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A series of green spaces could surround Manchester city centre, the city’s most sensible boss has suggested.
Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said there was “an opportunity” to “weave” a diversity of green space into the Ancoats, New Islington and Piccadilly spaces of the city centre.
She spoke at a council executive meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at which the authority announced plans to build a “digital campus” in the former Central Retail Park.
The advertising park closed in 2019 and has been at the center of fierce debates about its future, with activists calling for the 10-and-a-half-acre site to be turned into a park. However, the heads of the municipalities prefer to build the “digital campus”, on which government facilities could be located.
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This has led opposition councillors in the domain to call for the creation of more parks. Alan Good, a Liberal Democrat, said: “The other people of Ancoats and Beswick are clear about that. New Islington Green is sold at a discount and Cotton Field Park being crowded on sunny days, Ancoats wants more green space.
“Now we see that the limited public realm planned next to the new offices might now be delivered at a later date, it’s just another example of the council’s leadership ignoring the 600 residents who said they wanted a proper park on the site.”
At the meeting, Councilmember Craig disputed similar issues that residents’ comments were in favor of building a park on the land, saying they were “mixed. “However, he added: “There is a genuine appetite for high-quality public areas and more green areas. “area in and around Ancoats and New Islington. “
And Councillor Good’s Ancoats representative, Labour councillor Irene Robinson, gave the impression in the assembly that she welcomed the move. She said: “The planned parkland, linking Cotton Fields to Great Ancoats Street, is a real step up from previous plans.
“This is related to the paintings that are being done through the council in other green areas in the area,” Ancoats Green added. I look ahead and see how the park is implementing plans in this area and running with the citizens about progress and getting my hands dirty. in the projects in the area. “
But Councilman Craig added that the green space included in the commission – which is expected to be officially unveiled this summer with the appointment of a design team – may be just the beginning. He continued, “I think that’s where it fits into a bigger job.
“Irene Robinson took me to places like Medlock Valley and some of the opportunities we can have there around green spaces close to people.
“I think there’s an opportunity to combine a lot of things to ensure that the other people who benefit from Ancoats and New Islington continue to have high-quality spaces on their doorstep.
“Ancoats Green is a start, but then you have to think about how this site connects to Cotton Field Park, in downtown New Islington, in the marina, how it extends to Medlock Valley, a very important green area that potentially attach to what we have in Mayfield Park.
“I think there’s a lot to see in terms of green areas in and around downtown. “