Party conference demos to disrupt traffic

A large demonstration this Sunday organised by the Trades Union Congress will cause major disruptions to movement around Manchester city centre, according to warnings from Transport for Greater Manchester.

Forty bus routes will be diverted and the Metrolink tram service will stop at Deansgate Castlefield during for part of Sunday afternoon.

Using a route agreed with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council, the marchers will assemble in Liverpool Road from 11am before setting off at 1pm along Deansgate, John Dalton Street, Princess Street, Portland Street, Oxford Street, Hall Street, Bale Street, Lower Mosley Street, Albion Street and Medlock Street. The march will end with a rally at Number One First Street from 3pm until 5pm.

There will be road closure and diversions in operation on the day and motorists will be advised to use the ring road where possible while city centre roads are closed.

The TUC demonstration is one of several planned to coincide with the start of the Conservative Party Conference, being held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex.

TfGM issued the following guidance, also available at www.tfgm.com:

• On Saturday, a Christian Aid demonstration will be held from 7pm and bus services diverted will be 33, 50, 63, 84, 105, 197, 255, 256, X41, X43, X50 and Metroshuttles 1, 2, 3

• TUC demonstration will take place on Sunday 2 October and diversions will be in place for bus services: 8, 12, 15, 16, 26, 33, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, 50, 63, 70, 84, 85, 86, 99, 101, 104, 105, 109, 111, 130, 142, 143, 197, 250, 255, 256, 263, A40, X41, X43, X50, X57, Metroshuttles 1 and 2.

• There will be changes to Metrolink services on Sunday 2 October from 12pm to 3pm (approximately). There will be no services across the city at this time: Altrincham and South Manchester lines – trams will terminate at Deansgate-Castlefield; Eccles line – there will be a replacement bus service between Eccles and Trafford Bar, where passengers can get the tram to Deansgate Castlefield; Bury line services will not be affected.

• Information about public transport services in Greater Manchester is available by calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (calls cost 10p a minute. Mobile and landline networks may charge more. Lines are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 8pm at weekends).