A report published this week lists people’s concerns over plans for the 23,500-capacity entertainment hub next to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
Developers Oak View Group (OVG) plan to invest £350 million into the US-style venue. They hope it will attract some of the world’s biggest music and sporting events. But the public consultation has raised more than 580 objections over the 5.5-acre site, from both residents and businesses in the area.
Many locals say they already have enough disturbances on match days. The report highlighted upsets over traffic, illegal parking, noise and light pollution, littering and damage to the local environment.
View of the campus. Image: OVG
Summarised in the report, one Beswick resident said: “The traffic modelling does not properly take into account the impacts nor the impact of other major events at the campus and in the local area.”
Others expressed worries over the environment saying: “It is not clear how this project fits in with carbon objectives for the city and the climate change emergency.”
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Proposed landscaping along Ashton Canal. Image: OVG
OVG admits there will be “localised impacts” as a result of the arena, but say they’d be limited to the campus site itself.
In the report, OVG set out how they will tackle the concerns. These include a travel plan and parking strategies to minimise road disruption, landscaping to the nearby Ashton Canal to preserve local ecology, noise monitoring, plus support from a specially appointed community liaison officer who will act as a go-to contact.
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But there are also fears for Manchester’s city centre music economy. Some say it will drag customers away from the likes of Academy, the O2 and the newly rebranded AO Arena (formerly Manchester Arena). In March, AO Arena put in its own planning application for renovations.
New AO Arena plans. Image: AO Arena
OVG maintain that the Eastlands Arena will cater for a different crowd, stating: “The pursuit of larger events than those hosted by the [AO Arena] and targeting more genuinely international music and family events, makes a clear differentiation in the planned market focus compared to the existing markets of the [AO Arena].”
Through market research, OVG have put forward a firm case for a second arena. Their findings suggest that over 20 years the two arenas will generate up to £1.5 billion for the UK economy.
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But that hasn’t stopped loyal Mancs pointing out the lack of support for the city’s current music scene. One resident said: “There should be, in the wake of the pandemic, support for existing entertainment venues, pubs, bars, restaurants and shops.”
Eastlands Arena from below. Image: OVG
For the public, it seems the jury is out. But the plans go to committee on September 24 where the council will decide if it will get the go ahead.
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Local music student issues appeal over stolen saxophones just months after graduation
Danny Jones
A local music student has issued a heartbreaking appeal after two of his saxophones, one of which possessed a deep sentimental attachment, were stolen in Manchester not long after graduating from his degree.
Conor Parker-Delves, who only recently finished his undergrad degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, has dreams of performing professionally, but a sad twist of fate now means that he’s currently without the key tool he needs to make a living.
Having worked so hard up to this point in completing his studies, the 22-year-old was left gutted when the pair of extremely valuable instruments were stolen from his car after parking it in the Longsight area.
The still green graduate believes the items were originally kept at an address just south of Whitworth Park, along with some of his other stolen belongings, which he says were nearly resold on the high street in Moss Side.
Credit: Handouts (via Conor Parker-Delves)
What’s more is that one of these saxes belonged to his late granddad on his mother’s side, who sadly died when he was very young, and he’s been proudly playing it throughout his childhood. A gut-wrenching loss not just for him but for his family.
Speaking to The Manc, he said: “I have played on that sax ever since his passing and have kept the legacy alive. Losing this sax means losing him, and I am going to fight against this as hard as I can for as long as I can.”
A worn silver Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone (serial number: 240580) and a tenor sax of the same brand (SN: 91928) are estimated to be worth a combined £12,000 – funds a fresh graduate like Conor simply doesn’t have.
Given the connection to his grandad, it’s safe to say that he’s not ready to give up and say goodbye to the priceless heirloom, and being stuck without any means of playing is just cruel.
Unfortunately, Greater Manchester Police have already closed the case despite a “promising lead” that looks to have been exhausted, and now he’s been left with no other option than to issue a renewed appeal to the public.
It may only be a slim chance, but the London-born aspiring musician is hoping that the woodwind duo can be recovered, acknowledging that it is “much easier for the saxes to be handed in if they are come across” rather than be replaced.
Things are hard enough for artists these days as it is, especially those who have already spent their time and money uprooting their lives and moving to a big new city like Manchester.
We encourage anyone with any potentially useful information to get in touch and/or report to GMP online, via the non-emergency 101 number, or get in touch with Crimestoppers anonymously.
Fingers crossed we can get the tools of Conor’s craft and his grandfather’s before him back safe and sound – can you help?
Yet another major Deansgate Locks nightlife spot has closed in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Deansgate Locks is set to lose yet another of its nightlife spots, with Ark confirming it will be shutting its doors ‘within weeks’.
The multi-room, multi-storey, multi-genre nightclub has been part of the canalside development for more than a decade, having first opened back in 2014.
At that time, Deansgate Locks was arguably Manchester’s leading nightlife destination, drawing hundreds of students and party-goers to its mix of venues.
The railway arches have been home to iconic clubs and bars including Baa Bar, Lola Lo, Revolution, and Sugar Buddha, as well as The Comedy Store.
But with news that Ark Manchester is closing too, it leaves only Popworld left at what was previously one of the city’s hottest destinations.
In a statement shared with the Manchester Evening News, a spokesperson for Stonegate said: “The hospitality sector continues to face significant challenges.
Ark Manchester will be closing for goodIt leaves Deansgate Locks with just one venue
“After careful consideration, and despite our best efforts, Ark Manchester is no longer commercially viable and we have taken the difficult decision to close the venue.
“Our priority is to support our hard‑working team during this time, and we would like to thank them for their commitment and dedication. We would also like to thank our guests and the local community for their support over the years.”
It’s believed that Ark Manchester will close on Deansgate Locks in the next few weeks.
Hannah Starkie -
18th September 2020 
