M.E.N readers react to claims that police cars parked on Mount Street make it look like a ‘no-go area’
A project as massive as the restoration of Manchester town hall was always going to attract, and divide, opinions.
From the length of time the project is taking and the impact on nearby businesses to its eye-watering cost, it’s a debate that has been covered extensively in the M.E.N.
But now, readers are reacting to claims of these business owners that the presence of police cars parked up on Central and Mount Street, opposite their city centre enquiry counter, is putting people off visiting.
David Fox, owner of pan-Asian restaurant Tampopo, said the presence of liveried vehicles made it look like “there is a riot planned in the area”, adding: “Anyone not from the area passing would be inclined to give the square a wide berth.”
Another business owner, who asked not to be named, told the M.E.N: “Many customers have said it just looks like a ‘no-go area’ due to the police presence.”
But many in our comments disagreed with this. “Why would police cars be a put off for customers?” someone wrote under the username Sodium. “Wouldn’t affect me one bit.”
“They just cannot win,” wrote Pauline Pallavicini. “Either ‘you never see a police car round here’ or ‘nobody will come near, with all these police cars’.”
“What the heck do people want? I’d rather see them than not! And they certainly wouldn’t put me off.”
“I don’t think it looks like a no-go area but then again I’m not a wet wipe,” wrote HulmeRaider. “Can’t wait for these works to be finished though and to return the space to the public realm.”
Janet Stott took issue with the cost of the project itself – now set to be over budget by £76 million pounds – with a completion date two years later than previously discussed.
“How come all these budgets are over what they should have been. I thought a quote was a quote not a guess…” she wrote.
“People whinge if the council allow old buildings to be replaced,” wrote Buzzfunk. “Then people whinge if the council pay money to maintain old buildings.”
“The town hall will be finished when it’s finished,” wrote Damian. “I see no point in asking every week, ‘when is it going to be finished’.
“It won’t suddenly speed it up. Like a five year old asking ‘Are we there yet!'”
Both Manchester Council and GMP have explained to the Manchester Evening News the reason for the increase in on-street police parking is due to the works at the town hall.
A Manchester council spokesperson said: “Since GMP’s move to the Town Hall Extension, provision has been made in designated areas surrounding the Town Hall and THX, allowing liveried vehicles to be parked for quick access in the event of an emergency. This excludes loading bays and disabled parking spaces which remain reserved for their intended use.
“Due to the ongoing work on the Town Hall a number of spaces were temporarily taken out of service, necessitating additional space to be made on adjacent streets. However when complete we hope the police will be able to return to their spaces within the Town Hall.”
A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers require immediate access to vehicles in order to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively. Our priority is public safety, and we are working closely with Manchester City Council and the business community to minimise disruption while officers from our City of Manchester division are stationed in the Town Hall Extension.”