Inaccessible Manchester
Over the past few years Manchester has undergone a huge change in infrastructure in the city centre. It is now a maze of one-way systems, bus lanes, cycle lanes and permit holder only areas. I completely understand the council are trying to combat a number of different issues, including air pollution, congestion and improving public transport options. However I think one area that has bore the brunt of all these changes is accessibility.
One of the ways in which this can be measured is by looking at some of the art galleries & museums in the city centre and the changes that have occurred over the past 3-5 years. Firstly we will start at the winner of Large attraction of the year 2016 and Art Fund's museum of the year 2015, Whitworth Art Gallery. Before the ￡15million refurbishment in 2015 the accessible parking available at the Whitworth was fantastic. There was 6/7 accessible spaces at the front of the building, through the gates and off the road. Since the refurb these spaces have been taken away and replaced with on-road parking on Denmark road. Which is a big issue for a lot of visitors with accessibility issues, in the addition to no longer being able to travel along Oxford road any more.
Next up Manchester Art Gallery. Before the infrastructure changes there were accessible parking spaces right at the side of the art gallery (look at the silver van in picture above). Although not ideal, as it's on road, very close and always available. Fast forward to 2018 and you can no longer even drive past the art gallery and subsequently the accessible spaces have been taken away.
The third and final attraction in Manchester that has suffered from a downgrade in accessibility over the past few years is MOSI. Previously blue badge holders were able to park through the gates in the yard. This was great, off road, safe and plenty of room. Again this has been replaced with on-road parking.
These are just observations I have made over the past year or so. I don't think there is any joined up thinking with regards to maintaining previous levels of accessibility for visitors with blue badges. Surely accessibility, including parking and travel need to be considered when making these wholesale changes. We are not moving forward in terms of inclusion if we are taking away the tools people need to visit these places. We are in fact moving backwards.