The public is being asked for their thoughts on plans to widen the pavements and reduce road widths on a handful of major streets in Manchester city centre.
It’s part of new pedestrian-friendly plans to improve the A34 Salford to Cooper Street corridor.
The stretch of road is one that runs straight through Manchester, and starts from the beginning of the A34 in Salford, right to the junction of Cooper Street – which is adjacent to the Old Town Hall and Cenotaph in the city centre.
Bridge Street, John Dalton Street, and Princess Street and just some of the major roads which form part of the major thoroughfare.
Manchester City Council has described it as a “vital link” in the city centre’s highway network, as it includes several key destinations along the route – including the Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester Courts, and Salford Central railway station.
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This is why Councillors are keen to improve the stretch and make it safer for pedestrians.
The Council wants to widen pavements and reduce road width on these major Manchester city centre streets / Credit: Google Maps
As part of the Council’s long-term ambition for 90% of peak morning trips into the city centre to be made either by foot, cycle, or public transport before 2040 arrives, a wide range of options are now being explored on how progress can be made on that ambition over the coming years.
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Some of these suggested plans include providing more space on pavements for people to walk, widening of pedestrian crossings, new controlled crossings, improving bus stops by increasing space for people to wait, and overall helping public transport to flow more smoothly through the city centre.
Another one of the major potential plans put forward by the Council would be to reduce road widths and traffic speeds in a bid to encourage drivers to park and stop elsewhere.
Overall, the Council says it wants to create more “pleasant spaces” for people to spend time in and walk through to key city centre destinations.
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It’s part of new pedestrian-friendly plans to improve the A34 Salford to Cooper Street corridor / Credit: Google Maps
“We have lofty ambitions on how we can make the city a vibrant and attractive place to work, visit, and live,” explained Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council, as the plans have gone out for consultation this week.
“As part of that, we have to be bold in making changes which will help us improve air quality, as well as improve the experience of people who travel through the city centre. We are in the early stages of a developing a plan for the A34, so I would encourage everyone to look through our plans and make their opinions known to us.”
“Manchester city centre is for everyone which is why we want to hear from as many people as possible.”
The public consultation on the A34 Salford to Cooper Street corridor is now live and open for people to have their say, both in person and online – with local residents, in particular, urged to share their thoughts on the proposed chances.
Find out more on the Manchester City Council website here.
Featured Image – Google Maps
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Manchester councillor Bev Craig has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List
Danny Jones
The leader of Manchester City Council and representative for Burnage, Bev Craig, has officially been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List for 2026.
Councillor Craig, who has held her leadership position since October 2021, received the OBE for her services to local government.
She joins several other regional councillors to be named by King Charles III.
First elected by Burnage residents back in 2011, she has spent more than a decade and a half devoting her professional life to the community, as well as nearly a whole five years of that time at the highest level within the Council.
The University of Manchester graduate has played several key roles throughout her career, including giving back to higher education, helping trade unions, as well as serving as an executive member for adult social care and health during the pandemic, before serving as Deputy and eventually Leader.
Speaking in an official statement, Craig said: “To receive an OBE is a huge privilege, and to get awarded it for what I’ve been able to give back to our city is all the more special.
“Manchester is an incredible city, made special by its people and a place I’m proud to call home.
“Leading our city is a privilege I don’t take for granted, so to get awarded an OBE for what we’ve been doing to make Manchester an even better place to live and improve the lives of Manchester people, while creating a city that is fairer and more inclusive for generations to come, is the real honour.”
With the Council having also confirmed two special NYE events on either side of the Town Hall this year, it feels like a fitting celebration.
Congratulations to Bev Craig on the well-deserved accolade and title; we have no doubt she’ll continue to excel in her post.
You can find the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List HERE.
As for the discussion around knighthoods, many Brits are currently calling for a change in the rules in hopes of making OBE, CBE and MBE, Kevin Sinfield a Sir.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (via Manchester City Council)
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VAR audio requested as Nottingham Forest prepare complaint after Man City defeat
Danny Jones
Nottingham Forest have requested that the VAR audio from their game against Manchester City be released, as they are considering launching a formal complaint following the defeat.
Forest hosted Man City at home this past weekend and went on to lose 2-1.
However, Sean Dyche’s side are said to be ‘extremely unhappy’ with some of the refereeing decisions made by first official, Rob Jones, on the day.
As a result, they are now asking the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to share some of the conversations between on-pitch officials and the VAR team at Stockley Park in West London.
"I'm scratching my head and I can't believe it!" 😳
Sean Dyche wasn't happy with the officiating in their loss to Man City 😬
As you can see, Dyche initially said that “there’s no point” in pushing the refs on their performance, as he feels they usually only “get in trouble”, but it looks as though his employers have advocated for him.
Nottingham Forest had a problem with the final call in a number of instances during the festive fixture on Saturday, 27 December, but none more so than in one key moment.
The manager and his coaching team felt that Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been cancelled out following a foul by Nico O’Reilly on Morgan Gibbs-White in the preceding corner, which may have prevented Cherki from scoring another decisive finish.
Dyche also argued that another City defender, Ruben Dias, was due a second yellow card and therefore dismissal from the pitch for a challenge after the break, but there was ultimately nothing doing.
You can see the collision here:
"I do have sympathy for Sean Dyche… it is a second yellow card!"
Ref Watch discuss whether Ruben Dias should have been sent off against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/dxTYmGsEqZ
According to Sky Sports News, Nottingham have already requested more information from the refereeing body, with this not being the first time they’ve felt hard done by.
As they put it, the hope/belief is that raising the issue could help “start a broader discussion around officiating this season.”
What do you make of Forest’s concerns against Manchester City, and do you think they’re worthy of launching an official complaint against the PGMOL and Premier League?
You can see the highlights from the game and perhaps decide for yourself down below.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd February 2024 
