The memorial – which was unveiled in 2019, just before the 200th anniversary – is intended to remember those who died in the Peterloo Massacre of 16 August 1819, but shortly after opening, the circular-stepped feature came under fire from disability campaigners.
Jeremy Deller, the Turner Prize-winning artist who designed the memorial, intended it to be “a place of meeting and assembly where people could stand and sit together” – but the council said it did not anticipate Mr Deller’s interpretation of his brief, which proposed the monument to be interactive without accommodating wheelchair access.
Manchester City Council said last week that several options involving various ramp or lift designs have been explored in detail to make the memorial accessible, but that none of them “have proved feasible”.
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Councillors have now agreed to meet with campaigners to discuss fresh proposals.
The circular-stepped feature has come under fire from disability campaigners / Credit: Geograph (David Dixon)
Mark Todd, a member of the Peterloo Memorial access campaign, told the council’s communities and equalities committee that the time for working with Mr Deller and architects on finding a solution had passed.
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“What we’ve done is we’ve worked together as Mancunians to come up with a solution we think works,” he said.
“We want it to be an access solution that gets us to the top as the promise was made, so we can take part in the same way as any other citizen, but we think it can do more than that.”
Cllr Luthfur Rahman – Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council – admitted that mistakes had been made and that if he could, he would “go back and start right at the beginning again”.
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Several committee members also agreed that the proposals by campaigners should be considered.
“I think what we need to do is sit down together and have a look at the proposals,” added Cllr Susan Cooley, the council’s Lead Member for Disabled People.
Councillors also accepted that lessons learned from the Peterloo monument had paved the way for more inclusive future memorials such as the Glade of Light – which will commemorate the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena attack.
Manchester City Council insisted that there are no “viable solutions” for accessibility / Credit: Flickr
The Peterloo Massacre took place at St Peter’s Field in Manchester in 1819, when masses arrived to hear radical speaker Henry Hunt campaign for parliamentary reform, but a troop of sabre-wielding cavalrymen charged into the crowds.
At least 11 people were killed and 400 were injured.
BBC confirm Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season
Danny Jones
Following reports late on Monday evening, the BBC has now officially revealed Gary Lineker is leaving Match of the Day at the end of the current Premier League campaign.
Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day (MotD) since 1999, is set to leave the long-standing British TV and sporting institution after 25 seasons but will still remain associated with the BBC on various other projects moving forward.
Confirming the news on Tuesday, 12 November, the network said that while his MotD tenure will conclude come May 2025, “The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup”.
The former footballer will also continue to host the MOTD Top Ten podcast and his The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds alongside fellow co-presenters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match of the Day at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/BkHUScf9TK
Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”
The ex-Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Spurs player was famously suspended from the show back in March 2023 after comments made about the previous Conservative government’s “dangerous” rhetoric.
Shearer and Ian Wright (‘Wrighty’ having also announced he will be leaving the show at the end of the season) both walked out in solidarity with their close friend and colleague before being reinstated after issuing an official apology.
Putting the brief separation aside, Lineker has enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with the BBC for more than two and a half decades and when the title race does conclude at the end of next spring, he will have been one of the most recognisable faces in British football for 26 years.
Many have rightly pointed out that he served as the Des Lynam – the former MoTDhost for 11 years – for multiple generations of young football fans.
Timing makes sense as it’s more common for fans get their coverage elsewhere and quicker nowadays. Big shoes to fill regardless however but Lynham had a huge legacy too when Gary replaced him.
This past August marked Match of the Day‘s 60th anniversary, making it one of the longest-running programmes in British TV history, and to say that the household name and ever-entwined Walkers ambassador has made up nearly half of that is no mean feat.
Lineker has yet to issue a personal response via any channels by the official BBC statement, but viewers can expect to address the situation on the likes of The Rest is Football soon enough.
Thanks for the memories, Gary – especially for honouring your promise and hosting in those comically big white undies.
Marcus Rashford pays heartwarming surprise visit to Manchester school
Danny Jones
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is backing warming hearts and bringing smiles to young faces once again after he paid a surprise visit to a local school.
The Man United forward and England international emerged as a national hero during the lockdown through his support for the free school meals campaign, even earning an MBE for his services to charity, and has continued to offer his services outside of football ever since.
Club members regularly engage in community outreach through official United Foundation events, but this time Rashford decided to team up with fellow non-profit Football Beyond Borders (FBB) – an education and social inclusion charity he’s worked with for some time – to make some kids very happy.
During a recent session at The Barlow RC High School in Didsbury, children in the classroom were caught off-guard when the 27-year-old footballer popped his head around the door and came to sit in on a session. Here’s their reaction.
Just look at their faces – we’ll never get over the wide-eyed stares clips like produce. The week in and week out of actual game day aside, this is what football’s all about.
Although one particular pupil had sniffed a surprise in their midst, excitedly repeating, “I told you, what did I say?!”, it’s fair to say that the entire room was still stunned to see the United number 10 just casually walk into the room.
We especially like the moment when Rashford sits down next to one of the unsuspecting students and can’t stop double-taking to his friend, all the while grinning his head off – well, him and everyone else in attendance at the school for the surprise visit, adults included.
Taking place before this past weekend’s Premier League fixtures, the Wythenshawe winger then proceeds to join the aspiring young players out on the school pitch along with the other FBB ambassadors, who recently celebrated 10 years of vital work,
Naturally, the responses underneath videos have been as equally wholesome as you would expect; one person commented, “Forget the football, Marcus Rashford is a top, top man. Nothing but respect”, while another said, “I respect the leadership and the guy really cares. Rare…”
A third went on to write: “A very grounded footballer. Remembers and knows what it’s like to be at the bottom and work your way up. Has done more for people in this country than people running this country! Respect.”
While his performances may not have been their best, both in his eyes and that of the fans at this present moment, many more simply went on to add that it “was nice to see him smiling” and when you’re doing important and inspiring work like this in your hometown, you can only admire and applaud.
As is the nature of the beautiful game, the goals will no doubt start flowing again eventually but in the meantime, well done to Rashford for continuing to be a legend on and off the pitch.
The Manc -
25th June 2021 
