A survey published this week found only 9 per cent of Brits want life to return to 'normal' after the coronavirus crisis is over.

Many people have noticed significant changes they'd like to maintain such as stronger community spirit and more cooking at home.

More than 50 per cent said they think the air is cleaner due to less cars on the roads, and a quarter think there is more wildlife, the YouGov poll found.

What might that mean for Manchester city centre and the debate around pedestrianisation that has been hotting up over the past few years?

A number of key neighbourhood consultations are currently in the offing, and improving the standard of living for the many thousands of new residents is a big consideration for council leaders.

For all the development in Manchester city centre in recent decades, officials have been accused of prioritising tower blocks and leisure activities over an increase in the quantity and quality of public space.

Parks - and whether there is enough of them - is a constant source of discussion.

But roads and the potential to pedestrianise them has also risen to the top of the agenda, especially now as they are much quieter due to lockdown.

In response to questions from the M.E.N about whether some roads could be closed to cars permanently after lockdown, the council has hinted that change could be afoot.

And the city has form for creating lasting change out of crisis - the IRA bomb of 1996 brought pedestrianisation to areas of the city centre previously open to cars.

(Image: ABNM Photography)

Deansgate, Stevenson Square, Albert Square

Nationally, campaigners have called for Britain to follow in the footsteps of countries such as New Zealand and Colombia where major roads have been turned into temporary lanes for cycling and jogging.

This week, a number of newspapers mistakenly claimed Manchester was already ploughing ahead with such plans, after a picture was tweeted of Tib Street in the Northern Quarter coned off.

However, the Manchester Evening News understands this was actually due to work being carried out by a utilities company.

Nevertheless, the pedestrianisation of a number of major roads in Manchester has been talked about in serious terms already, and many feel now is the time to capitalise on public support.

Deansgate has long been a target for campaigners, and public opinion appeared to shift in their favour after the Extinction Rebellion protest last year.

(Image: Manchester Council)

At that time, the council said it would support such a move if it could resolve the issue of re-routing buses.

Other roads that are already in the process of being closed off are Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter, and Albert Square as part of its £13million overhaul.

Before the coronavirus crisis began, the council was in the final stages of approving a draft of its much-anticipated City Centre Transport Strategy.

Council leaders say the priority is reducing car journeys and prioritising walking, cycling and use of public transport.

An overhaul of bus franchising, a policy being pursued by the Mayor Andy Burnham, will be a key strand of the strategy.

But it is understood a number of strong representations have been made by both residents and councillors about pedestrianisation across the city centre.

Oldham Street and Piccadilly Gardens

Oldham Street has also been picked out as another example of somewhere that could be transformed.

A petition registered with the council earlier this year claims the spiritual home of the Northern Quarter has been neglected and has now become 'a hotbed for a number of social issues and crime.'

The street could be pedestrianised and buses run down Lever Street and then back up Newton Street instead, the document argues.

(Image: ABNM Photography)

Such a move would be 'truly transformative and rejuvenative to the area enabling local businesses to thrive again', supporters say.

Taking buses out of Oldham Street would inevitably mean looking at their route into Piccadilly Gardens and the bus station on Parker Street.

Again, Piccadilly Gardens is itself at the centre of long-awaited plans for a revamp that were well underway before lockdown kicked in.

Almost £2million has been signed off towards the demolition of the free-standing section of the much-hated 'Berlin Wall' as well as coming up with a new design and public consultation.

The Manchester Evening News understands there have been serious suggestions that the overhaul could involve re-routing buses and pedestrianising both Piccadilly and Parker Street on either side of the Gardens.

Leader of the council Sir Richard Leese hinted as much when the executive signed off the spending last month saying: "Parker Street is quite a horrible place, and the stretch by Morrisons is a poor physical environment.

"We are determined to do something about it."

Political pressure building

Public clamour for change may never have been greater.

A picture tweeted this week by @Manc_Pictures showed the trees in Piccadilly Gardens looking exceptionally healthy and green in the April sunshine, compared to their drab and dreary state earlier in the month.

Although seasonal change no doubt played a part, many believe the trees are happier with the dramatic reduction in vehicle traffic.

"Zero pollution does wonders!" replied one follower.

As always, there is a healthy dollop of politics involved in the decisions around pedestrianisation.

Manchester council's Labour leadership has, at times, found itself out of step with its ward members in the city centre who have strong pressure from the Lib Dems.

High-profile fights over issues such as the use of the former Central Retail Park for a temporary car park, comments made about the Extinction Rebellion protest and developments approved without any affordable housing have played into the opposition hands in recent years.

Deansgate Labour councillor William Jeavons won his seat in May last year by just 48 votes.

(Image: Supplied)

Jon-Connor Lyons, Labour councillor for the Piccadilly ward said he supports pedestrianisation in general - but raised a number of wrinkles that need to be ironed out.

"We've seen the Council support road closures and the temporary pedestrianisation of streets, such as Stevenson Square, Thomas Street, Edge Street etc. with either events or projects like the Piccadilly to Victoria Cycle route," he said.

"I want to see this trend continued, especially in areas where people's safety is at risk and in areas where smaller independent businesses can benefit.

"What's important however is that when we pedestrianise streets in the city centre, we ensure that Manchester is not shutting out disabled people and those who require vehicles to get to and from their homes.

"There are many residents who've lived in the city centre for decades who require vehicles to get around because they are physically unable to do so otherwise.

"It's also important to remember that public transport into the city is the reason why many don't have to drive cars into the city centre.

"Bus routes are a fact of life for many and ensuring these routes are protected for the workers who keep our city running is important too.

"So when we explore pedestrianising streets, it's our duty to ensure we get these people part of the discussion.

"The Council’s focus right now should be the most vulnerable in our communities and ensuring they get the support they need in response to the issues the pandemic has caused."

'We need to take the opportunity rather than returning to business as usual'

When asked for an official response to calls to open up roads for pedestrians and cyclists during the lockdown, Manchester council was non-committal, but hinted that change is on the way.

(Image: MEN)

Councillor Angeliki Stogia, Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, said: "During the coronavirus pandemic, the overwhelming majority of Mancunians have been respecting the official advice to go out only for essential journeys and doing the right thing by adhering to social distancing.

"With less cars on our roads, we are seeing more children and families out walking and cycling than before and air pollution has fallen.

"As and when restrictions are lifted in the coming weeks, rather than returning to business as usual, we need to take the opportunity to see how we can support more people to choose to walk or cycle, while appropriately socially distancing while this is still required.

"As the country begins to return to normal after the coronavirus pandemic, we will continue our work of reassessing how our city centre streets are best used and how we can make walking and cycling the natural options for people, instead of travelling by car, as they go about their daily life."

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the council was organising a series of car-free events in the city centre could work this summer, during the period between Clean Air Day in June and World Car-Free Day in September.



The M.E.N understands it is still intended that such events will be considered after the country emerges from lockdown, as part of a wider reassessment of how city centre space can best be used to encourage more people to choose active travel options, while also enabling social distancing.

At the Greater Manchester level, there appears to be a stronger commitment to pedestrianisation, although plans to introduce a Clean Air Zone had to be paused this week until the lockdown is lifted and the impact on the economy is better understood.

However, in the meantime, Chris Boardman, the Mayor Andy Burnham's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, appears keen to push forward with opening up roads to non-motorists.

He tweeted earlier this week: "If you want people to stay apart and not use public transport, we have no choice but to protect, prioritise and enable those not driving.

"Everyone in Greater Manchester should think hard about what road they want to follow as we emerge from this crisis.

"Or to be more precise, how they want to use their roads. Together we can build something magnificent, resilient and lasting. That’s how we protect our NHS forever."