Again, the council proves it cares little for the lives of city residents

City centre residents are used to the council’s lack of interest in improving residential city life, but today really takes the biscuit. Why on earth would they (via Cllr Pat Karney) oppose a New Years Eve celebration in the city on the grounds it would disrupt city residents (most I know would welcome it) and then not consult residents or plan properly for the invasion of football fans.

 

Currently, on my street my apartment building is being used as a toilet, and somewhere for people to dump cans and beer bottles. The streets around me are blocked by impromptu street parties, in some places with people putting down portable chairs in the street, putting their feet up on cases of beer and getting on with littering our city. It has been impossible to buy food locally or go into a cafe to eat. A continuing problem in our city is that laws are not enforced that would enhance residents quality of life. Public urination is illegal – not enforced, drinking in the street – illegal not enforced, littering, dropping cans and bottles is illegal, and not enforced. All these are aspects of city life that have been tackled far better by other cities for the benefit of local residents, but not in Manchester.

 

Last night I was kept awake by the fans, and I can only imagine how much worse tonight will be. Other residents I know are leaving the city centre to stay with friends, and local shops closing early. A new apartment building next door is full of football fans renting flats for the night, what happened to the Labour council’s plans to stop the ‘party lets’ that Cllr Karney trumpeted in the MEN during his local election campaign? 

 

Our public transport has ground to a halt, buses and the trams, shops are inaccessible, litter and anti-social behaviour everywhere. What will the state of our public spaces be tomorrow? -What was the strategy to deal with this, given that the council knew the numbers arriving for some time? Enough of the talk to get re-elected, lets see some action to improve residential city life, or finally an admission from the council that they never intended to fulfil their promises.