Councillors are calling for up to 25 Manchester city centre roads closed temporarily due to the pandemic to become permanently pedestrianised.
A string of streets within the inner ring road were closed to car traffic under emergency legislation brought in by the government last year to allow people more room to social distance.
Now a number of city centre councillors are pushing for a review to examine whether the closures can be made permanent.
Piccadilly ward councillor Jon-Connor Lyons is set to raise the issue with the council's transport boss Angeliki Stogia at today's (WEDS) full council meeting.
"Over the summer last year, we saw parts of the city centre pedestrianised to encourage people to travel safely and actively, whilst supporting Manchester's small businesses and ensuring accessibility," Cllr Lyons will say.
"Will the executive member be commissioning a report that looks at the viability of these schemes into the future?"
City centre councillors are keen to capitalise on an increase in public support for quieter roads during lockdowns before the emergency legislation expires on 30 April.
At this point, the roads could be reopened and the council would then need to start the process of closing them under existing highways legislation.
Deansgate councillor Marcus Johns is also supporting the plans.
"The future of the city centre is a pedestrian one where our streets can be enjoyed by all," he said.
"That is our goal.
"Permanently pedestrianising streets like Deansgate and around Albert Square is not about closing them to anyone; it's about opening them for everyone."
"We are remaking our public spaces to serve our people and cementing the recent steps that we have made on that front."
The move comes just days after Manchester Council confirmed the go-ahead for a £2.3million plan to pedestrianise several streets in the Northern Quarter.
In the first phase of work, the temporary closure of Ducie Street between its junction with London Road and Dale Street is being made permanent, while the temporary closure of Thomas Street will also be formalised and lengthened.
Here is the full list of roads currently closed under emergency legislation between 11am and midnight:
Northern Quarter
Edge Street
Hare Street
Thomas Street - between John Street and High Street
Dorsey Street
Houldsworth Street - northwest to its end from the junction with Spear Street
Short Street
Back Turner Street - between High Street and Nicholas Croft
Ancoats
Blossom Street - between Sharratt Street and Henry Street (24 hours a day)
The Village
Bloom Street - one way between Sackville Street and Chorlton Street (24 hours a day)
Bloom Street - between Abingdon Street and Sackville Street
Richmond Street - between Sackville Street and Chorlton Street
City Centre
Southmill Street - between Lloyd Street and Jackson's Row
Back Pool Fold - for 17 metres north from its junction with Chapel Walks
Ridgefield - between South King Street and John Dalton Street
Mount Street - between Lloyd Street and Central Street (weekdays 6pm to 12am and Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 12am)
Great Bridgewater Street - Closed for 19 metres from Oxford Street end.
Holbrook Street- for it's entire length
Marble Street- between Mosley Street and the cul-de-sac end.
Area around Oxford Road station
Wakefield Street - for its entire length
Jamie Leigh Street - for its entire length
Caley Street - for its entire length
Temporary measures are also in place along sections of Deansgate and Thomas Street, where permanent measures are being investigated.
