After the re-election of Cllr Wheeler, the Piccadilly Labour Councillors are excited for the plans for Thomas Street to go ahead.

It has been revealed that the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order for the Thomas Street Pedestrian and Cycle zone will be operational from Friday 14 June.

The partial closure of Thomas Street will be achieved by deploying de-mountable Manchester Heritage Bee Bollards in the carriageway at the junction of John Street, High Street, and Back Thomas Street and will create a sterile car free zone. The junction with Kelvin Street is currently closed due to hoarding erection.

Cllr Lyons has said “The plans are really exciting and I’m glad to see the bollards in place already”.

The bollards will be deployed Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 8.00 pm to 05.30 am. The process will be managed by G4S.

Cllr Lyons further added “Whilst the times are a good start, I’d be interested to see what the trial period brings and what we can do further for pedestrians to have the right of way in the Northern Quarter”.

Leaflets will be distributed to businesses, residents and motorists parking on or near Thomas Street for a two week period, starting on Monday 03 June. Central Neighbourhood Team, City Centre Regeneration and Parking Enforcement Officers will assist with that leaflet distribution.

For two weeks only there will also be a two week reactive response service, provided by G4S, to release any motorists that have not moved their vehicles by the required time and find themselves trapped in the car free zone.

The experimental traffic regulation order will be reviewed within 18 months before anything is made permanent in order to measure the effects of these changes and to consider feedback from residents and businesses.

Piccadilly Labour Councillors also successfully lobbied for the pedestrianisation of Stevenson Square, securing £11 million funds to carry out the project.