It's been three years but something in Levenshulme is still dividing opinion

It's been three years since they were first installed - but the debate over Levenshulme's low traffic neighbourhood scheme has reignited.

In Levenshulme - and Burnage - some residents are rallying around a new petition calling for the removal of the latest traffic filtering planters installed as part of the LTN, and continuing to complain about the impact of other roadblocks set up earlier in the same scheme.

The move comes after an LTN scheme in nearby Withington was removed by the council after a fierce backlash. While support for Levenshulme's LTN scheme is more passionate than it was in Withington, the decision in that suburb has renewed debate about the impact of traffic calming measures on the community in Levenshulme, and given new hope to those locals who still oppose them.

The Levenshulme and Burnage traffic calming measures were introduced as part of a trial scheme at the start of 2021 and were made permanent in 2023 as Manchester City Council received £7m funding to finalise plans. To date, around 15 streets are affected - with cars blocked by planters and bollards.

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But, despite the scheme's popularity - where 70% of 917 people believed the Active Travel Neighbourhood was ‘good’ for the area in the council’s consultation response - others claim the roadblocks have increased traffic and parking on surrounding roads.

The scheme’s intended purpose is to reduce rat-running. But campaigners against the planters claim it has funnelled speeding, congestion and parking into smaller, less adaptive streets, particularly near Levenshulme High School and Alma Park Primary.

Referring to the newest traffic filters, local