A recently completed cycling scheme in the Northern Quarter has been branded 'absurd' as concrete blocks and cars blight the new path on one of the areas busiest streets. This is the latest criticism of city centre road schemes which have failed to impress straight away, with the major revamp of Great Ancoats Street still causing controversy more than a year after its completion.
Road resurfacing work finished this month completely blocking Thomas Street, between High Street and Oak Street, to cars and taking away parking spaces and widening the pavement between Tib Street and Oak Street. There have been growing calls for more city centre streets to be blocked off to traffic since the Covid pandemic begun in 2020, with more space for pedestrians and cyclists to move around the city.
Thomas Street, and adjacent Edge Street, were some that benefited from closure to car traffic during the pandemic, as businesses were able to flourish by seating people outside. Some closures become permanent, with consultations and plans put in place by the council to do this, resulting in what has just finished at Thomas Street.
