Petition calls for car ban on Northern Quarter street to make street safer and more welcoming

A petition is calling for cars to be banned from a landmark road in the Northern Quarter to make it safer and greener.

Campaigner and city centre resident Fiona Moinuddin wants Street in the Northern Quarter to be pedestrianised.

She has started petition which has so far amassed over 400 signatures, as well support from the council and local bars, cafes and restaurants.

Councillor Jon-Conner Lyons has confirmed that the petition has the backing of the ward councillors for Picadilly and that there are plans for a meeting between the campaigners and the highways council executive Councillor Tracy Rawlins.

A people-friendly street

Fiona said a majority of the people living or working in Tib Street support the change and that “many have told me they can see the benefits of a safer, cleaner, people-friendly street that draws in more customers and gives them space to spill out, host events.” The petition has been created in conjunction with the businesses on the street Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club and Tib Street Tavern.

However, some businesses have raised concerns. Jamie Barnes of Applique Apparel has concerns that “for my particular business is we do have a lot of people using the parking bays outside of the shop, collecting their orders and they find it quite accessible if the cab drive up to the shop. Now if they had to park and walk, it might not be so easy for us.”

The calls for Tib Street to be pedestrianised follows similar changes to Stevenson Square and Thomas Street, also in the Northern Quarter. The campaign group argues that Tib Street should be the next street to ban cars due to:

• High footfall,
• Extremely narrow pavements,
• Repeated safety concerns from residents,
• A high concentration of small businesses that benefit from slow, street-level activity,
• Rather than through-traffic,
• Low levels of essential vehicle use,

Putting people first

One key area that Fiona argues would be fixed by banning cars from the street would be deliver vans mounting the kerbs.

“The pavements are far too narrow, delivery vans mount the kerbs, and residents regularly tell me they feel unsafe walking through it especially at night,” she said.
“The campaign is about putting people first. It would make the street safer, we could make it greener, and more welcoming, while supporting the independent businesses that make the area what it is.

“Cities across the world have shown that when you give streets back to people, they thrive.” 

She added: “ What pedestrianisation would do is reduce the stop-start, kerb-mounting behaviour that currently causes conflict between drivers and pedestrians. It would make things smoother and safer, not worse.”

Opponents of further pedestrianisation argue that the measure could compromise accessibility for certain groups. In a comment to Manchester World about Stevenson Square, Dave Steele, a partially sighted pedestrian, said that he would “avoid the area totally, particularly if I’m on my own.”

Accessibility

The campaign group said that accessibility for people was”at the heart of the plans” 

Fiona said: “A street that works for the most vulnerable is a street that works for everyone. I’m committed to making sure accessibility groups are central to the design process.”

Possible provisions the campaign group say should be included should the street be pedestrianised include:

• Clear, tactile paving,
• Defined walking routes with strong colour and texture contrasts,
• Accessible drop-off points at either end of the street,
• Seating and rest points,
• Maintaining space for blue badge access where needed,
• Keeping emergency access completely unrestricted,

Fiona said they are “committed to making sure accessibility groups are central to the design process”.

However, the plans may not be able to go ahead due to funding issues . Councillor Lyons explained that the recent spate of pedestrianisation was funded through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority active travel scheme.

The pedestrianisation of Thomas Street, Edge Street and Stevenson Square included widening pavements for pedestrians in exchange for a cycle lane being included in the plans stretching from Manchester Victoria train station to Piccadilly train station.

The plans for Tib Street would need to contain something similar to go ahead. All of which would be included in the upcoming meeting with the highways executive.