Towering opposition to club

Paul R Taylor

March 21, 2008

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A SUPERCLUB hosting massive raves is set to open next door to one of Manchester's most exclusive properties.

The 2,500-capacity club - which would open all night in a car park under railway arches behind the Beetham Tower - would stage dance and live music events on up to 20 weekends a year.

But 60 objections have been lodged with Manchester council by owners of the tower's expensive apartments.

They fear it will bring late-night music misery.

The club, called Labyrinth, would open from 10pm until 6am. Owners of the popular Manchester club Sankey's have applied for a licence for Labyrinth to use the Park Avenue car park on Albion Street on the weekends and also on New Year's Eve, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, Easter weekend and other Bank Holidays.

If the licence is granted to Sankey's Limited, who would own Labyrinth, the `event space' will open in June. It would be the second largest nightclub venue in Manchester after Pure in the Printworks, which has a 2,700 capacity.

Carl Austin, 36, who lives on the 27th floor of Beetham Tower, said: "The potential noise and disruption caused by this super club is worrying.

"When a series of concerts were held at the G-Mex over the Christmas period, we were kept awake night after night with noise, especially with people leaving the venue.

Problems

"This is closer and residents don't want thousands of people churning out and chucking up in their doorways at closing time.

"The entrance will be down Trafford Street, which is basically an alley with only one way out. It's a bottleneck and that could cause real problems.

"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a night out and go to clubs quite a lot. But they're in designated venues that have been there for a long time."

Anthony McCaul, city centre resident and Labour campaigner, said: "Residents are rightly concerned about the application for this mega club, which is completely out of keeping with the area. This club would create noise and disruption for thousands of residents.

"We're not party poopers but this club application is too much - in scale, scope, capacity and location. I'm calling on the licensing committee to turn this application down."

A spokesman for Sankey's said they would contact residents in Beetham Tower - on Deansgate - and the nearby Hacienda apartment building to discuss their concerns.

David Vincent, of Sankey's, said: "We do not think we are likely to cause any particular distress or nuisance to residents and I would hate to think they consider this the case. We noticed the building is made out of very thick brick, which is perfect for absorbing noise.

"This is one of the main reasons why we chose this venue as we know we will not be affecting residents with noise pollution problems.

"We will be contacting the residents of the Haçienda Apartments and Beetham Tower in more detail in due course to reassure them."

Sankey's application will go before the licensing committee on Wednesday, April 2.

What do you think oof the plan? Have your say.

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duncan balls, manchester (21/03/2008 at 09:55)

aahhhh! the peace and tranquility of manchester city centre, I live in rawtenstall and guess what, no one has applied for a licence for a super club there.

Cllr Shelmerdine (Hulme) (21/03/2008 at 10:01)

Well its about time the Posh Totty's and exspensive suit men got a bit of there own life style, residents in other parts of Manchester has to listen to live and loud Music every night.
if they want peace I sugest they move back to Alderly Edge where they came from. they cannot have everything in Life

Edski Vega, Nottingham (21/03/2008 at 10:19)

You can't buy a city centre apartment and expect to live a peaceful quiet life!

The future of Manchester is more important than a handful of ppl looking out for their own interests....... People object to every construction - the city would never change!

AngryMcNasty, Manchester (21/03/2008 at 10:34)

Well said, Edski Vega, if you move to the city centre except it to lively and there to be nightlife - how noisy does the guy on the 27th floor think its going to be!!

Octavius Tinsworth Ace (21/03/2008 at 10:43)

Two points. First, as has already been pointed out, why buy a city centre apartment if you're after peace and quiet? Second, the apartments, if I remember correctly, are located between the 25th and 48th floors; surely the noise is going to be minimal at that altitude?

Mark, South Manchester (21/03/2008 at 10:48)

Those railway arches in the city centre are perfect for converting into clubs & bars.
Castlefield use to be a brilliant venue for open air concerts and entertainment, but the over development of residential apartments has all but killed it!
So don't let the apartment dwellers (in their ugly, un-soundproofed rabbit hutches) "kill off" the rest of the city centre.

Had enough (21/03/2008 at 11:12)

Night clubs in Manchester, never!

Grief Tourist, Tameside (21/03/2008 at 11:15)

Yeah just the perfect place to move to if you want peace and quiet, a city centre. Bleating yuppie prats.

Dawn Lonergan, Manchester (21/03/2008 at 12:21)

Oh no, not another 'faceless' trendy club saturating the Manchester clubbing scene! Rave? thought that had it's day in the late '80's/early '90's?! Bring back some character to Manchester's nightlife..what about catering for some of us 'golden oldies?' Bring back The Banshee, Asylum, Cloud 9, etc days. More punk and goth! ha (showing my age now!) :0

jomov, Manchester (21/03/2008 at 12:53)

I agree, maybe more thought should have gone into building these flats in the first place, like making them more sound proof.

StevieP, Bangor (21/03/2008 at 13:02)

I believe being a "Yuppie" and living in the city center doesn't disqualify you from a nights sleep .What about the hilton hotel which will be closer to the noise ,who will want to stay there ,this could reflect on their business and a loss of jobs.

ace, manchester (21/03/2008 at 13:11)

This club would create noise and disruption for thousands of residents. If you wanted a peaceful life you should have moved to "CHESHIRE" If you live within a city you have to do what we all have to do? "LIVE WITH IT"

City Centre, Piccadilly City Centre (21/03/2008 at 14:38)

I say well done for Anthony and Carl for standing up against the club owners. It's one thing to have clubs in the city centre in designated venues (like Pure as mentioned and Sankeys etc) but another to 'convert' car parks into huge super-clubs which won't conform to standards. Agreed the use of arches is a great thing - like Deansgate Locks - but they are permanent well built developments, not short term for a number of weeks.

I also agree (living in the city centre myself) that you can't expect peace and quiet here, and I don't think Carl or Anthony would expect silence! There's one thing noise, traffic, normal amount of people, and even things like concerts ending at GMEX at 11pm, but it's another thing altogether to have 2500 people emptying out onto the streets at 6am in the morning all off their heads!

Hope that the licensing committee looks carefully at this and listens to the 60 objections. (I assume the hotel will have objected also - as someone else mentions could cause loss off trade for them.)

REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (21/03/2008 at 15:38)

Only 1 thing to complain about the drugs and gangs controlling the clubs and the gun violence it caused in the late 80's and early 90's yes it did happen and it will be the same again,anyway havent ppl got sick of banging rave music with being off there heads on drugs,its been and gone you missed the boat.
Im all for live concerts but raves give me a break,excuse for legal drug pedelling and trouble.
Glad i moved and found a life when this garbage was happening yer down on the south coast.

jongreg, irlam (21/03/2008 at 17:26)

Poor Carl Austin..he decided to move into the Beetham tower..he is out clubbing most weekends in Manchester as ive seen him around numerous times and he always appears to be having a good time..but then its not on his doorstep is it..do he can make as much noise as he likes walking down Canal street where there are residential properties..But he doesnt want it in his own back yard..what a surprise!!
You decided to live there..for jees sake..Its called a city centre!!
If you dont like it up in your 27th floor appartment then sell up Im sure you have made a profit!!

REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (21/03/2008 at 18:22)

johngreg how do you know who carl austin is????is he the architect who designed the beetham tower and said im having the rooftop apartment????how do you know he causes noise down canal st and do you follow him wher he goes.
And what are you bleating on about.
If you look up manchester clubs a-z youll see its got virtually loads in every corner in ever area,so why build a bigger 1 wheer it will cause drug and gun violence as we all know it will being a rave club,they only bring dead pan beating zombie noise and trouble,if any body wants to go to a concert go to the men or g-mex,if you want deadpan zombie music go to cream in liverpool or gatecrasher in birmingham.
Does manchester really want a rave scene thats been and gone,and drugs ,gang's and violence.
No it doesnt and this club will only cause this.
If ppl still want to blow a whistle and wear a smiley t-shirt off there heads put a big tent up in a field in the counrtyside where no 1 gets there silly noise and behavior.

steven boyce (21/03/2008 at 19:06)

I think the big issue here is the location. Manchester has a great history with dance music but this is simply a totally stupid location for something like this. The Beetham tower is the landmark new building in the city. Its about the right things going in the right places, and this just doesn't work.

Simon Clark (21/03/2008 at 20:24)

Redseadog i suggest you get your facts right as the architect who designed the Beetham Tower is Ian Simpson and it is Ian Simpson who claimed the top floor penthouse. As for a superclub in the city centre, people who live in the city centre should be aware that there are clubs which operate until late at night. That is why its called the city centre and not the countryside.

EG (21/03/2008 at 21:26)

sack it

Sid (21/03/2008 at 23:04)

Another club of this size in the city is just asking for more problems. It will be a centre for drugs, fights and binge drinking. You can get anything you want in printworks and cheap.

marc (21/03/2008 at 23:45)

REDSEADOG, marry me.

flanagan and allan (22/03/2008 at 00:12)

Solution:

knock down the tower
recycle it into something useful (together with its replicants)
..and open up the arches and dream your dreams away...

Fonda Rae said it best: Keep on Dancing!

thaitanium (22/03/2008 at 01:46)

I think this eyesore should be pulled down but thats just me.
How can having raves be any worse than this lump of concrete?

jomov, Manchester (22/03/2008 at 08:44)

I wish some people on this site could get 'their' and 'there' right....

It'll make their posts easier to read!

jsac1984 (22/03/2008 at 16:31)

thaitanium , even tho this "lump of concrete" is actually glass and steel?

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