 November, the Council has revealed that the contraventions which will be targeted using these MTC powers will be motorists making illegal right or left turns, and the blocking of yellow boxes at junctions – with the enforcements being carried out using ANPR cameras installed at key locations in the city.
The Stockport Road junction with Dickenson Road / Stanley Grove in Longsight is one of the first places where an ANPR camera will be installed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Seven locations have been identified in total, with the remaining six to be installed throughout 2024.
The first ANPR camera being installed at this particular Longsight junction comes after there have been four collisions here that have sadly resulted in either serious injury or death – which the Council says shows “the importance of this project”.
The Council has been granted new powers to enforce Moving Traffic Contraventions (MTCs) / Credit: Manchester City Council
Speaking ahead of the new road safety measures being introduced next month, Councillor Tracey Rawlins – who is the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council – said: “As a Council, we are always looking at ways in which we can improve safety on our roads [as] any accident is one too many, which is why it’s important we explore any measures at our disposal to prevent them.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Following a consultation last year, we are looking to utilise our new powers to enforce MTOs across a range of neighbourhoods.
“As well as improving safety we are also keen to improve our air quality – in line with our zero-carbon aims – as well as reducing congestion and journey times.
‘Prolific’ South Manchester burglar jailed for thefts which included peanuts…
Daisy Jackson
A ‘prolific’ burglar has been jailed for just over two years, for numerous thefts including sunglasses, airpods, and peanuts…
The man was caught red-handed inside someone’s property, where he claimed he was just wanting a glass of water – but was found by police officers to have the resident’s car keys in his pocket.
Fazal Alnesi, 26, from Moss Side, was then linked to a number of other burglaries, attempted burglaries, and thefts across South Manchester.
Fazal was sentenced to 27 months at Manchester Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to offences including six counts of burglary in June of this year.
He was arrested on 12 June, when a man returned to his home in Fallowfield in the early hours of the morning and discovered Fazal inside his address.
He claimed he was there because he wanted a glass of water but subsequently refused to leave, which led to police being called.
Officers placed Alnensi in handcuffs and found the resident’s car keys in his pocket, as well as indications that he’d been rummaging through the man’s drawers.
He was later linked to other thefts include a wrench set from a car, a pedal cycle worth £350, airpods, sunglasses – and even peanuts from one address.
He additionally took an electric bike charger from one address worth hundreds of pounds.
PC Jon Holden, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Alnensi took various items from several homes and cars across a two-week period earlier this year, making off with hundreds of pounds worth of goods.
“Ultimately, Alnensi left people feeling unsafe in his own home, and I am glad he is now behind bars.
“Our team will investigate all burglaries, and I would encourage people to get in touch with us – all intelligence helps us lock up criminals and bring them to justice.”
The top 10 ‘happiest’ places to live in the North West in 2026 have been named
Emily Sergeant
The top 10 happiest places to live in the North West have been named for 2026.
It comes as Rightmove has published its annual ‘Happy at Home’ index this week, just as it has done for the last 14 years now, exploring exactly what it is that makes people feel content about where they live, and highlighting the happiest places nationwide ahead of the new year – with thousands of residents across more than 200 locations providing feedback.
The residents told the leading property listing platform what they love (or don’t love) about their community, from the friendliness of their neighbours, to job opportunities, access to green spaces, and so much more.
The survey also outlined the differences in happiness in rural, urban, and suburban environments, as well as the way our sense of ‘home happiness’ changes as we age.
So, when it comes to the North West as a whole then, where do we have in the top 10?
Well, to kick things off, you may have already seen that one Lancashire market town has earned its place in the top 10 nationwide, not just for the North West region – and that’s Chorley.
Closest to the Bolton and Wigan boroughs, Chorley – which is is about a 40-minute drive outside of Manchester, and sits on a direct train route into the city centre.
But aside from the national top 10, when it comes to the regional top 10, the next two towns following Chorley in second and third are both in Greater Manchester.
The North West’s top 10 happiest places to live 2026
Chorley
Stockport
Altrincham
Chester
Macclesfield
Southport
Kendal
Wirral
Northwich
Carlisle
Altrincham has been named one of the North West’s happiest places to live / Credit: The Manc Group
The ever-thriving Stockport comes in at number two, followed by Trafford favourite Altrincham directly behind it at number three.
Other of the region’s inclusions like Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and the Manchester borough itself all ranked towards the bottom.
Speaking on this year’s list, Colleen Babcock – a property expert at Rightmove – explained: “The balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings. Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.
“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”
Featured Image – Roger Kidd (via Wikimedia Commons)
Emily Sergeant -
25th October 2023 
