A new consultation is set to lay out the latest plans for walking and cycling improvements across Manchester city centre.
And it means local residents can now have their say.
Following a previous consultation in 2021, Manchester City Council’s has already set out in its City Centre Transport Strategy the aim for 90% of all morning peak trips to the city centre to be made on foot, by cycle, or using public transport by 2040 – but the public will now be asked again for their views on changes to the road layout at a number of key routes.
In the new consultation, changes are proposed for Chester Road, Bridgewater Viaduct, Deansgate, Whitworth Street, Whitworth Street West, Fairfield Street, Aytoun Street, and London Road.
Some of the proposed changes include the construction of new footways and traffic islands, a new controlled pedestrian crossings and crossing points, a new segregated cycleway with a mixture of kerbed segregation and flexible bollards, and upgraded junctions with pedestrian cycle facilites.
New loading bays, and 20mph zone signs and road markings, are some of the other changes being proposed.
ADVERTISEMENT
A new consultation is set to lay out the latest plans for walking and cycling improvements across Manchester city centre / Credit: Wikimedia Commons | TfGM
“Through previous consultations, we know that the public are in favour of steps to reduce the number of cars in the city centre and make it easier for people to commute in the city by cycling, walking or by public transport,” said Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment at Manchester City Council.
“Manchester has an ambitious goal of becoming zero carbon by 2038 and it is through schemes like the Active Travel Fund that we will encourage people to a long-term shift to more sustainable and green ways of travelling.
“I hope people will take the time to take part in this consultation and help shape a city centre which is cleaner and greener.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The consultation is now live, and will be running until Monday 19 June.
An online consultation event will take place on Thursday 26 May at 6:30pm – 7:30pm, before an in-person event happens on Wednesday 1 June in Manchester city centre between 4pm and 7pm – and you can find more information here.
Man named and charged with ‘brutal’ murder at Peak District stone circle on summer solstice
Emily Sergeant
A man has been formally named as he’s charged with murder after a man’s life was taken in ‘the most brutal way’ following a summer solstice event.
He has been named as Szymon Babynko – a 23-year-old Polish national who now lives in London.
Babynko was named as part of an ongoing investigation, which was launched after Derbyshire Police were called to reports of a man’s body being found at Nine Ladies Stone Circle in the Peak District at 1:38pm on Monday 22 June, and when emergency services attended the scene, a 26-year-old man was found and pronounced dead.
The man was identified as Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, with police assuring his family are being supported by specialist officers.
Babynko was arrested on Thursday 25 June in connection with the incident, before being charged with murder today (29 June).
He has also been charged with attempted murder in relation to another incident on Hady Lane in Chesterfield on Thursday 25 June, the same day he was arrested.
Investigators say they still remain ‘keen’ to hear from anyone who was at the stone circle site over the weekend – which was notably the weekend of the summer solstice – as well as anyone with video footage from the event, and dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend.
A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up where members of the public can send information to police directly.
Babynko has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Derby Magistrates Court this week, with more updates on the case to follow.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Man jailed after violently assaulting two female police officers at Manchester Airport
Emily Sergeant
A man who assaulted two female police officers at Manchester Airport in a high-profile case back in 2024 has now been jailed.
PCs Lydia Ward and Ellie Cook – who each have eight years of experience and service at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) – were part of a team of officers based at Manchester Airport who responded to a report of a headbutt in Terminal 2 on the evening of 23 July 2024.
When officers went to arrest the man, named as 21-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz from Rochdale, he initially resisted before turning and attacking police.
During the shocking incident, PC Ward – an unarmed officer – suffered a broken nose after being subjected to actual bodily harm by Amaaz, while PC Cook, who was armed, suffered an injured jaw after being assaulted.
Many may remember that a short clip of the incident – which was recorded by a bystander – went viral after it was uploaded to social media without any wider context, leading to the officers involved becoming subjected to online abuse and condemnation.
A CCTV image of the brawl in action / Credit: CPS
PC Ward described the whole situation as ‘so confusing’.
“I have never seen anyone so violent,” she added in a victim impact statement. “I have never been so scared. It was utterly terrifying.”
PC Cook explained that she was left ‘traumatised by the incident’, adding: “I hate that we were judged by everyone. We were just doing a job – we were trying to protect the public.”
Last week (Friday 26 June), Amaaz appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he has sentenced to three and a half years in jail for his role in the incident.
Speaking on the sentencing, GMP’s Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson commented: “This incident began after a man was headbutted in a public place in front of his family.
“Our officers were responding quickly to precisely the sort of outrageous criminal behaviour that rightly offends the public. In undertaking their duties, officers were met with resistance and violence, followed by online vilification, condemnation and adverse commentary from those who did not have the full facts.
Read more:
Rochdale man, 20, found guilty of assaulting police officers at Manchester Airport
“It is vital that officers get the respect and support they deserve for routinely putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public.
“Assaults on police officers are sadly all too common – 35 of my officers are assaulted every week across GM – and such incidents can never be justified.”
Emily Sergeant -
24th May 2022 
