IN the glory days of Belle Vue, millions flocked to east Manchester seeking family fun.
Now campaigners hope to recreate the magic of yesteryear - while offering a regeneration-boosting alternative to the failed supercasino bid.
Local activists Communities for Stability have written to Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, who is considering casino alternatives, to discuss plans for a `linear park' stretching across east Manchester.
The scheme aims to build on the legacy of Belle Vue, where a zoo and amusement park became a major tourist attraction until the late 70s.
Using east Manchester's existing attractions and open space as a starting point, the plans include a new amusement park, a zoo and a deer park.
The scheme, organisers say, would create thousands of jobs and encourage spending in some of east Manchester's most deprived neighbourhoods.
Communities for Stability spokesman the Rev David Gray said: "What we want to do is promote the voice of ordinary people who in the end are going to have to live with the changes regeneration schemes bring.
"The casino consultation was a token one, and although everyone wanted the jobs, as an attraction it was aimed only a certain class of person, predominantly male, with money to throw around.
Investment
"When I ask people about the kind of investment they would like to see they remember Belle Vue, and the days when clowns, giants, dwarfs and elephants walked the streets of Manchester.
"We're not saying `lets bring Belle Vue back', but we could create a linear park that appeals to families as Belle Vue did, and offers real educational and employment potential."
Mr Gray worked as an ape-keeper at Belle Vue Zoo.
Manchester unexpectedly won the supercasino bid last year. But the government changed its mind - costing the city a potential £265m, and 3,000 jobs.
Click on the link above to see more pictures from the glory days including some stunning shots by online user Joseph McGarraghy .
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Fantastic idea! I think it would offer the community a great deal more than a super casino.
Sadly - it won't work. Here's why. In the good old days, kids could behave - mainly because their parents exercised control. These days, anything resembling Belle Vue would be awash with drunken, noisy, badly behaved thugs.
In years past people had some respect for the animals at Belle Vue,even though it was torture for the animals and I was glad when the animals went,but now in 2010 plus imagine the thugs,vicious,and
hyped up morons being near
animals and it does not bare thinking about.
Leisure yes but for God`s sake no animals,we have enough so cage them.
Maybe we could have our full blooded very large speedway track returned to us - Hyde Road style.
Credit to all who put in a lot of hard work and endeavour in an effort to provide us with entertaining racing, but the current 'toy' track at the dog track does no justice to the sport.
it could work as long as strict guidelines regarding allowing teenagers in without parents any damaged caused by teenagers and the parents should be taken to court for wilful damage What i would like to see though is a swimming baths the only decent one is the Aquatic centre but who wants to travel through Manchester city centre each time they want to go swimming
I agree with Paul I went to the speedway once at the dog track and have never been since as the saying goes
THEY WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS
I would love to see a type of leisureland like Belle Vue making a comeback. There could still be a casino probably on a smaller scale.There could be something for everyone,rides,animals,arcades,shops,speedway, stock cars,cinemas ah well I can dream? Phil from Droylsden.
Bring back BELLE VUE good idea,Ive been saying it for years! Phil..... Droylsden.
I don't know if the site of Belle Vue is still available and who owns it. I'm glad the Casino isn't coming because of the awful architecture. I think Manchester should have what it is missing like a botanic garden, a theme park, a zoo, full sized speedway and greyhound track, a decent sports centre. Lots of great ideas, put several attractions in one complex.
Is there a decent large scale sports centre with a big hall in Manchester, no. We have to go to Yorkshire for karate and judo tournaments because Manchester does not have a sports complex with a large hall like Barnsley, Sheffield etc. It could include a swimming pool after closure of Gorton Tub. I agree with the others you need an entrance fee to keep yobs out.
The Vision isn't about locking up animals, C4S are against that too.
What this is about is providing an eco-focused leisure and learning facility that draws on the inspiration of local heritage - especially Belle Vue.
The Spirit of Belle Vue never went away when the walls came down - just mention the place to anyone from East Manchester and you'll see asmile and they become animated and share amazing stories.
What we don't want is another White elephant - East Manchester has begun to recover from the withdrawal of local industry which marked it out as the workplace of the world and the last thing we need is another Millenium Dome.
The people of Manchester want to work together with the Ministers and Developers to create an amazing development of which we can all be proud for generations to come.
We've written to Hazel Blears and we're waiting for her to get in touch to work with us in providing this amazing opportunity.
If any of you want to help make this happen please get in touch to ensure you can say "I did that".
Damian Carr, Chair of Communities for stability www.c4stability.com
Incidentally, the current 'stadium' is very close to housing and i am sure that it could be sold for a fair bit of money.
Admittedly, that would go to the GRA and also they would have to be included in a new stadium.
However, putting the dog track inside the speedway track will leave room for a proper sized speedway circuit. Also, i'm sure a bigger centre green could accommodate some form of mini-moto bikes or karting circuit for the local youngsters (bless 'em).
I think this is a great idea as this would bring enjoyment and education to our city, and most importantly it is what the people of the area vote for we need to be listened to, the casino would have brought no end of misery to families all over the country, not to mention the amount of money already being spent on trying to stop peoples gambling addictions, well done C4S keep up the good work.
They were glory days, even in the 1970's. On a Saturday night, you had the choice of Disco, ballroom, bier keller, wrestling, speedway or stock cars, ten pin bowling, concerts, fairground in the summer, greyhounds. The local pubs thrived on the trade. Now, you have a multi-cinema and two massive bingo halls, plus the greyhound or speedway, and boarded-up pubs. You also don't like to hang around for too long in that vicinity.
They did have a Burger King, but that had to close because of constant robberies, and it was demolished. Times don't get better, do they?
Belle vue was a money making machine until the council wanted the land MCC was and are a greedy council instead of investing in the zoo they decided that it would be vdemolished "CPO" Once again the council proves that it destroys communities,its time to think of what the community wants and requires to make it thrive."The victoriand did" They invested in people by building homes for the workers rather than building homes to make developers and councillors wealthy. look back at the past to make the future work .....time recycles itself....
It would indeed be fantastic to see the return of Belle Vue, but to my mind it must include a proper home for the Belle Vue Aces.
Then, it really could mark a return to the glory days for the whole scheme.
I'm so glad that East Manchester isn't to have the super casino. The site can be used for many other family activities: ie, a cinema, a ten pin bowling alley, a roller skating rink, or even an ice rink. The idea for an amusment park similar to the old Belle Vue is good, personally I wouldn't like there to be a zoo within the complex.
I think it's a brilliant idea and I'm sure that this is what we need. It will not only provide lots of jobs but plenty of fun and family entertainment and I look forward to visiting the new Belle Vue!!!!!
I wish you all Godspeed!
It was a great video David and your wonderful artists there!!!
Good on yer!
While most people grasp the full potential of facilities based on Belle Vue for East Manchester, there are one or two negative comments about young people.
Let's be honest, the imposition of the community breaking slum clearances on the back of the decline of the industries that had given adults a sense of purpose, seriously impacted on adult well-being. This, coupled with the increasing place of the car in our culture meaning they could not simply step out of their own frontdoors and play, was passed down to children.
We have the problems we do today largely because investment in immagination, leisure and play got lost in the aftermath of the devestation of our communities.
Let's stop blaming a younger generation for the way we were failed that in turn led to them being failed and work together to build up strong, safe, happy communities again.
This is a rallying call - and the spirit of Belle Vue is the standard around which we can reorganise and turn the tide in the struggle for community cohesion.
Are we together in this? Let people of all ages, cultures, faiths and backgrounds living in this great city today decide: do we gripe about what is wrong or work together to build something better for everyone's sake?
David Gray (C4S / FN4M / Gorton Monastery)
Its about time Manchester council built a proper Speedway/Stock Car stadium to replace Hyde Road which they shamefully allowed to be demolished and replaced with a soulless car auction centre.
In Bradford Manchester council have built a football stadium for Manchester City, an athletics track, a velodrome, tennis centre, squash courts, badminton, etc etc... just down the road are state of the art hockey pitches.
Why is Speedway/Stock Cars always neglected by the council? It has a rich Manchester history and is far more popular than some of the sports Manchester Council pander to.
David Gray
I blame our council for the "ILLS" OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH MANCHESTER WITH THEIR "PATHFINDER" ideals of the 1960/70/80s so called slum clearances they should have called it the "Community killer" a community that took hundreds of years to build.i remember having lots of so called uncles and aunties when i was growing up in longsight in the 50/60s .they were just neighbours who we called uncles and aunties.MCC have a great way of dividing communities.so they keep in power. "Divide and conquer" terrible waste of peoples power and communities.
I would love to see belle vue back. as i never had the chance to go as it shutdown when i was 2. And i REALLY hope there would be some way to have belle vue speedway included in the plans too.