A date has been set for the reopening of Stevenson Square to bus traffic — having been wholly pedestrianised for two years.
The Northern Quarter square was closed to traffic in early 2020 in line with the Covid-19 lockdown — in an effort to encourage more people to walk and cycle across the city centre. Council chiefs had planned to keep the square closed off, before a row broke out between the authority and bus firms, the MEN understands.
As a ‘compromise’, one lane of the south-west route connecting Lever Street and Spear Street will reopen to buses and black cabs. Previously, the road — which runs outside Fred Aldous, Dusk ‘Till Pawn, and Noho — was used as a bus stop.
Now, Manchester City Council has confirmed it will reopen on December 30, 2022. The MEN understands the square could have been opened sooner, but there were fears that football fans could have gathered in the space if England did well at the World Cup in Qatar — as they did in 2021 when the men’s team reached the Euros final — and damaged the new facilities.
“We have always sought to balance the needs of everyone in Manchester, whether that is cyclists and pedestrians or those who need to use public transport,” said Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport.
“This compromise will ensure the vast majority of space in Stevenson Square will remain for pedestrians and cyclists whilst making part of the road available for public transport. I hope this will set the tone for how we can create integrated neighbourhoods which prioritise active travel and help the Council work towards its aim of becoming zero carbon by 2038.”
It’s also understood that councillors in the area are pushing for the entire square to be pedestrianised once Greater Manchester takes control of its buses away from private operators. The thinking is that as the public will control the routes, the bus stop can be moved to allow businesses more outside seating.
That would be welcome news for Dusk Til Pawn manager Josh Coventry. In August, he told the MEN the installation of the permanent bus stop would remove two-thirds of his outside tables.
He explained: “We would only have four tables outside. On Fridays and Saturdays they are full so reducing them by two-thirds is not fantastic. I think it will absolutely cost us trade. We take a lot of money outside on a Friday and Saturday.”
In the interim, Blue Badge holders will also be allowed through-access in the bus lane as a trial. However, vehicles stopping in this section of the road will not be permitted and is only intended for through traffic.
Enforcement will be in place to ensure no other vehicles access this street, with the risk of penalty charge notices in place for any breaches. Work will take place in the coming weeks to dismantle the existing bus stop on the road, as well as additional infrastructure being put in place, such as double yellow lines, to prevent parking or loading.
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