Town hall bosses are to hold crunch talks with neighbours over plans to hold concerts in Wythenshawe Park.
The M.E.N. revealed in November how Manchester council wants to make the park the city’s third biggest open air concert venue – following in the footsteps of Platt Fields and Heaton Park.
The move would see concerts for up to 50,000 music fans being staged at Wythenshawe Park. Town hall chiefs are expecting objections to the plan when they hold a public meeting on Monday.
Neighbours have already complained that the concerts will cause traffic congestion, parking problems, noise and litter.
They have also accused the council of failing to consult local people properly.
Notices have been posted on lampposts around the park but opponents say letters should also have been sent to nearby houses.
Lib Dem councillor Mary Di Mauro decided to personally sent out 450 letters to people living around the park letting them know about the licensing application and invited them to respond.
Bernard Caine, of the Northern Moor residents group, said the meeting was a chance for people to have their voices heard.
He added: “People haven’t had the full information so far.
“All they’ve seen is a copy of the licensing application which doesn't give you the full story. I think as long as they know the facts they can judge for themselves. I would rather they make up their own minds.”
The council is bidding to host up to three concerts per year for between 5,000 and 14,999 people and up to three with between 15,000 and 49,999 capacity at Wythenshawe Park.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, executive member for culture and leisure, said: “A meeting has been arranged for our partners to discuss issues relating to the park, which residents are welcome to attend.
“I’d like anyone with concerns about the proposed concerts to get involved in the ongoing consultation process, which is running until Friday, February 3.”
The public meeting is at St Aidan's Centre, Wythenshawe Road, on Monday (January 30) at 7.30pm.
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Manchester Council appear to be failing both to consult directly with the neighbours of the park as required by law under the land use covenant and the subsections of the document. The park shall not be used for profit and not in anyway which disturbs those who live around the parks boundaries.
My concerns are that there insufficient police resources to provide a safe and secure concert environment. The transport facilities don't exist, unless you drive and then there is very limited on site parking. The main road which is jammed up on Bonfire night is a Primary RED Ambulance route and any impact to this roads fluidity could endanger lives.
There is no financial disclosure to show that any profits made from the park would be fed back into the park. Heaton Park as an example hosts large concerts but little of the profit goes to the council and even less so feeds back into the park.
I do not believe the access facilities and stage-ing areas within the park are designed for high numbers, and the inherent cost of supplying them will negate long term support.
If you don't look after and support what you have then its gone -
Face it residents of Wythenshawe; this will go ahead whether you like it or not. There is too much money riding on this, and the Albert Square Kremlin isn't going to let that walk away.
This is exactly what happened in Moston over this dreadful stadium the council are hell bent on having built.
We local residents heard about it via the MEN.
The only ''consultations'' that took place were the handful organised by FC United - there was no chance before the whole process started for councillors to face / hear local residents opposition.
The whole thing was stictched up and 'a done deal' from the word go.
I just hope the people of Wythenshawe living around the park ensure that the council does simply not pay lip service to them.
For more information
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500035/brooklands/2622/brooklands-current_licensing_applications/2
To register your views
premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk
Consultation with residents? another done deal then.
Hmm I love opposite and I havent had any letter! Not that I would oppose it.
So Lib Dem councillor Mary Di Mauro decided to personally sent out 450 letters to people living around the park letting them know about the licensing application and invited them to respond. So where is my letter? I live on Wythenshawe Road and have not received a letter or is it because I don't live close enough to Northenden to warrent a letter. Councillor Mary Di Mauro is the Lib Dem Councillor for Northenden and nothing to do with Wythenshawe Park,and there is a motorway between Northenden and the park so it would hardly affect her residents.
Please bare in mind, the park is not being given away or sold, its hosting 3 large scale events over a 12 month period and providing they are managed correctly I don't see a problem with it if it brings much needed funds back into the park.
I don't hear the residents around the Eithad stadium or Old Trafford complaining every time one of our Manchester or Trafford teams are playing at home when traffic is a nightmare and people are drinking before and after the matches, we have all learnt to deal with that over time.
Yes maybe they could have handled things better by informing the local residents, but lets give Wythenshawe Park a break and give them the benefit of the doubt, if it all goes wrong then lessons are learnt and then everyone opposes the licence application next year if they apply again.
i think this is a case of "not on my door step",the majority of people have been to a football ground or park at some point in there life ,wythenshawe park needs something because it's nothing like it was when i was a child ....and as long as the park it self gains financially from these concerts then why not?......my advice is this try it ,wythenshawe the biggest council estate in manchester yet offers very little to its residence ,there is always going to be someone that can find the negative in anything ..