Salford City Council has confirmed that cameras are to be installed near a notorious city centre junction where drivers routinely ignore “no right turn” signs.
Council leaders have put forward plans for a new traffic order at the junction of Chapel Street and Victoria Bridge Street, in which it has been prohibited to make a right turn at for several years – with signs marking that only buses and cyclists should make the manoeuvre – but is ignored by thousands of drivers every week.
It’s even believed that around 50+ cars can sometimes make the right turn every hour during busy periods.
Gridlock traffic around Manchester city centre remains a problem for motorists – particularly on routes heading towards Salford and Trafford at rush-hour – and drivers frequently using Deansgate to cut across town has been a historic problem, so the move to install cameras at this junction is likely to be welcomed by many.
It also comes after the council’s decision earlier this year to temporarily pedestrianise a short section of Deansgate in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The new traffic order at the junction of Chapel Street and Victoria Bridge Street is to be introduced “on an experimental basis for a period of up to 18 months” and aims to gain further control of driver behaviour in the Chapel Street area.
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It is expected to come into force by the end of this week.
Cameras will enforce to drivers the signs that make it clear only buses and cyclists are permitted to turn right at the bottom of Victoria Bridge Street.
All other traffic must turn left down Chapel Street.
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Councillor Roger Jones – Executive Support Member for Transport at Salford City Council – said: “The proposed bus gate is part of an 18 month trial to help buses move around the city centre more freely to encourage more use of public transport in the long-term and create a safer and more attractive environment for walking and cycling.
“It will also reinforce the existing ban on vehicles turning right from Victoria Bridge Street onto Chapel Street.”
The move has also been welcomed by the campaign group WalkRide Salford, with spokesperson Harry Gray adding: “The council are doing this as it’s the only way to enforce something that’s already banned, as drivers just ignore the current signs. This will vastly improve the area for walking and cycling [which is] the main form of transport for locals in this part of Salford,
“[And] drivers from out of town can still access the city centre via Trinity Way.
“We want a vibrant city centre, free of rat runs, pollution and gridlock [and] this scheme will allow the regeneration of Chapel Street as a culture hub to thrive further.”
You can find more information via the Salford City Council website here.
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Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates
Emily Sergeant
Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.
Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.
But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.
After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)
And lo and behold, it appears that they have.
The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester.
The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.
The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).
“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.
“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights.
“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.
“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.
“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”
Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)
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Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
25th November 2020 
