Joan’s story

My husband and I have lived in the Levenshulme/Burnage area for 19 years and we’re very happy living here for many different reasons.

Over the years, we’ve noticed the increase in traffic. For some people having a car is necessary if they have to travel long distances for work or personal reasons. Also, some people rely on having a car for mobility or health reasons.

We have a car but very rarely use it. We’ve realised the benefits of walking and cycling from a mental and physical health point of view. We also save money!

We use local transport if it’s a longer journey. Using the Greater Manchester Transport bus service can save you money (currently £2 per ticket for an adult, using the same ticket on another bus within the hour at no extra cost).

Approximately 6 years ago we became members of Streets for People (S4P). We’re involved in several projects within the Levenshulme/Burnage community. One of the main purposes of S4P is to try and make our community a safer and less polluted environment for our children and adults alike.

How do we go about doing this? By promoting cycling, walking, scooting wherever possible, as an alternative to driving to our destination, e.g. taking the children to school or shopping at the local shops.

S4P also support School Streets, i.e. closing the school road to traffic at the beginning (8:15-9am) and end (3-3:45pm) of the school day. S4P have been volunteering as Marshalls for the last year and will continue until the Council install ANPRs (cameras). The children enjoy the walk/cycle/scoot to school – it’s good for their socialising and exercise. Parents have also told me they enjoy it too. Other primary schools in the area have shown an interest in having a school street.

Closing the school street to traffic has not only made the road safer but also less polluted (before it was a school street, parked cars frequently left their engines running – polluting inside and outside their car!).

Many people in our community were concerned about residential roads being used as ‘rat runs’, making the roads unsafe especially as many of the cars were driving too fast. S4P helped to promote (following on from consultation with residents affected) the installation of planters on a number of residential roads. These have, in the main, been widely welcomed and residents acknowledge their roads are safer and quieter since the planters were installed.

S4P is involved in supporting other projects in our community (e.g. one-way system on Marshall Road/Levy Clean Air/Mums for Lungs/stopping pavement parking) to make Levenshulme and Burnage a safer, healthier and more pleasant place to live for all of us. S4P has achieved so much but there is still more to do.

I’m so glad to be part of Streets for People.