Manly shared spaces: Residents win fight against original proposal

Following months of community backlash the council has abandoned original plans for the Shared Spaces project in Manly.

Original plans for the Manly Shared Spaces project has been abandoned by the council due to community feedback. Picture: Northern Beaches Council website

Objections over the Streets and Shared Spaces Manly trial has resulted in the council abandoning its original plans in a dramatic turn of events.

Northern Beaches Council voted in favour of a revised version of the project this week, which means there will no longer be a 10km/h speed limit, the loss of parking spaces and road works that would turn two way traffic along Whistler Street from Sydney Road through to the Corso and on to Darley Road into one lane.

Artist impression of what the original plans would have looked like for Shares Spaces project in Manly, which has now been scrapped. Picture: Northern Beaches Council website

The intention was to create a bike path, a more pedestrian friendly area and an increase in outdoor dining space for local businesses but the proposal was causing grave concerns over “emergency vehicle access, safety, increased congestion and loss of parking”.

Residents also outlined the potential impacts of traffic and parking to a church and local schools in the area.

Picture reveals the busy Manly Corso. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In addition to receiving public submissions from the feedback period in December, the council was handed a petition signed by 110 residents against the trial.

According to council agenda papers the new plans will include: “Pavement treatments to reinforce traffic calming” and “additional signage installed to manage the conflict points along the area where the majority of pedestrians would be walking”.

Councillor Pat Daley says the decision by the council to abandon original plans for Manly Shared Spaces is a win for the community. Picture: Adam Yip

Councillor Pat Daley said it was a “win” for the community.

“There won’t be any bike paths in Manly. We won the battle on that, it was a ridiculous concept and was going to have a negative impact on the business community, schools and the church,” Cr Daley said.

The project is being funded by the NSW Government with works for the revised plans to start in February.