City centre Labour councillors have welcomed cross city bus plans which will deliver improvements to city centre roads.

Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council will shortly announce a consultation on the bus priority package which will make way for cross city buses operating through the city centre.

The package includes major changes to Oxford Road, Portland Street and surrounding roads and the introduction of ‘Dutch-style’ cycle lanes.

The plans for Oxford Road and Manchester city centre are part of a wider bus priority package to benefit everybody who travels, lives and works in Greater Manchester. The bus priority package will deliver improvements for buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

The consultation goes live on 22nd May and will run to 26th June. All city centre residents along the affected route will receive a leaflet in the next few days but you can download it here. A separate leaflet detailing the plans for Oxford Road can be downloaded here.

City centre councillor Kevin Peel said:

“These improvements are sorely needed, particularly the introduction of new cycle lanes on Oxford Road.

“I am fully supportive of the proposals but I have asked TfGM to consider relocating the bus stop on Whitworth Street from outside a residential block. I would also like to see the introduction of environmental improvements along the affected roads – new street trees for example.

“I would encourage all residents to participate in the consultation.”

Four consultation events will be held for city centre residents to view the plans and discuss them with representatives from TfGM and Manchester City Council:

• Tuesday 4th June, 2pm – 7pm, Cube Gallery, 113-115 Portland Street, M1 6DW
• Wednesday 5th June, 11am – 5pm, TfGM Piccadilly Online Shop, Piccadilly Gardens, M60 1HX
• Thursday 6th June, 2pm – 7pm, Shudehill Travelshop, Shudehill Interchange, M4 2BS
• Monday 10th June, 2pm – 7pm, Manchester Deaf Centre, Crawford House, Booth Street East, M13 9GH (This event will include information and exhibition materials that are suitable for people with disabilities. A BSL Interpreter will be available at the event.)

Full information can be found on the consultation website at www.tfgm.com/buspriority. E-mail your comments to buspriority@tfgm.com, copying in your Labour councillors.

As you may be aware, Network Rail is consulting on proposals for a new railway viaduct spanning the River Irwell between Salford and Manchester, to connect Manchester’s Victoria, Oxford Road and Piccadilly stations. The scheme, which forms part of Network Rail’s plan to improve rail travel and stimulate economic growth across the North (the Northern Hub), will ease a rail bottleneck at the south of Piccadilly and free up space on the network for faster, more frequent services.

Network rail are holding a final round of public consultation events ahead of submission to the Planning Inspectorate in August, and at this stage the full suite of draft application documents will be made available for members of the public and other interested parties for comment.  Network rail are hoping you will be able to drop in and discuss the plans at one of the following events:

8^th & 9^th May – Castlefield Hotel, Liverpool Road, Manchester:  12.00 – 20.00pm

10^th & 11^th May – Creative Media Centre, Chapel Street, Salford:  12.00 – 20.00pm

Once the consultation starts all of the documents will also be available to view on the website:  www.networkrail.co.uk/ordsall

If you have any further queries in the meantime please feel free to contact ordsallconsultation@networkrail.co.uk, copying in your local Labour councillors.

- Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) confirm roll out of recycling at city centre tram stops following calls from city centre councillors.

Recycling bins will be installed at tram stops across the city centre from 26th April following written requests by your Labour councillors.

Cllr Kevin Peel, who wrote to TfGM about the issue, said:

“I use the traim to get to work every day and the bins at the station are always overflowing with newspapers, yet there are no specific recycling bins at any of the city centre stops. I wrote to TfGM several times about the issue and they have now agreed with me that recycling bins need to be installed.

“We’re working to deliver more bins generally across the city centre and have met with officers on several occasions to highlight key black spots. We hope to have an announcement to make soon.”

See the response from TfGM Chair Cllr Andrew Fender to Cllr Peel’s requests here: Letter from TfGM re recycling at tram stops – 26.04.13

Work began earlier this month on the first phase of the transformation of St Peter’s Square.

Ambitious plans for the regeneration of the square, developed by landscape architect Latz + Partner following an international design competition, will create a public space of international quality, scale and significance.

Investment in the square will support and stimulate significant private investment in Manchester’s Civic Quarter which is set to become a major commercial district over the next five to 10 years.

At the heart of the plans is the idea of a wide, open urban square which celebrates the architecture of the surrounding buildings.

A high quality ‘carpet’ of Yorkstone paving will integrate the square with surrounding areas while a raised garden area will be created and a grove of decorative trees planted. It is planned to plant more than 50 mature trees as part of the works.

The first part of the works will see the current site entrance for works to the Town Hall extension relocated to the site of the Peace Gardens. This is so work can start on a new location for the Cenotaph which is being sensitively relocated to an area in front of the Cooper Street entrance of the town hall, providing a space for quiet contemplation and more room for commemorative events.

Trees currently in the Peace Gardens are being removed as part of the works and plaques currently located in the gardens will be transferred to suitable locations elsewhere in the city, to be agreed by the Council and relevant memorial groups following consultation.

Work will also start in spring on the area around Manchester Town Hall, the old town hall building and extension, and Central Library.

It is anticipated this phase of work will be completed by summer 2014, with further phases brought forward in association with the Metrolink Second City Crossing, the development of One St Peter’s Square and other developments.

City centre councillor Kevin Peel said:

“A regenerated square will stand at the heart of Manchester’s Civic Quarter, an area vital to the city’s future growth, and will be a catalyst to jobs and investment.

“St Peter’s Square is an important public space which has suffered from a cluttered appearance and a lack of coherence. But these works will create an international quality square which will be a source of pride for the city.”

Your Labour councillors have received a number of complaints in recent weeks about buses in the Northern Quarter. We have met with council officers to represent your concerns and can confirm that the following action is being taken:

• Parking services are to step up enforcement in Stevenson Square to address the issue of buses idling with their engines on.
• Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have issued  a reminder to all bus operators using Stevenson Square as to their obligations under CityPLAN (including not idling or laying over in the City Centre).
• The issue is on the agenda for discussion at the next CityPLAN management group which is attended by all operators, Manchester City Council and TfGM.
• Inspectors (from both TfGM and the operators) have been monitoring the situation to ensure that drivers are sticking to the rules and timetable.
• The council are working with TfGM and the operators to try and identify more appropriate locations for layover for buses serving this area.

As for problems reported at the junction of Oldham Street / Hilton Street, following our requests, officers met with Highways Citywide Support who have identified several things that the council could do to try and improve traffic flow in this area. This includes looking at the road layout on the approach to Oldham Street from Hilton Street / Stevenson Square and, potentially, introducing a yellow box junction. Both of these would be subject to further feasibility work and would require the council to identify a funding source.

Labour councillors will keep pushing for action on these issues.

Contact us if you want to raise any questions / concerns.

Last year Network Rail launched proposals for a new railway viaduct to connect Manchester’s Victoria, Oxford Road and Piccadilly stations. The scheme, which forms part of plans to improve rail travel and stimulate economic growth across the North (the Northern Hub), will ease a rail bottleneck at the south of Piccadilly and free up space on the network for faster, more frequent services.

Network Rail will be undertaking a programme of public consultation to provide residents and interested stakeholders with an opportunity to view the plans and submit feedback. Please do visit one of the exhibitions at the following times and venues:

• Tuesday 20 November, 4pm – 8pm, Museum of Science & Industry
• Wednesday 21 November,12pm-8pm, Museum of Science & Industry
• Friday 23 November, 12pm – 8pm, Creative Media Centre, Salford
• Saturday 24 November, 1pm – 5pm, Museum of Science & Industry
• Monday 26 November, 4pm – 8pm, Salford Central Station
• Tuesday 27 November, 10am – 5pm, Manchester Town Hall
• Wednesday 28 November, 4pm – 8pm, Manchester Piccadilly Station

A promotional flyer will be delivered to residents living near the scheme in the next week or so.

For more information or to register your views, e-mail ordsallchord@networkrail.co.uk, copying in your local councillors.

Buses are to drive at 20 miles per hour within the city centre under a new voluntary code of conduct for operators.

All bus companies running services into the city centre are expected to sign up to the CityPLAN agreement which means drivers will stick to the limit within the inner ring road – and drive at 10mph or less in busy locations such as Parker Street, Oldham Street and Shudehill Interchange.

The move comes as Manchester City Council looks into ways of creating more 20 mile per hour zones across the city, and is expected to improve safety, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.

The CityPLAN code of conduct, drawn up by the City Council in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Bus Operators Association, also means drivers should avoid accelerating or braking rapidly within the city centre. This is intended to help decrease air and noise pollution and to make journeys more comfortable for passengers.

It also includes measures to reduce congestion, such as making sure bus stops are only used to pick up passengers and buses are never parked there while drivers take breaks. Bus companies must also stick to a departure slot allocation system, avoiding problems caused by buses queuing up to use stands.

The code of conduct is voluntary but is an integral part of the ongoing partnership work between bus operators, the City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester to manage buses in the city centre and deliver improvements for passengers.

Cllr Joan Davies said:

“Bus travel is vitally important – taking 24,000 people a day into the city centre – and so it’s essential we work closely with the bus companies to make sure it’s as safe, efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.

“While this code of conduct is voluntary, all of the city centre operators are taking this seriously and we believe this will help make the city centre streets safer and less congested.”

Castlefield residents are to have access to more buses following a request by your Labour team.

City Centre Councillor Kevin Peel had the issue raised with him by Castlefield residents on a walkabout of the area last year.

Kevin followed this up with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Stagecoach, who operate the buses using the routes that enter the city via Chester Road, who agreed to investigate the addition of a request stop on Chester Road near Middle Warehouse for the use of Castlefield residents.

TfGM and Stagecoach have now completed that investigation and confirmed that the area is suitable for a bus stop. They will now consult with neighbouring residents following which a final decision will be made.

City Centre Councillor Kevin Peel said:

“I’m delighted with this result. Although Castlefield is in the city centre, it’s actually a good half an hour walk up to Piccadilly and the centre of town. The addition of this request stop will be a real boost for local residents.”

**UPDATE: The stop was installed on Friday 13th April and is now operational for residents who wish to use it.**

Joan Davies and Kevin Peel take action to stop buses idling with engines on in the city centre.

City centre resident and campaigner Joan Davies and Councillor Kevin Peel are working together to stamp out the bad practice of buses idling with their engines on in the Northern Quarter and across the city centre.

Joan and Kevin have made 49 complaints to transport officials over the last three months naming and shaming companies engaging in this practice, which is already against the operating guidelines.

Joan said “If you live near a point where buses, coaches and taxis wait you’ll realise just how annoying an idling engine can be. Kevin and I are determined to stop this practice from happening in the city centre, but we need your help. If you see it, report it.”

City centre neighbours have called for an end to the ‘nightmare’ of hundreds of buses choking up their street.

People living on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter say they cannot open their windows because of the noise and air pollution.

They say double and single decker vehicles travel down the street at a rate of almost one per minute at peak times.

Now they’re calling on First, the bus company which runs the majority of buses from the one-way street, to consider using nearby Shudehill Bus Station, which residents say is underused.

First say they are working with local authorities to tackle any problems. Labour & Co-op Councillor for Manchester City Centre Kevin Peel said that he had twice written to First Manchester to request a meeting to discuss the issue.

He added: “It’s a complete nightmare for residents. One told me that she can’t open her window for half an hour without her windowsill acquiring a thick layer of dirt.”

Douglas Field, 38, whose flat on Thomas Street backs on to Oldham Street, said: “I knew when I moved in that this was a lively place, with lots of bars and people going out.

“ But I didn’t quite reckon for the incessant rattle and hum of the buses.”

A spokesman for First said: “We are aware that some residents in the Oldham Street area have raised issues regarding buses. We are busy working in partnership with the local authorities to address these issues.

“It is important to remember that Oldham Street has been a major bus terminus for years and is an important transport hub for many bus routes.”

This article was taken from the Manchester Evening News on Monday 29th August.