Manchester City Council has revealed that the majority of Stevenson Square will be permanently pedestrianised.
Following a series of consultations discussing the future use of the square, which have been taking place since 2019, all with the aim of improving the space for walking and cycling, the Council has now confirmed the “key milestone” for the central Northern Quarter area.
The decision to permanently pedestrianise the area comes after the square originally closed back in 2020 under temporary COVID-19 powers in a bid to encourage people back into the city centre.
The Council explained that its experience with the temporary pedestrianisation of the square had shown that giving more space for pedestrians and cyclists was “incredibly positive” and “signalled a shift in how people want to interact and engage with the city”.
However, the latest consultation held back December 2021 highlighted that there is a need to balance access to the square for all users – including those travelling into the city centre on public transport.
So, in a bid to meet this need, the Council has now set out a list of proposals to update the draft plans and close three quarters of the square to vehicles, while still providing limited access via Lever Street for buses and taxis to link up with Oldham Street and Piccadilly connections.
Manchester City Council has revealed that the majority of Stevenson Square will be permanently pedestrianised / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph)
The permanent improvements to the square will include:
The pedestrianisation of most of Stevenson Square.
A two-way cycle lane through Stevenson Square at carriageway level, with cycleway demarcation blocks on one side, and tactile crossings put in place and new signage for cyclist.
Pedestrian and cyclist crossings installed at the junctions of Oldham Street/Hilton Street, and Newton Street/Hilton Street.
Footpaths will be widened in the area to give more space over to pedestrians.
Pay and display bays in Hilton Street removed.
The Council explains that some loading bays in the area will be relocated to allow for these changes to be made, but this will still retain important space for businesses to trade.
“For a long time, the Council has been committed to the full pedestrianisation of Stevenson Square and we remain so but for now we will provide limited access for buses and taxis in a small area of the square,” said Councillor Tracey Rawlins – Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council.
The Council has called it a “key milestone” for the central Northern Quarter area / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph)
“We are pleased that the vast majority of the space in the square has been preserved for pedestrians and cyclists, and we will be working with businesses to ensure they can maximise the benefits of these changes.
“For the Council, our bigger picture is being at the forefront of a switch towards walking and cycling in the city centre and turning places like Stevenson Square into vibrant and economically strong neighbourhoods.”
Manchester City Council says the timeframe for when thee planned improvements are to be implemented will be confirmed “at a later date”.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
Def Leppard announce HUGE arena gig in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
English Glam Rock band Def Leppard have announced a brand new UK tour which features a stop in one of Manchester’s big arenas next year.
Known for hits like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’, ‘Love Bites’ and more, Def Leppard are back on the road and they’re heading out on a UK tour.
The band has achieved worldwide acclaim since entering the rock scene with their first-ever single, ‘Wasted’, back in 1979, and their success resulted in getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2023, Def Leppard teamed up with fellow metalheads Motley Crüe for the ultimate ‘Rock of Ages’, playing a spell-bounding gig at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people.
The rock legends are continuing their career-highlight streak as now they’re about to play one of Manchester’s largest arenas, Co-op Live, sending 23,500 fans into ‘Hysteria’.
This upcoming Def Leppard UK tour sees the band making their way to Glasgow, Sheffield, London and Birmingham before visiting the music capital of the North.
The love for these rockers isn’t slowing down either, as their latest album ‘Drastic Symphonies’, a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, scored Def Leppard their highest charting record in 32 years, debuting at number 4.
Fans will be over the moon to know that the five-piece visiting Co-op Live next year includes the same band lineup since 1992, with Joe Elliot, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell playing out on the night.
The Rock Brigade will always make sure to remember Steve Clark, founding member and adorned- ‘Riffmaster’, and although the guitarist won’t be playing this innovative live music venue, fans will still give it their all for the current ‘Gods of War’.
These Sheffield-formed musicians have sold more than 110 million albums worldwide, so there will be no ‘Foolin’ around when it comes to screaming their lyrics at the top of your lungs next summer.
Def Leppard are coming to Co-op Live in Manchester on Monday 5 July, with tickets going on sale from 10am on Friday 5 September
Bolton man jailed for life after killing ‘vulnerable’ woman and hiding her body in his shed
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed for life after murdering a vulnerable woman and then proceeding to hide her body in a shed at his house in Bolton.
Christopher Barlow killed Mariann Borocz back in December 2024 after randomly meeting her at a shop and inviting her to his house, before killing her and then going on to dump her body in a locked shed in his garden.
55-year-old Mariann, who was originally from Hungary, was reported missing on Sunday 15 December having been last seen alive in the early hours of the previous day.
During the police search and investigation, CCTV showed Barlow following Mariann into a shop near his house and then back out again, and after Barlow was arrested on suspicion of assault on 23 December, officers found the keys to his shed – which is when they, sadly, discovered Mariann’s body.
Barlow was charged with murder, but the 63-year-old first denied this charge, and also denied any contact with Mariann.
The case was then handed over to Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team, led by Detective Chief Inspector Tony Platten.
#JAILED | This is the moment Christopher Barlow was arrested for the murder of Mariann Borocz.
We made extensive efforts to locate Mariann, and our thoughts continue to be with her family.
A three-week trial then began at Manchester Crown Court, and when forensic evidence linked Barlow to Mariann’s body, he then when on to admit during the trial that he had invited her into his house, and found her not breathing in his kitchen about 40 minutes later.
Despite maintaining he did dot murder her, the jury returned its guilty verdict after less than a day of deliberation.
Last week, Barlow was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum term of 20 years behind bars.
Detective Sergeant Fiona Manning described this as a ‘harrowing’ investigation and subsequent trial for Mariann’s family.
“Barlow befriended Mariann and she believed she could trust him,” DS Manning said, “That could not have been further from reality.”
DS Manning then assured that GMP remains ‘steadfast’ in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of women in Greater Manchester‘s communities, and will continue to work ‘tirelessly’ to uphold justice.
She concluded: “Women should be able to go out freely and without fear that something may happen to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
26th July 2022 
