A row has erupted over plans to host ‘super-concerts’’ for almost 50,000 music fans in Wythenshawe Park.
The M.E.N revealed in November how Manchester council wants to make the park the city’s third largest open air concert venue, following in the footsteps of Platt Fields and Heaton Park.
But the move has drawn an angry response from some residents who are worried about parking problems, noise and damage to the park’s conservation areas which have recently been designated as a nature reserve.
There has also been criticism over a perceived lack of consultation with residents.
Notices have been posted on lampposts around the park but residents have said letters should have also been sent to nearby houses.
Lib Dem Coun Mary Di Mauro decided to send out 450 letters to households informing them of the licensing application which has been submitted for the gigs. She accused the council of failing to consult residents properly.
She said: “I’m generally very supportive of having events in the park. But residents deserve to be involved in the planning and consulted properly.
“It’s the biggest issue on the estate. Northenden doesn’t have a train or a tram station – people will come via the motorway.
“These are things that need to be thought about now before the licensing application is approved.”
Several residents are calling for a public meeting to discuss how concerts can be held successfully in Wythenshawe Park.
Bernard Caine, Northern Moor residents association, said: “The reaction to the proposal has been quite mixed. There are concerns about noise, drinking and car parking.
“It will bring money into the park which would be useful and pay for other community events. We need to address the concerns. I think we should have a public meeting.
“If people have the situation explained to them in relation to how it’s going to take place then they would be more susceptible to the idea.
Karen Lavin who lives on Wythenshawe Road said: “I can’t imagine how they are going to get 50,000 people into the park. When they’ve had events before like bonfire night you’re stuck in traffic for nearly two hours.
“Having that amount of people coming is only going to make it worse. I really don’t want it. They could’ve done more to let us know.
“They should’ve written to all the residents within a three-mile radius of the park.
Representations about the licensing application for concerts to be held in Wythenshawe Park must be made in writing by February 3 to: The Licensing Unit (Premises) at Manchester council.
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Won't be the first time the Council don't consult, my concern is that the A560 passes past Wythenshawe park and is marked red route to A&E. Any major event would saturate the area and cause problems for ambulance crews. I've seen this on Bonfire night where cars being parked up road junctions and reversing off on to a A road have minor crashes, mirrors off, indicator lights broken on the road. On the other hand it may be 'The Stone Roses' with a music license - surely a misnomer.
Why did Kevin Lavin drive to his local bonfire? This is a great landmark event for Wythenshawe, giving it pride of place in Manchester. Local residents should work in securing free tickets to concerts, and free stalls where they can sell food and drinks to concert goers to raise money for community causes. Then it's win win.
I grew up around Platt Fields which I recall it always looking good. Last year my wife and I walked through it following a 3 day music festival. We could not belive how that concert had contaminated and ruined not only the shrubbery and lawns, but the lake was full of empty beer can, cider bottles and plastic bags. The place stunk. The rats must have had a field day, with rottting food and piles of rubbish shrewn and left everywhere.
I say to those opponents Wythenshawe stick to your guns and dont allow your park to become another cess pit
I can't imagine the carnage when the concerts end.
Wythenshawe has terrible transport links.
Nimbys
The council seems to have conveniently forgotten the fact that there is a legal convenant governing Wythenshawe Park which was set up when The Simon family generously gave the Hall and the Park to the people of Manchester This states that the Hall and Park should be a free and open space where no business was to be conducted and nothing should be done to be a nuisance in any way to neighbours or neighbouring buildings . The council have a duty of care towards the Park and it is already reprehensible that the Hall is closed . By introducing large scale events of this nature this covenant will be broken and the council will be acting illegally . Wythenshawe Park already tried these events some years ago and the effect on the Park was disastrous - they were stopped as the cost of clean up and the disruption to neighbours was huge .To then think of 6 events a year - ie one a month as presumably they would be in the summer - is ludicrous - the Park is not large enough or well located enough for this . Manchester CC needs to generate income but not by destroying a beautiful Park that was donated in good faith to them and which belongs not to them but to us- the people of Manchester
If these parks, and other amenities are to remain in public hands then I suppose councils must find some way for them to be self funding.
The days when taxpayers were prepared to pay for things "for the public good" have been on the wane for decades, and the current financial situation can only hasten the change.
So either events must be held, charges levied for their use, or plans laid to sell them for private use or development.
Unless there is a sudden change of attitude among those who direct society.
Manchester City Council seems to have conveniently ( deliberately?) forgotten about the legal convenant governing the usage of Wythenshawe Hall and Park when it was generously donated to the people of Manchester by the Simon family. This states categorically that the Park should not be used for any business purposes and should never cause a nuisance to neighbours and neighbouring lands . It was always meant to be a free and open space for the people and events of this sort are the thin end of the wedge for MCC to try and use the Park for their own profit . MCC have a duty of care to protect the Park and it is already reprehensible that the Hall is closed through lack of funding. . 6 events annually of up to 50,000 people in 3 of them which ostensibly means i a month in the summer is ludicrous - Wythenshawe Park is not big enough or has good enough transport links for this. A couple of large concerts were tried some years ago and is was a disaster for the Park and neighbours . The cost of clean up afterwards negated any profit generated . The people of Manchester have been given this beautiful park as a gift to them and not for MCC to profit from and act illegally by ignoring the covenant protecting our Park
Really! Can an area like this even dream of turning down such events? It would be the best thing that could happen to the area, That or a couple of hundred bull dozers.
What Manchester city council wants, MCC gets - as the good folk in Moston found out when the council forcefully imposed a 5000 capacity stadium on a green and covenanted field despite local opposition.
It is amazing that anyone could think that such a lovely gift should be a white elephant . I would have thought that the Simon family would have hoped that the MCC would cherish and protect our heritage .Surely Mancunians should want to preserve and maintain our green spaces or maybe I am the only one hoping that money should not be the be all and end all here and that Wythenshawe Park will be preserved for our children and grandchildren.
Isnt it such a shame that our elected council has such little regard for donations , covenants , green spaces and local residents that we should even need to take legal action against them ?. Should they not be battling for us and our heritage ? We should not even have to protest against such events - it should be stopped at the first post. But hearing about Moston gives me no hope at all that common sense and justice will prevail
I am a resident on Altrincham Road which runs alongside Wythenshawe Park.
I've had no notification from the council over the planned events.
Its bad enough when the fair comes but the last big event was horrendous for the residents. The music was so loud it literally shook the windows in my house.
A couple of us went across to the park and complained to the police officer in charge who shrugged his shoulders and said there was nothing he could do. When the event finished just after midnight the party revellers streamed out of the park laughing, shouting and screaming.
It was a nighmare.
How on earth does the council not realise that 50,000 people flooding into a residential area is not viable!!!