Manchester Road, Burnley - Accessible and Vibrant Town Centre project

Overview

Manchester Road, Burnley 

This project aims to provide an improved street environment along the route between Nelson Square and Red Lion Street.  

The proposals for Manchester Road will enhance the street environment and improve safety and accessibility for all road users. Plans include widening pavements and improving surfacing, providing better crossing facilities for people walking or cycling. Other changes include improved public spaces for people to spend time in and to support outdoor dining, with new tree planting and seating. 

Manchester Road is a busy road which caters for high volumes of traffic. Plans will make improve safety and accessibility for all road users, and make it safer for people to cross this busy road. Raised pedestrian crossings in some local side roads such as Stanley Street, Yorke Street and Nicholas Street (among others) will make it easier and safer to cross at these locations. 

We received feedback expressing concern about Manchester Road being pedestrianised. There are no plans to make the area pedestrian-only and this has never formed part of proposals. The only proposed changes to traffic movements in the scheme is for a no left turn from a side road with very low vehicle movements / access requirements (Nelson Square). 

To improve accessibility for all road users at the Manchester Road / Finsley Gate junction and the Manchester Road / Grimshaw Street junctions. Pavements will be widened and resurfaced using high quality materials, with tactile paving will be introduced. A new diagonal pedestrian crossing will be installed at the Grimshaw Street junction. At Grimshaw Street and Parker Lane, the pavement will also be widened and refreshed with high quality surfacing, planting along the street in the widened areas to improve the street setting. 

Plans include changes to the parking in the town centre, including the relocation of loading and blue badge holder parking to improve access and help enhance the public space in the Civic Quarter. 

In the feedback received, there was concern expressed that the proposals would remove parking bays and disabled bays from Manchester Road.  

There are currently no disabled bays located in this length of Manchester Rd and Grimshaw Street, and the proposed plans will introduce blue badge holder parking on Grimshaw Street.  

Whilst the proposals do reduce the availability of standard parking bays, changes will provide improved loading provision for businesses as well as provision for taxis.  

Designs for Manchester Road, Burnley - Accessible and Vibrant Town Centre project