Opinion: Angela Epstein

June 07, 2009

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Angela Epstein

THERE'S nothing like having Liam Gallagher dedicate a song to you in front of 70,000 people to turn a girl's head.

The question is, did it turn mine and make me change my views about the wisdom of staging three huge Oasis concerts in Heaton Park?

Well, obviously I was shocked and delighted when I discovered that the lovely Liam had told concert goers on Thursday night that he was dedicating Cigarettes and Alcohol to this humble MEN columnist.

He did so in response to a piece published that day about my objection to having the band pitch up in my beloved local park. (I didn't even know he could read).

But though I've been deeply flattered by the fact his spontaneous acknowledgement of Ms Epstein of the Manchester Evening News 'who thinks we shouldn't be here', has made me a cause celebre, I'm afraid that now the dog and pony show is over, it hasn't been enough to change my views about having a rock event of this magnitude in one of the finest parks in Europe.

Many Prestwich residents agree with me, complaining about the fans urinating in their front garden, the drunks knocking on their door, the continual barrage of noise, the traffic disruption and general chaos.

However, far more, from both near and far, held quite the opposite view.

The cliches were volleyed furiously at me. I was a killjoy, I should get a life.

I admit, there has been something exciting about having the Burnage boys in my backyard.

Fascination

On Saturday night I stood at the end of my road and watched in fascination as thousands of Oasis fans came flowing like lava out of the park when the concert was over.

They were queuing outside my local garage, selling t-shirts near my dry cleaners, packing out a local takeaway that's usually like a morgue. It was as if some bizarre film set, with its teeming extras, had been grafted onto suburbia.

This is also nothing personal. I do like Oasis music, even if you have to fillet away the stuff they nick from the Beatles back catalogue. But I love Heaton Park more.

As I've said before, its glorious acres of rolling parkland have often been my oasis. And though I applaud the police, events staff, cleaners and security guards for the way they have organised this event, even their presence can't legislate for the huge footprint over 200,000 Oasis fans, with questionable party manners, are bound to leave behind.

So, thank you Liam for giving me my 15 minutes of fame. I did want to meet you in person before last night's concert so we could discuss our difference of opinion but your press office told me you had no time in your schedule.

Frightened of facing me in person? Rather hide behind your microphone? Come and have a go if you're hard enough. We park-lovers of Prestwich are tougher than you think.

Oasis refund over 'shambles'

Oasis - Heaton Park review

Opinion: Angela Epstein

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ppb1, salford (07/06/2009 at 19:29)

No talk of politics now i see.

What a sad woman.

Loui, Manchester (07/06/2009 at 19:42)

Oh Angela, it's just a guess, but I wouldn't think Liam is frightened of facing you in person, he probably just has far better things to do, such as preparing to entertain another 70,000 people who have the audacity to enjoy an event at "your" park.

Tricia Schwitzer (07/06/2009 at 21:09)

Great article

zarquon, bramhall (07/06/2009 at 21:19)

Dear Angela, turning your head is fine, doing it too often makes it fall off.

sugar n spice, manchester (07/06/2009 at 22:26)

get over it

Acid, Chadderton (07/06/2009 at 23:24)

I wish he'd turned your head away from the computer Angela, so we wouldn't have to read the drivel you write.

Kel (07/06/2009 at 23:25)

Back tracking just a tad there Angela Epstein...? I stand by my initial impression - deluded, spoilt and absolutely pathetic.

Cheryl P, Salford (08/06/2009 at 00:13)

I thought this article was quite entertaining (even though I don't agree with the opinion) until the last paragraph. It was fairly intelligent (and slightly patronising) up until the childish and playground comments of the last paragraph. That just made me think what a small minded and petty person this Angela woman must be.

sneakitawc (08/06/2009 at 02:26)

as you pointed out yourself, your fifteen minutes are up. write about road works or something.

cjs73 (08/06/2009 at 02:49)

Angela, you can like Oasis and also love Heaton Park.
I live in Prestwich and went to and loved the Thursday concert along with 7 friends nearly all of whom live closer to the park than myself. I live 5 minutes walk from the park and didn't encounter any anti social behaviour and neither were there extra cars parked on our street all weekend.
I'm all for concerts becoming more regular at Heaton Park as long as Manchester City Council uses money made from the concerts to pay for improvements to the park that would actually make it truly one of the best in Europe, ie better security, lighting, baby changing,sculptures and art work,more flowers, face lift Heaton Hall, add your own...something it definitely isn't at the moment as you claim, although it isn't bad. I read a letter in the Prestwich Advertiser last week from a woman who wont go into Heaton park alone because she's afraid even though it's only ever open during daylight hours, lets use some oasis money to make the park safer for her.
cjs73,Prestwich

Elb Owdeep (08/06/2009 at 09:30)

what an idiot. Ang, get over yourself. pathetic.

Pearce Film, North West (08/06/2009 at 11:03)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Jon Nerk (08/06/2009 at 11:17)

I'm gonna stick up for you here because i think the point you are trying to make is lost on the majority of the morons submitting comments above. For us local residents of Blackley Heaton Park is the one thing we have to be proud in our rapidly decaying area. I'm still puzzled by the councils decision to restore the park to its, was it 18th or 19th century state? Why when we're in the 21st century? All of the attractive features of the park are gone, not to mention the tennis courts where as a youth i spent countless happy hours. Cost cutting measures I’m sure were at the heart of the decision. Millions in lottery money spent only to go backwards. Anyway i digress.

I was at the gig on two nights and thought it was great. However it can not be ignored that a fair proportion of oasis fans in attendance are first rate pr*cks with no respect for the surroundings. Saw three fights in ten minutes last night. That’s not to say the majority where not there for a good time. The clean up operation will have to be extensive. Your correct Angela, i agree that our park should be protected as a priority and we will need to determine just what the impact of 200,000 Oasis fans, “with questionable party manners”, had on our park.

Peekster, Prestwich (08/06/2009 at 12:16)

Jon Nerk - there is a proposal to build tennis courts again in the park (along with 5-a-side pitches) but the NIMBYs (led by Prestwich's Lib Dem councillors) are trying to stop them.

Bennyboy, Stretford End Tier 2 & Timperley (08/06/2009 at 12:58)

Get used to it me old dear, it looks like the events of the weekend could now be a stepping stone to even better concerts and festivals in Heaton Park. Long may it continue.

Jon Nerk (08/06/2009 at 13:44)

Peekster I’m aware that new tennis courts are proposed and are being opposed. I understand why they are being opposed, the entrance will be on the prestwich side, which is a residential area and the car park is not big enough to accommodate the increased traffic. Which begs the question why get rid of the old car park you could access from the Middleton road side which is non residential? Also the tennis courts have been gone for what, 5, 6, 7 years. That’s a whole generation of kids missing out. Why not keep the old courts until the new ones were built. I used to ride my bike to play tennis in the park. Think we need to remember these facilities should be built for the benefit of local kids.

sian kelly (08/06/2009 at 13:52)

Angela,you live in bury,who do you pay your council tax to?Who pays for the upkeep of the park?NOT BURY!!Shall we rename the park "Angelas Park"
instead of "Heaton Park"

Manchester council Tax payer.(more concerts please)

MancLadUK, Manchester (08/06/2009 at 14:05)

Having read the view published in the paper I got the impression that some locals saw it as 'their park', which is a shame. Heaton Park is a wonderful park and one that I enjoy with my family quite often, in all weather. I don't think it's a bad thing to share it with others as long as it's done properly and on the whole this Oasis event went rather well.

Anyone has the right to their own opinion, but mine is that the park is there for us all to use and share, not just for some locals to horde and snipe at others coming to the area.

Here's hoping for much more of the same!

Patricia McDonald (08/06/2009 at 16:43)

it's not Oasis fault, lets blame Gordon for this too!

Paula Hawksworth (08/06/2009 at 18:54)

I went to he Oasis concert and i can fully understand why Ms Epstein was worried about the park. It was muddy and an absolute mess by the time we got there. My son went on Sunday and came home stinking of urine....what fun!!! I went to the Take That concert a couple of years at the Manchester City Stadium, and the beloved pitch was protected by a sheath of plastic. What a shame the council didnt feel they had to protect Heaton Park, as i imagine that the grass in non existent today, and my jeans and shoes are ruined. The last time i saw Oasis wsa also at the City Stadium and it was a fun night(we stood in the stands), but i gather it was the same in the crowd (on the pitch) then (bottles of urine being thrown). I guess ill stick to Take That from now on at least the fans are civil.

ROMI TYAR (08/06/2009 at 20:21)

Well what more can I add to other comments.... where do I start....... Ms Epstein may be right stating some fans were drunk & unruly but these were very much in the minority. As a business owner in Prestwich, I can honestly say that the concert has had a very positive effect on the local area. Yes there may have been some damage to the grass etc but that was partly due to the dreadful weather, which helped churn up the grass underfoot - does Ms Epstein also hold God responsible for the damage to the park. A park that is there for ALL people, not just Prestwich residents. Has she confronted the council about her objections, as it was they who agreed to host the concert & accepted a great deal of money for the use of the park - money that is invaluable to the city. I wonder if Ms Epstein feels as strongly about the influx of fans to the Old Trafford & City of Manchester stadium areas every matchday, or is it just a case of"Not in my Backyard'. Will she object to other events in Heaton Park - perhaps we should stop the Race for Life charity run in case it interferes with 'her' park or cancel the Classic Motorcycle Rally as we may be overrun with "violent, drunken, rampaging Bikers". But what can we expect from a woman who states that her journalistic specialities are Women's Issues but then writes an article for a national newspaper titled " Im a female chauvanist & proud of it' - the article expresses her horror on discovering the pilot of an aircraft was a woman! Personally, I am horrified that Ms Epstein is given column space!

Patricia Dineen (08/06/2009 at 23:12)

I would like to congratulate Oasis, their organisers, staff, the police but most of all the young people for what I saw as a very positive experience.
I am a retired teacher living about five minutes walk from Heaton Park. I love Heaton Park and I am really pleased that so much has been done to improve it in recent years.I visit it frequently and would recommend others to do so. It should be well used.
On Thursday I went to a local supermarket and I saw thousands of very orderly, pleasantly dressed and well mannered young people walking up Middleton Road going to the Oasis concert. Many of them went into the supermarket to buy refreshments and then walked over to the park. I chatted with a number of other customers and supermarket staff about how refreshing it was to see so many young people enjoying themselves and being so pleasant.
Next stop I went to vote. My polling booth was a concert car park, but I spoke to a very pleasant car park attendent who directed me in and then led me out afterwards so that I was not even remotely inconvenienced.
Local businesses had signs outside welcoming Oasis fans.
On Sunday I had to do a fifteen minute detour driving from the house of a friend who lives in Prestwich because Sheepfoot Lane was closed.
It was a minor inconvenience.
As I said, I am a retired teacher and while I never comment on the pupils I have taught I think it only fair to say that both Noel and Liam Gallagher can read - certainly an article as accessible as yours and whilst there have been many public references to Noel's dyslexia - you show a dreadful ignorance and lack of sensitivity to people affected by this and a failure to realise that it often accompanies creativity and intelligence.Please try to be more positive.
You were quite right to encourage poeple to vote. Beating the BNP will not be achieved by pathetic NIMBYism but by tolerance, respect and regeneration. Perhaps lessons need to be learned about the availability of toilet facilities and protecting the grass but that should not be impossible.I hope that there will be more events like this.
Patricia Dineen

MUFC-herefirst-1878, Wilmslow (09/06/2009 at 11:37)

Patricia Dineen,
8/06/2009 at 23:12

Absolutely summed pretty much the whole of the way Manchester feels about this event and the way Angela Epstein has conveyed her feeling's about it.

JTC Formerley JimC (09/06/2009 at 12:18)

Patricia Dineen,

Well said that lady.

Angela, go eat grass.

NANCY1 (10/06/2009 at 09:35)

I am not a manchester resident but did go to the concert on Saturdaty . It was a shambles . Screens to low you coundnt see anything. Bag search was just a peep , bottles etc got into park. Exiting was a nightmare no organization at all people were pulled pushed kicked. Saw several fights over this with the police and stewards just looking on . Been to Knebworth , Rounday park etc and never has it been like that. Manchester city council you failed.
Also a lady was in Labour in the portaloo it too 15 minutes for St johns to rush to her aid and they were only 30 yards away. Does anyone know if she has had the baby ?

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