COMMUTERS and residents were expecting traffic chaos in north Manchester today as 70,000 fans poured into Heaton Park for the first of three Oasis concerts.
Some businesses claim they have not been told when and where the major disruption was expected around the Manchester council-owned park.
Those driving to the gig have been directed to park and ride facilities at Bowlee, Rochdale. There is also a special bus service running from Lever Street and Corporation Street in the city centre.
Opinion: Angela Epstein
Bury Old Road is due to be closed between 9.30pm today (Thursday) and 1am tomorrow, between Sheepfoot Lane and Heys Road. Sheepfoot Lane itself is also due to be closed during the same hours.
Stewart Kay, 67, owner of chartered accountants Everetts, on Bury Old Road, branded the lack of information about disruption 'outrageous'.
"Manchester City Council has done nothing at all to help workers and residents," he said.
"We're less than a mile from Heaton Park and I have been given no information. I don't know how my staff are going to get home. We don't know when roads or Heaton Park Metrolink will be closing. We should have had a flier through the letterbox at least.
"I have got one member of staff dreading going home on the bus and another who doesn't know if they'll be able to get on the motorway."
Nathan Pzioni, owner of nearby Nathan hairdressers, who was still planning to open today, said: "The concert is less than five minutes from here but we haven't been told anything."
But Councillor Mike Amesbury said Manchester council had worked hard with other councils, GMPTE, the police and concert organisers SJM to minimise disruption.
A council spokesman said promoters SJM Concerts had been in charge of public information on the gig.
SJM Concerts said a customer hotline (0161 954 9003) had been activated today. (Thursday).
More than 210,000 revellers are set to attend the three concerts tonight, tomorrow and Sunday, the biggest ever staged in the park and a temporary arena has been constructed.
Opinion: Angela Epstein
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Joe Whittaker (04/06/2009 at 11:31)
Mr C, Swinton (04/06/2009 at 12:01)
Sheikh Rattle 'n' Roll With It, Bury (04/06/2009 at 12:18)
Chopper (04/06/2009 at 12:19)
Hands of Stone, Southside (04/06/2009 at 12:25)
It's going to rock?
That's exactly why these bafoons have lost the respect of the proper Mancunian music lovers who got them where they are today. Today they are nothing more than a circus act insicerely running through ancient n umbers or pouring out run of the mill tripe!
Oh and with divvy student type fans who say stupid tings like it's going to rock! Who sdays that apart from auto Man off the Simpsons?
Mark,Radcliffe. (04/06/2009 at 12:27)
Emmsie, Halifax (04/06/2009 at 12:42)
Mr C, Swinton (04/06/2009 at 12:47)
I'm not a divy student and i think its going to rock who are you to say it isn't and what is proper manchester music if oasis isn't? I think your just up your own back side!! I bet your stuck in the past still hoping for a smith or stone roses renunion. Get over it they are long gone they wont be forgotten because they were great bands but oasis is the sound of manchester music today along with new bands like the courteeners and twisted wheel
Ronky, Bowker Vale (04/06/2009 at 13:02)
No free tickets have been given out to locals (unfortunately) but they aren't really needed as the sound can be heard in the surrounding area.
I think using the park for such events is brilliant - why have such a big park and not utilise it? Plus it's money in the public coffers that would only gone to a private firm elsewhere or caused Mancunians to have to travel to Leeds, Liverpool or further away.
Lets see how the parking restrictions work out (from what I've seen they could be better but lets give them a go) and hope that lessons are learnt for the next of many such events.
nrth mcr (04/06/2009 at 13:12)
Lower Broughton Soul, "In 76, oh yes it's true......" (04/06/2009 at 13:18)
Still at least they'll feel at home performing in another 'council owned' property.
Ricky Bad Boy, Manchester City Centre (04/06/2009 at 13:41)
Miss M, Manchester (04/06/2009 at 13:44)
Bet we dont hear all this in a few weeks when The Circus Comes to Town, come on Gary Howard Jason & Mark!
jb manchester, Manchester (04/06/2009 at 13:50)
Mark,Radcliffe. (04/06/2009 at 13:53)
Peekster, Prestwich (04/06/2009 at 14:20)
As for Everetts - one assumes they've had their head in the ground for the past few weeks as the leaflets were dropped and the notices were posted on all the roads in the area. Nice to see Chartered Accountants with such an eye for detail
allmodcons, prestwich (04/06/2009 at 15:02)
margaret west (04/06/2009 at 15:27)
Sheikh Rattle 'n' Roll With It, Bury (04/06/2009 at 16:06)
4/06/2009 at 15:02
As brilliant as Oasis are, if you haven't been to one of thier concerts before, be prepared for a degree of loutish behaviour. Certain Oasis 'fans' love nothing more than to urinate into empty plastic pint pots and throw them over the crowd in front. You may think it is only beer, but having witnessed it at Lancs CC when they played there a few years ago, I assure you that it isn't Boddingtons!
George Kane, Stretford (04/06/2009 at 16:10)
Manchester band Manchester Park & You refer to a Manchester Club who play in a Manchester ground ??
What's it got to do with a Trafford football club ???? Please explain & the outburst you refer to was nt Knebworth ???
L D (04/06/2009 at 16:14)
BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (04/06/2009 at 16:35)
Monekey boys last cd dig out your soul was noise just noise.......clearly music for those who missed out on seeing the real bands like the stone roses,happy mondays and inspiral carpets in the madchester scene.
knoxy, rochdale (04/06/2009 at 16:43)
Blue Benny (04/06/2009 at 16:54)
George Kane, Stretford (04/06/2009 at 16:57)
Heaton Park was sold to Manchester City Council in 1902, by the Earl of Wilton, to be kept for the enjoyment and recreation of the public and so it has remained to this day. Its owned & run by Manchester City Council.