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THE LATEST MOVE ON DEANSGATE WAS BRANDED AN 'ABSOLUTE JOKE' 06:28, 18 Dec 2024Updated 10:07, 19 Dec 2024 The owner of a bar on Deansgate has spoken about the issues caused by the
recent traffic 'chaos' and roadworks on Deansgate. Videos of arguments and fights among motorists on the city centre road have gone viral after a decision was made to make it a
one-way route. The move was branded an absolute 'absolute joke' after a traffic meltdown in Manchester city centre over the weekend. Drivers were left in queues of over an hour at
a time as Deansgate and surrounding roads were jammed into total gridlock across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Clips online have shown chaotic scenes of some motorists mounting pavements to
try to get through, with other videos circulating online of fights breaking out among drivers stuck in the jams. READ MORE: THE CONTROVERSIAL CHANGE THAT MEANS PEOPLE 'DON'T WANT
TO GO INTO TOWN' Mark Wrigley is the co-owner of Atlas Bar, near the train station on Deansgate, and says that business owners and customers are having to contend with the traffic
troubles and roadworks being carried out to pedestrianise the area. "We've had various issues, one in terms of trade," he told the M.E.N. Article continues below
"It's definitely impacted our morning and lunch time trade. People are just not coming to the bar at all because of cones and chaos around where we are. For the evening trade
people have managed to fight their way through and come to us in fairness. "Trade hasn't been really bad but we've had challenges with access for our deliveries, problems
getting our bins emptied and customers not being able to get taxis because there is nowhere to stop nearby. "A lot of venues are pulling their hair out because Deansgate is one big car
park in the evenings. "I know the end result is hopefully it'll be easy for pedestrians to walk around Deansgate, but for the hospitality business we need taxis to be able to get
to and away from the venue." In response to concerns over this weekends' gridlock and the Deansgate cycle lane scheme, Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Clean Air,
Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council, said: "Over the weekend we saw a number of events take place in the city centre which naturally meant it ended up very busy on our
road network. "Ahead of the weekend messages were sent out from the Council as well as our partners in TfGM to advise people that if they drove into the city centre, they would face
longer than usual delays. Article continues below "Christmas is a hugely busy time of year in Manchester, and wherever possible during this period we would encourage people to rely on
public transport to get in and out of the city. "The city is changing as we work to improve transport links for people who walk, cycle and use public transport. Naturally, as this takes
place on Deansgate there will be unavoidable disruption for road users, however work is progressing and we hope to have the Transforming Deansgate project completed in the near
future."