IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Badby Close, MANCHESTER, M4 7EY

Approaching the Commonwealth Games Stadium on the A662. Taken from the top of a double-deck bus.

Merrill Street, which is part of the A662 road, lies on the route of Metrolink's new tramway to Droylsden, which is due to open around Spring 2012. Funding has now been granted to extend it further from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne, but that section will open later. The route passes through Merrill Street, where the trams will run in the street with other traffic. The other section where this will happen is along a length of Ashton New Road. When photographed in early May 2010, most of Merrill Street was closed to allow construction of the track. Preparatory work was being done, but the rails had not been laid in this section. Image

The building on the corner of Every Street and Merrill Street was originally the District Bank which merged into the Natwest in 1970. Carved in stone above the shuttered corner door are the coat of arms Image bearing the Latin motto, "Decus Prudentia Merces" which translates as "A Reward and Honour to Prudence". This is the coat of arms for the bank. It has a small car park at the back and appears to be currently in use as an office of some description. On the left further down Every Street can be seen the former All Soul's Church Image

Carved in stone above the corner face of the former District Bank Image are the coat of arms bearing the Latin motto, "Decus Prudentia Merces" which translates as "A Reward and Honour to Prudence". This is the coat of arms for the bank. At the sides are small grotesques.

The bus shelter was out of use when photographed, due to the street being closed for construction of a Manchester Metrolink tramway, which will run along this street. Image Image

The major roadworks referred to in the notice relate to diversion of utility services, and the construction of a Manchester Metrolink tramway along Merrill Street. The spelling of Merrill Street on the notice is not the usual one. Despite the new tramway running along Merrill Street, there will be no tram stop in this street. This is one of the drawbacks of new tramways in the UK. One of the ways they cut travelling time, is by spreading out the stops more thinly than bus services. This is fine if you are young and/or agile, but not such fun if you're not. Image

I've been to Every Street in Manchester. The unusual named street runs from the A662 (Ashton New Road/Merril Street) to Great Ancoats Street. Merril Street is presently closed to road works and buses are being diverted down Every Street. The building on the corner was formerly the District Bank.

The rails have now been laid in Merrill Street for the Manchester Metrolink extension to Droylsden, and Ashton-under-Lyne. The overhead power lines have also been installed, but the works are currently still fenced off. This photograph was taken through the fencing, at the junction of Merrill Street and Carruthers Street. A year earlier (May 2010) the rails had still to be laid:- Image

The road on the right is Beswick Street. The roadworks are due to the construction of the Metrolink tramline to Droylsden and Ashton under Lyne. Merrill Street Image to the left is currently closed.

Looking along Merrill Street towards the city centre. Most of the area's old industrial buildings have been replaced by residential units, including the new apartment block being built ahead in Pollard Street.