Benches Launched in Old Trafford

New Benches Launched on Ayres Road to Support Ageing in Place and Community Wellbeing 

This month, Live Well in Later Life were delighted to celebrate the launch of new public benches on Ayres Road at a community event held at Seymour Park Primary School. 

The benches were provided by Trafford Council in response to feedback from the Ageing in Place Pathfinder, Walk and Wheel‑Ability consultations. Responding to community feedback, Trafford Council’s Public Health, Active Travel Team funded three benches for Ayres Road, after it became clear that there were very few resting points along the entire length of the road. 

In spring 2025, we partnered with Love Old Trafford, and members of the Old Trafford community, to carry out a walking audit of Ayres Road to identify areas of concern and suggest suitable locations for seating, ensuring the improvements reflected real community needs and experiences. 

We are happy that benches have now been installed. The launch event itself was a great success and showcased strong local collaboration. We planned the event to coincide with School Streets, at Seymour Park School, a volunteer‑led initiative that helps reduce traffic congestion and pollution at school drop‑off and pick‑up times by temporarily closing the road to traffic. It was also a ‘Play Street’ celebration supported by UA92, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere, where children were able to play safely in the street, while families and residents came together to enjoy refreshments kindly provided by Trafford Community Collective. Traditional games were also included to encourage intergenerational conversation, helping to strengthen connections between people of different ages and backgrounds. The event reflected the strong family and community spirit that characterises Old Trafford. 

Residents who would like to get involved in the School Streets initiative can volunteer by contacting Hannah Garrett at 
 hannahgarrett@traffordcollective.org.uk 

A third bench is due to be installed shortly at the junction of Shrewsbury Street, incorporating specific feedback gathered during a community audit at that location. 

These new benches are a simple but important step towards creating a more inclusive, accessible neighbourhood—supporting older residents, families, and anyone who benefits from safe places to stop, rest, and connect with their community. We hope that these will be the first of many more in the area.