‘Shabbat-friendly’ crossing device to be installed at busy North Manchester junction

One of the UK’s largest Orthodox communities is celebrating the green-light being given to the instalment of a Shabbat-friendly crossing device at a busy road junction.

The Sedgley Park community in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, have been informed that the crossing will be placed at the Kings Road junction with Bury New Road and George Street.

The device is automatically controlled, allowing Orthodox Jews to use pedestrian crossings on Shabbat without pressing any buttons.

It is believed to be only the second Shabbat-friendly crossing device to be found in the UK – with the first one installed in Finchley, North London.

The new Sedgley Park crossing device will also be operational on Jewish holidays it has been confirmed.

The local move was pushed by three Bury Labour councillors – Richard Gold, Debbie Quinn and Alan Quinn – in conjunction with Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM).

Sedgley Park has a very sizeable Charedi population and is served by  five synagogues.

There are a high number of Jewish businesses, specialist shops and delicatessens along King’s Road, Bury New Road and Bury Old Road.

Gold told Jewish News the opening of the crossing was “fantastic news” for the community in Sedgley Park.

He praised the work of the officers who had responded to his and the other two councillors who called for the crossing to be opened, as well as the response of TFGM.