Piccadilly Gardens 'muddy awful'

Yakub Qureshi

March 08, 2007

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Ed Bennis

A TOP landscape expert has condemned Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens as 'derelict' and `worn out'.

The square was awarded a landscaping prize last year, but city-based Ed Bennis said he could `hardly be more disappointed' with the judges' verdict.

He claims the space was a poorly-conceived mish-mash of different architectural styles and has quickly turned into a muddy mess after being trampled on by thousands of visitors.

Figures show more than 28m people walked across the gardens last year and the space is used for a variety of events, from a Christmas ice rink to summer farmers' markets. Council bosses admit the sheer volume of pedestrians has made the grass worn and muddy in places.

The area was revitalised following the IRA bomb of 1997.

Millions were spent redesigning the concourse to include grassy meeting areas, striking concrete barriers and fountains.

In November, experts honoured the `benchmark' project in the annual Landscape Institute awards. But Bennis, from Manchester Metropolitan University - a consultant in major European park projects - said the judges should be ashamed.

Writing in architecture journal Green Places, he said: "One can hardly be more disappointed in the judges' choice seeing the scheme today: poor drainage, undersized paths, worn out grass, mud and dereliction.

"The panel said the scheme gives `the quality of design that the British public realm deserves and sets a benchmark'. Well the benchmark must be set exceptionally low. The selection of Piccadilly Gardens has undermined the award system."

The space was planned by architectural consortium Edaw after the terrorist bomb attack in the 90s and the pavilion centrepiece is by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

City centre councillor Pat Karney admitted the site was a victim of its own success. "We are happy to hear any suggestions for improving things," he said. "The main problem is that four times as many people as before are now using the gardens."

What do you think of the gardens? Have your say.

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Terry (08/03/2007 at 07:37)

Turn it into a car park.

PW, Manchester (08/03/2007 at 08:46)

Look at the old photos of Piccadilly Gardens, and that answers the question. Much, much better then.

curiousyellow, Rusholme (08/03/2007 at 08:58)

"striking concrete barriers" ? Striking? maybe if you're used to 1950's eastern europe!

Ms D, Manchester (08/03/2007 at 09:16)

It is an ugly mess. It's clear that a grassed area does not work with the Manchester weather. Why not pave it all and put in lots of sheltering trees and foliage and have nice seating ? I preferred the old sunken gardens but the council couldn't move the tramps that made it look scruffy.

Ace Riley (08/03/2007 at 09:57)

I Remember piccadilly gardens of old and millions of people used the gardens yearly but they never suffered like this? could it be bad design? no doubt Mr karney and his pals will come up with some excuse why the gardens are so worn out?I bet it was expensive design ?

Michael Crowe (08/03/2007 at 10:00)

The change to the gardens is such a shame. the fountain is quite an interesting and pleasent site. the "striking" concrete barricades look like a sight for palestinians to fear, as for the pavillion, it too looks like an unfinished construction site. The gardens used to be a place where you could escape the hustle of the city and relax, now it's just a giant cross roads. However, never ever will i understand the thinking behind the morons that decided to give planning permission to that red brick abomination!!! walking up portland street and arriving at the gardens used to be a breath of fresh air, to step out from clostrophobic building lined streets, and in to a nice open space. why the hell did they allow the building of the most boring and ugly building in town to close off the open space and turn it into another city prison space.

Michael Crowe (08/03/2007 at 10:00)

Rachel, Manchester (08/03/2007 at 11:06)

striking concrete barriers? horrible more like.

Graham, At work (08/03/2007 at 11:39)

"The area was revitalised following the IRA bomb of 1997".... what? you mean the bomb in 1996 that was on the other side of town and didn't affect Piccadilly Gardens....

Mark, South Manchester (08/03/2007 at 11:41)

Do you remember the massive public campaign against this redevelopment, when the plans were first revealed?
We begged the council not to build an office block on Piccadilly Gardens and said the proposals were "just not good enough" for Manchester. But the City Council totally ignored us - in-fact one councillor referred to people who complained about the plans as "middle-class t----rs!" (I wonder if he'll now apologise?)

Yeah public consultation in Manchester - but only as long as we agree with the City Council eh??

David,North Manchester (08/03/2007 at 11:45)

The gardens remind me of Alexanderplatz in Berlin which was the showpiece of communism an awful concrete area.I also think that the gardens are seedy because of some of the people that hang out there.

dglp (08/03/2007 at 13:37)

How old is this park? 9 years? 1 year?
Is it new, or not-so-new?

How does a new park qualify as derelict? Seems an odd choice of words for a new park.

Or is it a not-so-new park that the judges were tardy in recognising? If so, what took them so long, and did they not bother to visit it first?

BlackleyB, Blackley (08/03/2007 at 13:37)

Human nature says people will take the shortest route...and there is nothing to keep people off the grass. Not eactly rock science is it.

Paul, Manchester (08/03/2007 at 14:10)

If you look at photos of the old gardens it looks so much better, with flowers and trees providing a tranquil oasis in the middle of the city.

Okay, it had its problems, but I don't think levelling it out and adding a large dose of concrete has been a huge success either!

The fountains are okay (when they're working) but the rest has been a failure.

David, North Manchester (08/03/2007 at 20:11)

The best thing that can be done with this square is to level it, pave it and use it to create a market square for a market, a children's ride or two and other outdoor events. I particularly can't stand the fountain and all the kerbs which stop the square from being used for anything. Piccadilly Gardens used to be loved by everbody and all this concrete urban junk is now very alienating. A plain open space here without the clutter would be a huge step in the right direction.

Tillytot, Manchester (08/03/2007 at 20:36)

To be honest I can't see what was wrong with the old Gardens... they were always colourful in summer and it was nice that they were sunken it gave the impression you were not in the city centre, now it's just a bog to wade through come sun or shine. The fountain is just a joke it's like the designer had 12 hours to think of something. to be honest the whole lot needs re doing. Yes there is a need for space for the markets and Ice Rink but the rest of the year it is muddy. Even astro turf would be better.
Yes Manchester gets it's share of 'yobs' but flowers are good. Maybe getting rid of grass all together and designing some art work under a glass floor or something that looks like a garden but is more effective and practical is needed.

Aussie, koolewong,new south wales (08/03/2007 at 21:35)

i last saw the gardens in March of last year and was surprized at the state of it. I remember it as a place of enjoyment with rose gardens and flower beds in the middle of Manchester. Surely it can be returned to something like a garden so that the people of your great city can have a bit greenery and colour back in the city instead of a muddy football paddock.

LookingForLogic, Stockport (09/03/2007 at 00:26)

I wouldn't call it derelict, just in need of attention, unlike most of the 'parks' accross the northwest which are beyond that point.
It's all very well having green flag parks in posh areas, which look nice but don't offer facilities for all ages, but how do the government propose to provide 'greenspace' areas for all when they can't even manage the upkeep of the prestigious ones?

marc (09/03/2007 at 09:52)

i never saw picadilly gardens in its previous form, but the current one is not very attractive. the open plan toilets are particularly off-putting.

MisterSalford, Salford, Manchester (09/03/2007 at 11:31)

What a disgrace!
As a mancunian I am ashamed to walk through Piccadilly gardens each day and either see it full of threaterning yobs - either young people dressed in full 'street riot gear' or the other type of yobs such as 'street wardens'! The Office block 'One' piccadilly gardens is an ugly monstrosity plonked on what was once a tree lined avenue pavement of Portland Street which gave the gardens a 'grand, cosmopolitain feel'. Everyone in Manchester HATES the 'wall' it must be pulled down and if it is not I myself will personaly deface the thing with graffiti to highlight what a poor piece of urban planning it is. To call it a sculpture is an insult to anything considered 'art'. Pat Karney should also be ashamed of what he's created. Maybe we should create a giant statue of him and our other civic dictators for the pigeons to honour?

Gloria (09/03/2007 at 15:14)

Piccadilly Gardens is a disgrace. The Berlin wall and the ugly hotel have made a once pretty area into a disgusting mess.
Most major citys have a public space where people can meet and enjoy the surroundings,this is not one of them

Keith Whitworth (09/03/2007 at 15:51)

The original gardens were beautiful, but the reason they were replaced by the present tacky setup is because it is cheaper to maintain a "field" with a few concrete monstosities than it was to employ SKILLED gardeners. Toby

edwards (09/03/2007 at 16:27)

yes i agree the gardens are just a sodden mess. I would love to see the architects drawings for the regeneration just to see what exactly they thought it would look like. IT also has to be a fact that the original gardens, yes gardens, hence the name, were far superior and an oasis of calm. Can anybody really feel calm in this concrete? Alexanderplatz in Berlin is far superior, ok it's overpowering but it's clean and tidy, like every other city that isnt in England.

Al Capone, Atherton (09/03/2007 at 17:13)

I have said it before and I'll say it again. It needs a national competition to redesign Piccadilly Gardens into something bolder; more pleasant and more imaginative. Think Barcelona.
This is the heart of the city.
Come on M.E.N. Get the ball rolling!

JohnB, Manchester (09/03/2007 at 17:18)

I loved the old gardens and the only problem with them was the tramps. There was no need to fill it in and create what has been put there today.

I would remove the wall, install many more trees, plant flowers, create a proper, traditional water fountain to compliment the historic statues in the gardens.

It would be a fantastic idea if the council held a competition and let US, the people that want to use it design the garden for them. The winner gets their plan put into place.

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