Family businesses in Manchester city centre could be jeopardised if plans for a new ‘bus lane priority scheme’ go ahead, business owners in Chinatown have said.
Representatives from almost every business sector in the city voiced their anger about Transport for Greater Manchester’s scheme at a Question Time-style debate in the Yang Sing restaurant on Princess Street last night.
The debate, which was part of an extended consultation period by TfGM, saw questions asked to Executive member of Manchester City Council Councillor Nigel Murphy and Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee Councillor Andrew Fender.
Bonnie Yeung, from Manchester Chinatown Community Group, was one of the first to voice her disapproval of the plans, which would see major roads into Chinatown shut off if they went ahead.
She said: “Many of the businesses in Chinatown are small, independent businesses who are run by families. These people can’t afford to lose customers because of the cuts to parking or road closures.
“These families can’t do big marketing campaigns to get more customers to Chinatown. Your plans are putting them in jeopardy. We are a major attraction to visitors to Manchester, why should we have to be accessed by the backstreets?”
In response to her comment, Councillor Fender replied: “We do not want to jeopardise anyone’s business.
“The intention is with these plans everybody will still be able to get to where they go now, but it may mean you have to take a different route.
“If you believe there are premises who are going to be duly affected then that is the intention of the consultation – to air those views to us.”
The plans being put forward by the Transport for Greater Manchester include parts of Portland Street being shut off to cars and private hire taxis, meaning drivers wanting to get from one end of the city centre to the other would have to take alternative routes.
However, black cabs WILL be allowed to use the 24 hour bus lanes which would be in place.
Private hire taxis account for over 16million journeys every year through the city, and representatives from some companies have also hit out at the scheme, fearing it could lose them competitive business to black cabs.
Representatives from Manchester Cars, Radio Cars and Street Cars said not allowing private hire vehicles through Portland Street, Princess Street and Oxford Road will harm not only their business but the wider public.
They said: “We all contribute to a massive visitor and business economy; we’re an important element of the transport infrastructure into and out of the city centre, with city centre hotels, bars, restaurants and venues all partnered with private hire operators.
“We hope that TfGM revises its plans because currently these plans force people to use public transport and black cabs, removing passenger choice.”
But Transport for Greater Manchester’s Committee chairman Councillor Andrew Fender has insisted the scheme is needed to keep up with a ‘growing city.’
He said: “With traffic levels rising, it’s crucial that we make sure people can easily get around our city by more sustainable transport – in this case, by bus, bike or on foot.
“The bus priority package is one of the largest investments in the Greater Manchester bus network in decades.
“Giving buses priority will allow bus operators to introduce services that cross through the city centre free from traffic, without need for passengers to change service.
“Oxford Road is one of the busiest bus routes in Europe and we want it to offer a European style travel experience, not just for bus passengers, but pedestrians and cyclists.
“I encourage everyone who lives, works in or travels through our city centre to take a look at these plans and have their say.”
The consultation is open until July 5 – you can have your say at http://www.tfgm.com/buspriority/pages/website/default.html
Picture courtesy of Emilstefanov, with thanks.
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