IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Ruthen Lane, MANCHESTER, M16 0LB

Work in progress on the new South Manchester line to East Didsbury, on a former BR trackbed; seen from Ayres Road. http://www.metrolink.co.uk/futuremetrolink/south-manchester-line.asp

The Home Zone concept, called woonerf, was pioneered in the 1970s in the Netherlands, since then many countries have successfully transferred the core concepts and created their own safe areas. A home zone is a living street (or group of streets) as implemented in the United Kingdom, which are designed primarily to strike a balance between vehicular traffic and everyone else who uses the street, the pedestrians, cyclists, business people, children and other residents. At present there is no specific legislation supporting Home Zones in the UK. However the government has given its support to nine pilot Home Zone schemes across England and Wales and the Scottish Parliament will be initiating 3 pilots in Scotland. In addition to the pilot schemes there are many other local areas which are setting up and working towards the Home Zone ideals. The Addison Crescent Estate contains 256 households. The aims are to build safer communities, to improve the quality of life for children and young people, to enable sustainable economic and community regeneration and to tackle social exclusion through empowerment and community building. http://www.homezones.org/homeUK.html Home Zones http://www.lgcplus.com/government-announces-home-zone-challenge-winners-england/1309706.article Local Government Chronicle

The cricket ground. A view from one of the hotel bedrooms and balconies attached to the famous pitch.

Heading north.

The rear of the disused Throstle's Nest public house.

The depot for Metrolink's South Manchester operations, on Ayres Road, close to the Old Trafford tram station.

The depot for Metrolink's South Manchester operations, on Ayres Road, close to the Old Trafford tram station.

This photograph shows two of the blue white and grey trams which were part of the original Metrolink fleet when the system was first opened by HM the Queen in 1992. Built first by Firema and later by Ansaldo, the T68s have enormous historical significance as they were the first “new generation” trams to run in a UK city and, as such, they played a major role in re-establishing light rail onto the UK’s streets. All of the first generation Metrolink T68 trams have been withdrawn from service; the final T68 tram operated on a special tour for transport enthusiasts from the across the country, running from Piccadilly to Eccles, Bury, and on to Altrincham on May 26 2014 (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/metrolink-tram-t68-final-video-7173314 Manchester Evening News, Historic day as Metrolink tram enthusiasts make final trip on the T68). Most of the T68 trams have since been scrapped. Four remain in open storage; one (1003) is at the Queen’s Road depot and the other three are at the Old Trafford depot. 1023 and 1020 can be seen here with T68A tram number 2001 hidden behind them. A fifth tram, 1007, is to be preserved by the Heaton Park Tramway. 1023 has been fitted with an ice-breaker pantograph and has been used for this task during the winter period. It was named MIKE MABEY to mark the departure of Metrolink's Head of Operations. The Lancashire Fusilier nameplates and crests which used to be carried by 1020 have been removed from the vehicle to be fitted to Bombardier 3020.