Underground tunnels are being considered as part of a new plan to improve transport across Greater Manchester, the council has revealed.
A comprehensive report compiled in 2017 by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) concluded that by 2040, the city would require “significant additional cross-city capacity” – and one potential solution raised was the construction of new rail tunnels beneath the city centre.
TfGM said that an underground network would “deliver the excellent connectivity and faster journey times we need into and across the Regional Centre, without taking up valuable land or creating further severance by building new lines at street level.”
Three years later, tunnels remain on the table.
Since 2017, Manchester city centre has gotten increasingly busier and more populous – attracting hundreds of thousands of commuters on a daily basis.
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A fresh report – the Draft City Centre Transport Strategy 2020 – reveals that the council are all set to give the prospect of underground travel serious consideration in the coming months, whilst acquiring feedback from the wider public.
“We will look at the feasibility of further capacity expansions of the network through a Metro tunnel under the city centre,” the council states.
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“This solution would avoid taking scarce street level space to expand the network and to facilitate longer vehicles.
“We will also enhance connectivity between Metrolink and rail at key city centre stations, including Deansgate.”
Those in favour of an underground network might argue that the project is in fact forty years late.
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Manchester was planning a subterranean network as long ago as the seventies, with aims to assemble an ambitious Picc-Vic tunnel that linked the city from top to bottom.
Almost a decade’s worth of planning went into the exciting travel system. Only for the government to abruptly turn off the money tap.
When finances were stopped, everyone involved in the Picc-Vic tunnel simply had to walk away – leaving a gaping hole in the city where construction had already started.
The first attempt might have ended in disappointment, but the council and TfGM appear to be contemplating modern Manchester tunnels with earnestness.
They’ve included underground travel as part of a prospective long-term strategy for the city. According to the report, this will initially involve creating more Metrolink connections between Salford and the city centre, before making a series of enhancements that prepare the network to dip below street level circa 2035-2040.
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More immediate solutions presented in the plan include a completely pedestrianised Deansgate; a facelift for the permanently-busy Great Ancoats Street; an upgrade to Salford Central Railway Station; redevelopment of Albert Square and Piccadilly Gardens; and important improvements to Mancunian Way.
The council is also aiming to install new cycle routes for Northern Quarter and Chapel Street East, as well as Ancoats & New Islington.
Despite the setbacks suffered from the onset of coronavirus, which has hit Greater Manchester particularly hard since the summer, the council remain committed to “recovery” and significant investment, whilst aiming to become entirely zero-carbon by 2038.
“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, our plans focus on how the city centre can lead a strong, sustainable, healthy and inclusive recovery, taking the achievements made since 2010 to the next level,” the report states.
“By 2040, there is potential for 100,000 more jobs and 50,000 more homes in the city centre. Much of this is driven by planned growth accounted for in Greater Manchester’s plan for Homes, Jobs and the Environment, the Spatial Framework.
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“This includes providing the right locations for homes and creating jobs to ensure the future prosperity of the city-region, whilst prioritising development of brownfield sites and reducing unnecessary green belt release. Planning for the future city centre requires us to balance sometimes competing demands, as growth puts additional pressure on transport systems and streets.”
The report has been made available for public access and can be downloaded from the Manchester City Council website.
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Helen Flanagan describes psychosis diagnosis as she breaks social media silence
Daisy Jackson
Helen Flanagan has broken a months-long social media silence to explain to fans that she has been going through struggles with her mental health.
The former Coronation Street star explained that she’d had a ‘really bad reaction’ to some ADHD medication, which triggered psychosis.
The 33-year-old actress also said that she had been ’emotionally struggling’ after splitting with Scott Sinclair, with whom she shares three children.
Helen Flanagan wrote on Instagram that she’s had ‘a lot of difficult things going on’, explaining why she has stepped back from the public eye since January.
She also said that she was unaware that she was in the psychosis, which lasted for days.
It left her unable to continue with theatre rehearsals and instead Helen stayed at home with her family to recover.
Helen also said that she’d decided to try the medication after struggling with her mental health throughout December and January, so that she could ‘cope better with being a working single mum-of-three’.
But the Bury-born beauty then assured her one million followers that she was in a ‘really good happy place now’ and ‘feels lighter’.
She wrote, alongside a fresh-faced selfie on Instagram: “Had a few months off from social but I’m back now. So basically I really struggled mental health wise December/ January. I felt really not great in my head over Christmas and I didn’t really feel that much different when I took the kids away for new year.
“I had a lot of difficult things going on, things I just can’t talk about on Instagram.
“I felt terrible, so I was due my theatre tour which I was excited about so when I came back from holiday I thought it was best for me to take some medication so I’d feel better and be able to cope better with being a working single mum of three and I was emotionally struggling with the break up from the father of my kids but I had a really bad reaction though to the medication ( an ADHD medication) and it sent me into a psychosis for a few days which I didn’t know I was in. I just love my kids so much.
“This bad reaction though was a few days before rehearsals were starting and sadly I just wasn’t mentally well enough to do it.
“I was heartbroken as I’ve always been professional as an actress but i needed to stay at home and feel better for me and my kids, with the help of my amazing parents.
“I’ve always been honest on here and I feel in a really good happy place now. Therapy can be amazing and I feel like I’ve worked on myself with things that were quite tough to me but I feel lighter now. Anyway sending love and please be kind.”
She’s been flooded with well-wishes since sharing the very personal update.
Her former Corrie co-star and on-screen sister Brooke Vincent wrote: “Nice to see you back my girl. Love you lots xx”
Another Corrie legend, Cath Tyldesley, said: “Beautiful girl love you lots you are so brave . Health comes first. Well done for sharing as I’m sure it will help others xxxx.”
Another person said: “I read the word struggle, but I felt the word strength. There’s so much strength in seeking help, especially as a busy, working mama. You don’t even need to explain.”
International manhunt launched to find killer of Daniel Burke, who died in Ukraine
Daisy Jackson
A global manhunt is underway to find the suspect wanted in connection with the killing of Daniel Burke.
Daniel, 36, from Wythenshawe, was found dead in Ukraine in September 2023.
Ukrainian authorities have now named the suspect in their investigation, who has fled the area.
Specialist officers are in pursuit of Abdelfetah ‘Adam’ Nourine, also known as ‘Jihadi Adam’, an Australian Algerian dual national.
Daniel Burke went missing from south Manchester on Wednesday 16 August 2023, with his family believing he had travelled to Ukraine.
In September 2023, a body was found by authorities, and late last year DNA tests confirmed it to be Daniel.
GMP has said that his death is ‘made more traumatic by the absence of justice’ as they shared details of the investigation.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes of GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “Our deepest condolences continue to be with Daniel Burke’s family, who have endured the most awful six months. We know his death is only made more traumatic by the absence of justice, and those closest to Daniel remain at the heart of our involvement in this case.
“Since we were made aware of Daniel’s tragic death in Ukraine in September 2023, our specially trained Family Liaison Officers were quickly sent to support his close family members to offer advice surrounding the Ukrainian investigation.
“We’ve worked closely with the Foreign Office, The British Embassy, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and also Daniel’s family, to help repatriate Daniel and bring him home so his family and friends could finally lay him to rest.
“Our officers and forensic specialists also conducted extensive additional tests on Daniel’s body upon his return to the UK to ensure that the best evidence was obtained and then shared with Ukrainian authorities as promptly as possible. Everything in our power continues to be done to assist the investigation team in Ukraine.
“Alongside Daniel’s family we have been informed by authorities in Ukraine that they have a named suspect in their investigation into Daniel’s death, Abdelfetah ‘Adam’ Nourine. Also known as ‘Jihadi Adam’ an Australian Algerian dual national, who has subsequently fled the area and remains outstanding in efforts to find him.
“His Majesty’s Area Coroner for Manchester Zak Golombek has been updated at every stage. The opening of the inquest into Daniel’s death last month was an important step forward in the journey to ensure that Daniel’s family receive the answers they deserve, but we know this will not stop until his killer is brought to justice in the Ukraine.
“Nothing will bring Daniel back, but regardless of how long the process may take, we remain committed to doing all we can to help gain justice for Daniel and his family.”