The Parsonage Road Safer Streets Scheme is going ahead following concerns raised by residents about road safety around the Parsonage Road area, who emphasised the need for better public space and safer environments for walking and cycling. 

As a result of these representations the area was selected by Transport for Greater Manchester(TfGM) and the City Council to be part of a Greater Manchester Active Travel programme, which  puts  in  measures designed to make it safer to walk and cycle. Back in 2021, TfGM and partners rolled out a ‘have your say’ engagement (that included several online design workshops) to find out what residents thought about their streets. The feedback led to a draft proposal which was shared with residents. 

The Council is now accessing further funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and is planning for a trial of the proposal, which will assist with identifying the best permanent solution for the location.

What this means for the area 

Most of the interventions delivered as part of this project will  be on Parsonage Road and surrounding streets, but they will have an impact on the wider area, so your local Councillors will work with residents and businesses from beyond the project study area. 

This permanent project aims to create streets where the movement, health and safety of people is prioritised over cars. The aim is to create safe, attractive spaces for people to spend time chatting or for children to play. 

This is also about stopping people using residential roads as cut-throughs. By purposefully removing ‘rat running’, we can reduce any negative impact of this on the local neighbourhood and put residents back at the centre of their communities. This is typically achieved using planters or bollards (sometimes called modal filters) on some streets to stop through access for vehicles, but keeping streets open to those travelling by foot, bike, wheelchair or pushing a pram. 

Residents will still be able to access their homes by car and emergency vehicles will still be able to drive onto the street.  

Using modal filters is not a new concept. Most housing estates built since World War Two are designed on this principle, as many people don’t like living in neighbourhoods with high levels of through traffic. These types of schemes build on this idea by including better connections for walking and cycling. 

What are the benefits 

The proposed project enables residents to walk, cycle or scoot, as well as play outside safely. Where similar schemes have been implemented on a neighbourhood-wide level elsewhere, they have shown to contribute to increased retail spend in local shops, more positive health and wellbeing, improved air quality and reduced traffic by 56%.

New people-friendly spaces created around modal filters provide an opportunity for more greenery, such as planters or street trees. 

All these things can have positive effects on air pollution, congestion, residents’ health and wellbeing, and safety on residential streets.  

The permanent project aims to: 

• Create attractive high quality public spaces for people 
• Enable and encourage cycling and walking for short journeys, leaving the car at home 
• Create low traffic areas where people are prioritised over motor traffic, stopping rat running 

Any concerns or queries about the project please contact parsonage@manchester.gov.uk

This information was taken from the Manchester City Council website – you can read more here. Information is also on display in Withington Library