Manchester Council to trial pedestrianisation of Ancoats’ Cutting Room Square

Streets surrounding Ancoats’ Cutting Room Square will be closed as part of a six-month pedestrianisation trial starting this week.

During the pandemic a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) was brought in to allow for easier social distancing and received broad public support.

Now Manchester City Council is considering making the area a permanent traffic-free public space and is gauging public consensus with a trial.

Cllr 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.’

Proposals include closing a variety of streets including sections of Blossom Street, Cotton Street, Hood Street and Murray Street and bicycles will still be permitted within the area.

Pay-and-display parking bays will be removed, but club bays and disabled parking bays will be moved to areas outside the TTRO zone.

The closures fit with the council’s aims for 90% of all morning trips to the city centre to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2040.

Measures are in place from August 26 and will run for on a six-month trial basis to allow the public and businesses to feedback their views on whether the changes are beneficial.

Photo provided by Manchester City Council