Tag Archives: levenshulme bee network

Active Neighbourhood Dates

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Active Neighbourhood online feedback deadline 28 October 2020

Road Blocks / “Modal Filters” trial will run from 19 December 2020 to 19 June 2021

UPDATE: The Manchester City Council website did not mention any dates initially, then within the last week the dates were added. It seemed the dates had been removed but actually an extra page of text was added to the MCC website on 7th October HERE that still includes the dates.

A contact email for the project has also now been added: levyburnageproject@manchester.gov.uk

Manchester City Council still hasn’t actually informed anybody about the new plans and consultation on the proposed Active Neighbourhood but it has set a deadline for feedback.

Letters were promised to all residents, businesses, schools and community groups but so far nothing has been sent out. We were also promised a phone line to make comments and that has not yet been provided and an email address which so far doesn’t seem to exist. The new website for commenting is only available in English. No posters or information have been put up in the area informing people about the online consultation. So the only way to comment on a scheme the council hasn’t officially told anyone about yet is online HERE.

Regardless of not telling anyone about the new plans apart from a tweet from our MP, Afzal Khan, that was shared by some councillors the council has now provided a deadline when the online consultation will end on 28th October. So we won’t be able to comment on a plan the council hasn’t told anybody about after 28th October.

There are now 25 individual road blocks / “modal filters” on the new plans in Phase 1 covering Levenshulme. The Commonplace website says temporary crossings and traffic calming will be included the trial but there is no evidence of these on the new plans although part of the online consultation invites comments about these. A summary of the new plans is available HERE.

Note that the project has now been renamed “Levenshulme and Burnage Active Neighbourhood”. When it was called Levenshulme Bee Network it included part of Burnage. Now it is called Levenshulme and Burnage Active Neighbourhood that part of Burnage is now excluded from the trial starting in December.

The part of Burnage included in the project is now identified as “Phase 2”. The project claims it will reduce traffic in the area but the council says the Burnage area has now been excluded from the December trial “…because of the density of schools in the Cringle Brook (Phase 2) area, and issues with traffic congestion…” which is a little confusing.

The Phase 2 area covers part of Burnage Ward and was identified previously as “Cringle Park Area”, not “Cringle Brook” as the council website says. The road blocks / “modal filters” that were in the previous plans in what is now Phase 2 have been removed from the new plans and you are invited to propose ideas for Burnage Ward. No timeline is available for Phase 2.

The project was paused in the summer to allow for further and more extensive engagement with the community. The July statement from Levenshulme councillors is below for reference. Since then a new Project Manager was appointed by the council, new plans developed that seem to be almost identical to the original plans despite them receiving considerable opposition from our community and the Burnage section of the project has been removed from the trial despite Sustrans (who developed the plans for the council) saying the whole scheme needed to be trialled or it wouldn’t work.

The whole thing is ever more confusing but further updates will be provided as things develop to try and keep people informed.

Statement From Levenshulme Councillors

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Levenshulme councillors have released a statement regarding the continuation of the “Levenshulme Bee Network” project.

Bee Network July Webinars

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Levenshulme Bee Network held a series of Webinars at the weekend (4-5th July 2020). You can watch these below or on the LBN website HERE

There were four Webinars, one for each “Park Area” Levenshulme Bee Network has identified for its project. LBN says the purpose of the Webinars was:

“…to talk through the design rationale for the trials, a bit of background on the project engagement and how the funding works for the scheme. It was also a chance for residents of each area to ask questions about the proposed filters and the wider project.”

Levenshulme Bee Network Webinars, 4-5th July 2020

There were questions submitted in advance and also viewers could type questions in live during the Webinars.

LBN Chapel Street Park Area Webinar

LBN Greenbank Park Area Webinar

LBN Cringle Park Area Webinar

LBN West Point Gardens Park Area Webinar

MEN Article On Levenshulme Bee Network Proposals

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An article in the Manchester Evening News today (28 June 2020) raises concerns about the Levenshulme Bee Network proposals. This follows the announcement by Manchester City Council this week of a “pause” to the proposed trial that was due to start in July to allow for further consultation.

There is an extract below and you can read the full article HERE

“When plans to create a ‘fully-filtered’ neighbourhood through Levenshulme were first announced, there was enthusiasm from residents for how the area could soon become the most cycle-friendly place in Greater Manchester.

But as the impact of the plans is becoming clearer, disquiet is growing in the south Manchester suburb.

The Levenshulme Bee Network’s plans would see roads blocked to traffic by ‘modal filters’ that favour cyclists, school streets – which would restrict traffic during particular hours to make it safer for families to walk – and bus gates, stretches of road that are only open to buses, black cabs and push bikes.

The scheme would impact over 40 roads, junctions and schools.

But, following the publication of a map showing the locations of the proposed changes, some locals are concerned that traffic will be pushed into already busy roads to the benefit of quieter streets.

Others have complained that it could impact local businesses – and that the area’s elderly and non-English speaking residents have been shut out of what is supposed to be a community led project.”

Council Pauses Levenshulme Bee Network Project

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Following intervention by Manchester City Council and local councillors the Levenshulme Bee Network project has been “paused” to allow for further consultation.

This follows considerable concern across our community after the Levenshulme Bee Network released proposals for a trial of 29 vehicle road blocks (referred to as “modal filters”) across the area.

The maps released by Levenshulme Bee Network at the end of May also included other things such as a series of new and improved pedestrian crossings, bike racks, a “parklet” and several bus gates blocking the road to other vehicles but these are not part of the trial that was due to start in July.

Levenshulme Community Association will continue to ensure our community is informed and involved as further information is available about what this means including how people can contribute and have their voices heard.

Levenshulme Bee Network Through Routes

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A trial will start in July 2020 of some of the Levenshulme Bee Network changes to our roads. 29 locations will have changes with roads being blocked to vehicle traffic. But which roads will not be affected?

Residents have made their own maps to help people see which routes will not have road blocks to vehicles on them starting in July (referred to as “modal filters”). These roads are likely to have significantly increased traffic.

The reason these have been done is the Levenshulme Bee Network maps do not show which roads traffic in the area will be redirected onto and can be used as “through routes”. They have been done by residents to help everyone understand the impact of the project and so people can plan how to change the routes they take from July.

Roads that traffic will be diverted onto:

  • Albert Road
  • Barlow Road
  • Broom Lane 
  • Cromwell Grove 
  • Crossley Road
  • Grangethorpe Drive 
  • Hemmons Road
  • Kingsway 
  • Matthews Lane 
  • Moseley Road
  • Mount Road
  • Slade Lane (north of Albert Road)

See below for the maps. Further information on the July changes can be found HERE

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Videochats About Road Changes

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Levenshulme Bee Network is holding a series of “webinars” on the “Filtered Neighbourhood Trials” starting in July 2020. These involve blocking off roads to motorised vehicles in 29 locations across the area. Pedestrians and cyclists can still access these roads through the “filters”.

Please see the LCA post HERE for full details including maps.

The Webinars will be held:

Saturday 4th July

  • 11.00-12.30 Chapel Street Park Area
  • 13.00-14.30 Cringle Park Area

Sunday 5th July

  • 11.00-12.30 Greenbank Park Area
  • 13.00-14.30 West Point Gardens Area

To participate in a webinar send and email to hello@levenshulmebeenetwork.co.uk quoting the Park Area you are interested in.

UPDATE

You can now register directly using the links below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Topic: Chapel Street Park Area Webinar + Q&A

  • When: Jul 4, 2020 11:00 AM
  • Register in advance for this webinar: HERE

Topic: Cringle Park Area Webinar + Q&A

  • When: Jul 4, 2020 01:00 PM
  • Register in advance for this webinar HERE

Topic: Greenbank Park Area Webinar + Q&A

  • When: Jul 5, 2020 11:00 AM
  • Register in advance for this webinar HERE

Topic: West Point Gardens Park Area Webinar + Q&A

  • When: Jul 5, 2020 01:00 PM
  • Register in advance for this webinar HERE

ANOTHER UPDATE

Q & A

If you would like to send in any questions for the Q and A – we are using the links below to collect questions so people can ask and then upvote the most popular ones to be answered in the sessions.

Submit Cringle Field Park Webinar questions HERE

Submit Chapel Street Park Webinar questions HERE 

Submit Greenbank Park Webinar questions HERE

Submit West Point Gardens Webinar questions HERE

If you would like to get in touch about anything please email trial@levenshulmebeenetwork.co.uk

Dramatic Road Changes From July 2020

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Levenshulme and surrounding areas are about to experience major changes to our roads.

This is the first stage of the changes being imposed by the Levenshulme Bee Network Project. This is a new idea to create a “Filtered Neighbourhood” and to make walking and cycling easier by blocking off roads and restricting access for motorised vehicles. A whole host of other ideas are planned as well. This is just the start.

Travelling around Levenshulme and getting to and from the area will never be the same again.

12 June update

Please note that the information below was correct when it was posted. However, Levenshulme Bee Network has now changed the description on its website about the July 2020 changes. There is nothing on their website to indicate this has been changed.

Original text when the announcement was made:

“In the next few weeks we will be installing 29 temporary modal filters throughout the neighbourhood.

These will remain in place for a minimum of six months whilst we consult and tweak the filters with your feedback. They will then become permanent within 18 months.”

New text as of 12 June 2020:

“In the next few weeks we will be installing 29 temporary modal filters throughout the neighbourhood.

The trial will be undertaken using an experimental traffic regulation order which means that we can make changes following your feedback and monitor the impact for the first 6 months before the Council decides if the filters will be implemented on a permanent basis. All feedback from residents and monitoring of traffic, pedestrian and cycling levels as well as air quality levels will be considered before any of the filters are installed permanently.”

See below for details of the roads that will be affected, what will be done in July and maps including these changes.

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