During the pandemic, the streets around Ancoats’ Cutting Room Square (sometimes more affectionally known as ‘Ancoats Square’) were pedestrianised, a plan which was met with public support across the board.
However, with everything re-opening again, the roads were re-opened, that is – until this week when they’ll be closed once again as part of a six-month pedestrianisation trail.
Here’s what the council has to say about it all…
“As part of the ongoing commitment by Manchester City Council to provide safe and attractive, traffic-free public spaces, this trial is being launched to gauge public opinion on making this change permanent.”
The plans include:
- Closing Blossom Street to vehicles between Cotton Street and Sharrett Street
- Closing Cotton Street to vehicles from its junction with Blossom Street to a point just to the south-east of Hood Street
- Closing Hood Street from its junction with Cotton Street to a point just to the south-west of the Halle building’s servicing door
- Closing Hood Street (except for vehicle loading/unloading) from its junction with Murray Street to a point just to the south-west of the Halle building’s servicing door
The measures will go live from Friday 26th August and will run for a provisional six-month period to build feedback from the public and businesses. Depending on this feedback, it could then be extended further to trial new changes or made permanent if the changes are found to be beneficial for the neighbourhood.
To comment on the proposals residents can do so by emailing: phlegal@manchester.gov.uk
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’re excited to launch this consultation in this part of Ancoats. It’s a well-used and vibrant part of this growing neighbourhood and during the pandemic the emergency pedestrianisation of this area made it clear what benefits can be brought by limiting cars and other vehicles from some of our streets.
“This consultation will be running for an initial six months so I would encourage people to use the square during this period, experience the new environment and give us your feedback.
“Ultimately we want to see Ancoats as a green and clean urban space, an ambition we are working to realise through a wider strategy to put green space and active travel at the heart of the Ancoats community. The trial to pedestrianise the roads around Cutting Room Square is another step in this direction.”
