PEOPLE will have more time to make their views heard on the Oxford Road and Manchester city centre bus priority plans after transport leaders extended the consultation period.
Clearly a lot of people disagree or need more time to absorb the proposals.
Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) proposals are intended to make improvements for bus users, cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, along sections of Oxford Road and Portland Street.
Large sections of city centre users, businesses and residents are concerned over the plans fearing they may damage the city centre economy.
Details of the proposals can be seen on this Manchester Confidential article (Oxford Road Proposals) and here.
City Centre Transport Strategy Debate: Wednesday 19 June, Yang Sing
If you wish to take part in this vital debate and find out what is planned for the city centre - the main driver of the regional economy - and what businesses, residents and other interested parties can do to influence policy, please click here. There are limited numbers available. Cllr Nigel Murphy, an Executive Member of Manchester City Council and other guests will be on the panel.
The original consultation process was due to end on Wednesday 26 June. Given many businesses and concerned individuals had not received notification of the proposals by the end of May this didn't allow for a great deal of time to respond to what are extremely complex plans.
Wisely TfGM have now extended the deadline for consultation. Of course they had to put a spin on the decision.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “We’ve had a fantastic level of response, with hundreds of comments received already in the three weeks since the consultation opened.
“We’ve provided a comprehensive pack – including brochures, briefings, interactive maps, 3D flythroughs, a hotline, public drop-in sessions and bespoke presentations – to demonstrate what’s involved and that’s clearly been very effective.
“But we’ve also actively been engaging with a wide variety of groups, including businesses, students and communities in and around the ‘footprint’ of our scheme.
“It’s clear from those discussions that people feel they need a bit more to time consider the scheme fully, so we’re pleased to announce that we’ve been able to extend the consultation period by just over a week, to 5 July.”
The last paragraph is the key here with its 'bit more time' part.
Clearly a lot of people disagree or need more time to absorb the proposals. Extending the deadline is a welcome way of showing that TfGM are listening which is to be applauded. However the extension of a paltry eight days is disappointing, a month longer consultation would have been far better.
There are drop-in consultations arranged in areas bordering Oxford Road in the coming week or so. Five city centre drop-in sessions have already been held.
You can visit these suburb sessions on:
· Monday 17 June: 2pm – 7pm; Asda Hulme; 100 Princess Rd, Manchester M15 5AS
· Wednesday 19 June: 2pm – 7pm; Fallowfield Library; Platt Lane, M14 7FB
· Thursday 20 June: 2pm – 7pm; Brunswick Parish Church; Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9TQ
TfGM staff are also available by phone on 0300 123 1177 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm).
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