City life's a beach!

Paul R Taylor

June 03, 2007

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Artist impression the "beach".

LIFE'S going to be a beach in the heart of Manchester this summer . . . with room for 1,500 people.

More than 80 tonnes of sand is to be imported from the Bahamas to create the largest urban beach in Britain.

It will open on June 25 if plans are approved by the council - forcing the former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown to eat his words after he once famously said Manchester had 'everything but a beach'.

The tropical-style 'paradise' in Cathedral Gardens will be dotted with palm trees and surrounded by exotic beach bars with thatched roofs.

There will also be live outdoor gigs on site, an outdoor cinema, art installations and even surfing, with Wifi computer access for workers

The joint project between Urbis and Sankeys night club is planned to remain open for the rest of the summer - and keep going until the beginning of September.

An Urbis spokesman said: "If we get agreement on this, Manchester will not only have its first beach, but it will be the biggest urban one in the country.

"Urbis explores everything that is new in cities and how cities can be used differently and creatively - and we are excited at the potential for us to create a fabulous oasis in Manchester."

The beach will be organised over three levels, using the steps of Cathedral Gardens.

Palms

The first will be decking, the second sand and palm trees and the third a grassed area with bars and food stands.

It will be open from 11am until 11pm and Urbis is planning an extensive range of themed events, gigs and summer sports.

The 'Fair Trade' sand will be imported from a sand farm in the Bahamas, if the project gets the green light. And the Cathedral Gardens temporary beach could be the first of three in Greater Manchester.

Developer Urban Splash still has plans in the pipeline to create a cove for fishermen and canoeists on the River Irwell as part of its Greengate development in Salford. The beach, which already has planning permission, would be created naturally from a build-up of silt.

The company will also use silt and pebbles, to create another small beach at Manchester's first eco park at New Islington, which is part of Ancoats.

What do you think of the plans? Have your say below.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

EricH, Horwich (04/06/2007 at 09:26)

And where does Urbis, the most boring museum I've ever been, get it's funds from?
One good point, it will slow down the skate boarders.

ace, manchester (04/06/2007 at 10:34)

'Fair Trade' What a joke? We have sand around britains coast that would cost very little? what the hell is britain comming to no wonder we are becomming the biggest joke in the world,

Rachel, Manchester (04/06/2007 at 11:09)

I hope they won't be flying the sand in by plane and adding to pollution, fun as it sounds.

Roy (04/06/2007 at 11:13)

I remember when there were the No.4 Noddy buses linking Victoria and Picadilly Stations and wasteground around there. I think it's a cool idea and sounds very different from the M/CR I remember. Now if you could only import the Bahamas' sun...

zanab, cheshire (04/06/2007 at 11:56)

All you people need to chill the hell out- a beach in the city centre would be wicked- sod the environment, it'll be great as long as it's not full of scallies!

alix, manchester (04/06/2007 at 12:08)

hopefully if this does get off the ground it will get rid of all the jobless people who flock to Picadilly gardens everyday. whilst us hardworking people are inside working to pay our taxes for the refurbishment of the gardens all the dole heads, drunks and students sit down there ruining it, hurry up and bring the beach

Angry of New Moston, New Moston (04/06/2007 at 12:12)

it will be ruined by the city's scumbags and scallies. A complete waste of time and my money.

Secret Squirrel (04/06/2007 at 12:25)

Fair Trade Sand? I've heard it all now. Could we not just have borowed a bit off Ainsdale Beach? Anyway, i'm sure it'll be lovely with all the cig butts, needles and broken glass hidden in it. If they can afford to do this, maybe they could think up something worthwhile to put inside Urbis to actually get people through their own doors

Uncle Jimmy, Manchester (04/06/2007 at 12:30)

Potentially an enjoyable place but will there be any restriction on smoking e.g. have a few shelters where people can smoke. If people can smoke anywhere it will ruin it for those of who suffer from tobacco and nicotine. It will also attract dope smokers for sure if there are no restrictions. Similarly, if alcohol is permitted then that would need careful monitoring.

Shaken (04/06/2007 at 12:48)

Life is a beach if your working for a living!! I'm sure all the 'bums' in Manchester will appreciate it though. They have got to be entertained somehow !!!

David H of Bury, Bury (04/06/2007 at 13:09)

I am horified by this terrible idea.

The Council has spent millions of pounds developing the ¿Medieval Quarter¿ of the City, and the current layout of Cathedral Gardens is a welcome calm in the city to enjoy some solitude amongst the historic buildings.

Locating the ¿beach¿, together with bars and live music to this area will spoil the serenity of the area, as well as bringing with it the problems of noise (particularly during Cathedral services, and also to students studying/sleeping in Chets), toilet issues, and potential vandalism to the historic buildings.

How can this happen in less than three weeks time? What happened to the democratic process of planning permission and objections?

JJ, London (04/06/2007 at 13:34)

how long before the Newton Heath lot start using it as a giant litter tray?

Dickdanpete, Manchester (04/06/2007 at 13:45)

My god you people are depressing. Paris has an inner city beach and it is a huge success. We need to enjoy things like this and make the most of them.

We have a great city centre that we don't make the most of. Instead of being down on new ideas why don't you give them a chance and use the space. The more the space is used and enjoyed the more we will learn from it.

If it's the wrong thing for Manchester then we will know that and we can come up with something new.

How about you give things a chance before being so down on everything. England needs to be a bit more optomistic - you guys prove that.

John Drake, Manchester (04/06/2007 at 14:01)

Has David H. been anywhere near Cathedral Gardens at a weekend or during the summer holidays (when this is planned for I assume)? Hundreds of drunk teenagers, fights, litter everywhere. At least have some idea what you're talking about.
The beach'll be cool. Assuming its free. And it doesn't rain.

Urbis (04/06/2007 at 14:08)

Secret Squirrel--we had 260,000 visitors last year, so we're doing just fine thanks. And, yes, there will be cleaners looking after the sand.

Love Ace's idea. Who wants to drive the diggers out to Cardigan bay to steal some sand?

As the man said, like everything Urbis does, and everything Manchester should be about, its trying out something new. If it doesn;t work, we'll be doing something else next year.

AH, Manchester (04/06/2007 at 14:16)

sand and that creaky big wheel! Blackpool tourist industry should be very worried, very worried indeed.

Inga, Manchester (04/06/2007 at 14:36)

I am disgusted by all the negative views expressed by a lot of people below. What makes you so sure that a beach will only attract trouble and - I quote - 'the city's scumbags and scallies'?

I think it would be fair to give this project (and the people of Manchester) a chance - who knows, it might as well attract families with their kids, students revising in the grass areas, creatives who are interested in the art installations. It could offer city dwellers a refreshing new alternative to the standard parks, which at the moment are too little and too few to cater for all of city centre if I might add. And talking about parks, you don't see them currently covered in 'needles, cigarette butts and broken glass' (as sarcastically mentioned by secretsquirrel below) either, so why would a beach receive a different treatment'?

I am delighted that Manchester is trying something new and exciting.

Angry of New Moston, New Moston (04/06/2007 at 14:38)

JJ London: mind your own business. You've got your own problems down there. Nice of you to single out Newton Heath. No doubt when you lived here, if you ever did, you lived in Chorlton or Didsbury or some other spot with a bob on itself.

JJ, London (04/06/2007 at 15:01)

Angry Of New Moston, (and you have every right to be living there) I lived in Failsworth for 33 years, not exactly the leafy burbs you infer but better than some areas. I am just a realist, whilst I think it's a nice idea and is generally good for the city and am sure it will raise it's profile like the cow parade of a few years ago and the regeneration of Piccadilly Gardens, there is a small and mindless minority who will, as always, see this as just another opportunity to spoilt something that has been given to us to enjoy and appreciate apoligies if I have offended anyone. And fyi there are idiots down here too.

Urbis (04/06/2007 at 15:15)

JJ--there will be security on the beach at all times (as there is with the Ice Rink). The aim is to have family-orientated activities during the day though, and, yes, we've thought through most of the problems we face.

David H., there will be a planning process, it hasn't gone to planning yet, and isn't confirmed. In regard to your various specifics--it's not in term-time so that doesn't apply; users will use the Urbis toilets, so that doesn't; Cathedral services will be no more interrupted than they are by crowds outside the Oyster Bar, and we're trying to organize around weddings, funerals, recitals, etc (as we are with Chet's); and we hope there will be less vandalism than there is at presence as this will allow more security to be available in the gardens at all times.

Mr Manchester (04/06/2007 at 15:20)

Come on, JJ, this might be what you lot do in Margate and Brighton, but leave your filthy habits down there.

I went to see the British Library exhibition in January -- great building, great event, but the filthy state of central London was a 'joy' to behold. Streets of gold indeed...

Knowall, stretford end (04/06/2007 at 15:22)

Paris has a beach, but also Paris has citizens who respect it, something that is sadly lacking in Britain. the beach would have to be properly policed for it too suceed. But what a good idea, pity Manchester have to copy Salford again who had the idea first.

ace, manchester (04/06/2007 at 15:22)

Dickdanpete, Manchester
I think before we import (no doubt expensive sand) why not use what we have around our coast,lots of sand.why import sand? And save the rate/taxpayers some money for once rather than waste money?.ITS TIME TO MAKE THE PEOPLE WHO SPEND OUR MONEY ACCOUNTABLE..I wonder if a councillor or politician went abroad to order the sand (free holiday?).

Angry of New Moston, New Moston (04/06/2007 at 15:35)

Ace: you are just the best. You can bet your sweet biffy that somebody had to have at least a fact finding weekend to decide which sand to have. Being as the Manchester casino is apparently going to finish off Blackpool, why don't we just take all their sand (minus the rubber and donkey dirt!)

Urbis (04/06/2007 at 15:54)

Sorry to rain on the parade Ace, but no, nobody went fact-finding to the Bahamas. Nice idea though. Maybe next year?

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