Friends of Library Walk slam council “secrecy”
Article published: Wednesday, August 22nd 2012
Friends of Library Walk campaigners have hit out at Manchester City Council’s failure to answer questions over controversial plans to gate off and construct a “glazed link” across one of the city centre’s iconic passageways.
Library Walk. © Ricardo266 on flickr
Campaigners accused the council of “hiding behind secrecy rules to prevent a proper debate” after detailed questions relating to costs and legal issues of the £3.5 million development and internal correspondence regarding the decision to block Library Walk were stonewalled. Officials withheld information on the grounds that locating and providing answers would breach legal cost limits.
Friends of Library Walk claim the radical change, designed by Beetham Tower architect Ian Simpson, will “privatise one of the most dramatic and photographed thoroughfares in our city”. Over 1,000 people have signed a petition against the proposals, which will go to the council’s planning committee on 13 September.
Shocked residents had first learned of plans to build a glazed pod joining Central Library and the Town Hall Extension, and a gate closing off the passage overnight, as part of the major £170m town hall revamp when plans were uploaded onto the council’s website last May. Critics say the council kept quiet about the plans when the overall development was first consulted on two years ago, and that the development will spoil a unique and dramatic streetscape.
The council offered to supply information regarding disabled access, supposed “anti-social behaviour” near the curved passageway, documents relating to the decision and a business plan, though campaigners say answers are likely to arrive too late for them to prepare for the key council meeting next month.
Friends of Library Walk campaigner Tom Hiles said, “We have no idea how much taxpayers’ money they have spent so far on expensive consultants and the fees of an alleged ‘superstar’ architect, and now it looks like the city council doesn’t want us to know.”
Now that local people are asking difficult questions about their stewardship of public assets, they are hiding behind secrecy rules to prevent a proper debate. It seems only people who agree with Town Hall bosses are entitled to our money.”
The council stresses that the Library Walk costs are contained within the overall Town Hall and Central Library refurbishment budget.
Distinctive
The proposed “glazed link”
Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said a “crucial” aspect of the development was treating the Central Library and Town Hall as a single complex, and argued that “a clearly defined entrance” to the Town Hall extension was needed given an estimated one million visitors to the buildings each year.
“The principle of a link building was referred to in the public exhibition on the St Peter’s Square international design competition as it lies within the defined area for that competition, but the detailed design was a separate commission which is why it is being brought forward now”, he said.
“We believe the link will breathe new life into this space – transforming it from an underused shortcut which feels distinctly unsafe outside peak times into a welcoming public space and walk way.
“A lot of detailed study work has been undertaken to ensure that the new structure will complement the historic buildings it connects while maintaining the distinctive curved form of Library Walk and creating a new Manchester landmark.”
Leese added, “Library Walk will remain open to the public 16 hours a day, between 6am and 10pm. It was very rarely used and more often abused outside these hours. These proposals will promote access to Library Walk rather than inhibiting it as it will be much friendlier place to be.”
Friends of Library Walk campaigner Morag Rose disputed claims the changes are necessary, however. “The original, well publicised library and town hall refurbishment plans make much of the underground link between the buildings and do not mention the need for additional entrances above ground. We can see no functional need for this”, she said.
Rose also vehemently disagreed with suggestions that Library Walk needs be gated to prevent incidents such as a rape in October 2010. “Obviously we deplore violence but restricting public access to a place is no solution: as a woman I find that response deeply offensive. Looking at the statistics there are many more dangerous places in the city centre: are we to close them all off to women?”
She said, “Let’s make it a safe space through lighting, increased footfall and creating a culture where women are not objectified and rape victims are not blamed. I deplore the culture of fear instilled by sensationalist crime reporting and believe the streets belong to us all – including Library Walk.”
Richard Goulding
More: Council, Manchester, News
Comments
No comments found
The comments are closed.
