Manchester Civic Society Forum and aidan.co.uk Manchester Forums
Manchester Market St and obelisk 1997
Manchester Market St after removal of obelisk 1998
Forum is the newspaper of the Manchester Civic Society and appears several times a year.
Today I in the Manchester City Art Gallery I picked up a copy of the latest edition of Forum and was heartened by what I read.
On the front page is Eddy Rhead’s article about Trafford Town Hall, currently threatened with demolition. He outlines the situation succinctly and set out the issues plainly and without mincing words. Eye On Manchester concurs 100% with his analysis.
On the third page is Jonathan Schofield’s witty and outspoken investigation into the advantages and disadvantages of pedestrianised streets, most notably Market Street - and mostly disadvantages.
“Blanket pedestrianisation is one of the last of the Modernist ‘bad ideas’ (there were some good ones too) that needs to go,” he says.
In his work as a Blue Badge Tour Guide, he avoids taking visitors to Market Street in the evening. He explains why: “Paradoxically, devoid of the buzz of vehicles, the place becomes less human, sinister even, like a walkway between flats in the old Hulme Crescents”.
Again Eye On Manchester is in 100% agreement. The doctrine of ‘two legs good, four wheels bad’ has proved to be a false one. I can just remember riding on a bus along the glittering Market Street of the 50s and 60s, its northern side still intact. Manchester was in certain ways a much better place that it is today.
To read these and other opinionated and constructive articles on Manchester, you’ll need to grab a copy of Forum, or like me become a member of the Manchester Civic Society and get it sent free. More info on the Manchester Civic Society website www.manchestercivic.org.uk.
See all images from photo portfolio on the keyword pedestrian.
And while we’re on the subject of Forums, I am happy to announce that I have just launched a new Manchester Forums section on my aidan.co.uk photo portfolio website. I will use it to answer questions, provide information and hopefully to stimulate some interesting discussions.
Click on this link to go straight to the Manchester Forums.