Streets reclaimed for the people are dividing opinion
Families and business owners disagree on controversial scheme to remove traffic
IN the shadow of the city centre’s skyscrapers an urban experiment is taking place.
Those who are in favour say it gives the streets back to the people, reclaiming them from cars - but those against it call it ‘disgusting’ and even dangerous.
The idea is simple, put decorative planters in the middle of the road to block them off to motorists.
They’ve been placed on Stevenson Street, North George Street, Frederick Street and St Stephen Street – roads a short distance from busy Chapel Street.
Advocates of the scheme say it prevents those streets from being used as a rat run by cars speeding between nearby Manchester city centre and Salford.
But the measures aren’t just dividing streets, they’re dividing local opinion - with one shopkeeper telling the M.E.N. that they are destroying his business, and an image emerging of emergency crew unable to get down the road because of them.
Ravinder Singh is the owner of local corner-shop Salisbury MiniMarket on St Stephen’s Street. Mr Singh has been serving the neighbourhood for 35 years and says after fighting through the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic, he was ‘ devastated’ to turn up to work one day to find the planters placed in the middle of the road.
He told the M.E.N.: “It’s not good for the community, people cannot pass through, sometimes they’re in a rush or have family problems and are struggling to pass through and do their shopping.
“It’s horrible. I don’t know who made the decision to put these bollards here. What experiment do they want to do?”
For Ravinder the experiment, which began in June, cannot end quickly enough. He says it’s preventing customers from getting to him and doesn’t know if his business will make it until the end of the year. “As a business my turnover has dropped from 50-70% since last year. Last year they had roadworks here and at one point it was blocked for six months,” he said. “They haven’t given any business owners the opportunity to earn their money.” On Stevenson Street, just a few minutes away from Ravinder’s shop, colourful chalk drawings can be found on what has become a makeshift play area created by two sets of the ornamental planters.
The planters allow cyclists to pedal their way up and down the hill, no longer having to compete with traffic or pedestrians.
Phil Thomas was one of those pedestrians taking a leisurely stroll to a local cafe with his wife and daughter when the M.E.N. canvassed opinion in the area.
“It’s a great idea,” he says. “After Covid, driving in Manchester has become manic sometimes as people have developed a habit of driving really fast. As a consequence of that, anything that slows the traffic down a bit and makes it more user friendly for pedestrians, why not?
“I know it might be slightly inconvenient for some people but the price we pay for this type of thing is worth it. It creates play areas and safer places for kids to go. I’m 60-plus now, I remember playing outside as a kid, with no problems with vehicles, and kids now don’t have that opportunity.”
Not every pedestrian in this tightknit community agrees however. Stephanie Perrin questions why these streets have been chosen - and why other measures like cameras and speed humps, have not been used, as they would cause no interruption to emergency traffic, residents driving to work, doing school runs and shopping.
“It’s achieving nothing, it serves no purpose, it was badly conceived,” she told the M.E.N.
“It may help cyclists but it doesn’t help pedestrians and the small amount of traffic you get in these roads will now go to the main roads anyway.”
The experimental traffic order ends in December. If it’s deemed successful, it could lead to miniparks cropping up in residential areas.
Salford Coun Jim Cammell said: “If it is successful they can be made permanent, if it’s not successful they can be taken away and fixed for trial somewhere else. It’s a full consultation with residents and businesses in the area to see if they want to keep it or not. Residents can still access their properties or business via a car, but they may have to take a slight diversion.”
I remember playing outside as a kid, with no problems with vehicles, and kids now don’t have that opportunity Phil Thomas agrees with the street closures