Manchester Piccadilly - Planters Block Crossing!

[Deepgreen]

The mindless brigade have struck again - two large planters placed outside the station immediately next to a road crossing! No-one thinks these days, it seems, only follows orders...

Network Rail planters outside Manchester Piccadilly slammed as 'intrusive'

A councillor says the placement of planters at Manchester Piccadilly Station entrance is "madness".

www.bbc.co.uk

A decision to install planters outside a busy railway station entrance has been described as "absolute madness" by a councillor.
Network Rail has apologised after large, wood-effect planters were placed next to a pedestrian crossing on the approach to Manchester Piccadilly station.
The firm said they were installed as part of plans to make the station more secure but they were put in the wrong place.
Their positioning has been slammed as "problematic" for those with mobility or vision issues.

Stockport councillor Matt Wynne said the "intrusive" planters are at one of the busiest pedestrian footfall points in the whole of Greater Manchester.

 

[edwin_m]

The only answer I can give to this is "bollards".

 

[GJMarshy]

Have to navigate around these things amongst crowds with no spacial awareness on my commute.

Why there needs to be a segregated road up to the station entrance on the approach is beyond me. There’s road access to the main concourse level at the rear (for the free bus/emergency service vehicles) as well as bus stops and a taxi rank at ground level on Fairfield street, accessed via escalators from the main concourse.

Simple solution is retractable bollards at the bottom of the approach for the rare occasion access is required, and just pedestrianise the lot so you don’t have hundreds of people crammed into a relatively narrow pavement (given its context)

 

[edwin_m]

Have to navigate around these things amongst crowds with no spacial awareness on my commute.

Why there needs to be a segregated road up to the station entrance on the approach is beyond me. There’s road access to the main concourse level at the rear (for the free bus/emergency service vehicles) as well as bus stops and a taxi rank at ground level on Fairfield street, accessed via escalators from the main concourse.

Simple solution is retractable bollards at the bottom of the approach for the rare occasion access is required, and just pedestrianise the lot so you don’t have hundreds of people crammed into a relatively narrow pavement (given its context)

Bringing the free buses up behind Gateway House would involve re-opening Ducie Street at its junction with London Road, which is arguably an even more busy spot for pedestrians and was downgraded to cycles only not so long back (I think it got some planters too). Fairfield Street might be the better option but I'm not sure if there is standing space, and perhaps they want to have the free buses in a prime spot and easily visible when people exit the station. I've never seen much point myself, the routes are so indirect that it's often quicker to walk.

Rail replacement buses also depart from the station approach.

 

[Spartacus]

The mindless brigade have struck again - two large planters placed outside the station immediately next to a road crossing! No-one thinks these days, it seems, only follows orders...

Network Rail planters outside Manchester Piccadilly slammed as 'intrusive'

A councillor says the placement of planters at Manchester Piccadilly Station entrance is "madness".

www.bbc.co.uk

Seems they weren't following orders though, as they're in the wrong place.

 

[185]

Simple solution is retractable bollards at the bottom of the approach for the rare occasion access is required, and just pedestrianise the lot so you don’t have hundreds of people crammed into a relatively narrow pavement (given its context)

As fun entertainment as Manchester's excellent bollards were, unfortunately, they've assessed the risk of someone tailgating a bus or vehicle through and committing an act of terrorism with a car/van - and that is the problem.

The solution should be
i) Pedestrianise the front totally.
ii) Compulsory purchase & seize that pointless flat car park at the back of Gateway house, and stick buses and RR coaches there.

 

[thejuggler]

I trust when they say 'the wrong place' they mean Manchester and not a place somewhere near where they are now.

 

[py_megapixel]

As fun entertainment as Manchester's excellent bollards were, unfortunately, they've assessed the risk of someone tailgating a bus or vehicle through and committing an act of terrorism with a car/van - and that is the problem.

The solution should be
i) Pedestrianise the front totally.
ii) Compulsory purchase & seize that pointless flat car park at the back of Gateway house, and stick buses and RR coaches there.

Replied here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/manchester-piccadilly-area-redevelopment-suggestions.272879/

 

[Gloster]

These things happen, but I note that Network Rail has ‘pledged’ to move them. In older and more sensible times, as soon as the error was noticed somebody would be told to get down there and move the b. things.

 

[edwin_m]

These things happen, but I note that Network Rail has ‘pledged’ to move them. In older and more sensible times, as soon as the error was noticed somebody would be told to get down there and move the b. things.

As they are security features it may be that they have been firmly anchored into the ground and would therefore be quite a job to move. I passed by when they were adding the original set of bollards nearer the station entrance, and these were attached to an underground metal frame, presumably strong enough so they couldn't be uprooted by impact with a large vehicle.