Public encouraged to have their say on proposed Deansgate changes

Monday, 21 December 2020 19:07

People are being asked from today, Monday 21 December 2020, to give their views on proposals to close part of Deansgate to traffic.

Manchester City Council is consulting on an experimental traffic order which would see a section of Deansgate between King Street West and Blackfriars Street only open to pedestrians and people on bikes. In addition, it is proposed that the section of Deansgate from King Street to Quay Street becomes one-way only, in a southbound direction (with the northbound carriageway closed).

After the impact of the experimental order has been monitored for at least 12 months, a decision will be taken whether to make the order permanent.

The proposals are being made for the following reasons: -

To improve air quality – Deansgate is it at risk of exceeding acceptable levels for nitrogen dioxide levels by 2021 unless action is taken. The proposed closure also would support Manchester and Greater Manchester’s commitment to become zero carbon by 2038 or earlier.
To improve road safety - especially for pedestrians and cyclists and make Deansgate more pleasant and easier for pedestrians to get around.
To support the aims of the 2040 Transport Strategy for Manchester - including promoting walking and cycling for local journeys and reducing collisions

It is anticipated that the closure would have other benefits, such as supporting city centre businesses by providing space to enable events, as well as creating a more welcoming environment.

Under the proposals, St Mary’s Parsonage would remain closed to traffic at its northern end.

A new bus gate would be created on Bridge Street, after its junction with Gartside Street, meaning that only buses would be able to drive out of the city centre across the River Irwell into Salford via this route. This bus-only corridor door is designed to complement the other measures in the experimental order and to support public transport.

Provision would be made for access for deliveries (between 6am and 8am Mon-Sat), waste collection and emergency services.

Councillor Angeliki Stogia, Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “We believe there are significant environmental and safety benefits to the closure of this section of Deansgate, which should be a safe and welcoming space for people of all ages at the heart of the city.

"We're making these proposals in support of our vision for a greener and healthier city centre, with cleaner air, more space to walk and cycle and more reliable bus journeys in and out of the city. However, before decisions are made, it’s crucial that we get the views of the people and businesses that any closure would affect.

"If you have views on these proposals for Deansgate, I’d encourage you to share them as part of this consultation, so we can take them into account when deciding the next steps.”

Councillor Roger Jones, Executive Support Member for Transport at Salford City Council, urged Salford residents to share their views on the proposals, adding: “When we went into lockdown in March, people commented on the cleaner air and quieter streets and many have taken to walking and cycling for both commuting and leisure. We believe that these measures will encourage more people to continue walking, cycling or using public transport and reaping the benefits of that. I hope that as many people as possible will have their say and comment on the future of Deansgate in this consultation."

For further details and to have your say on the proposals, please visit www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations. The consultation is open until Friday 15 January 2021.

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