News
Here’s what should happen to Piccadilly Gardens, according to Mancunians
It has ignited a fresh conversation about what can be done to improve the area
We asked our readers what they would like to see done with Piccadilly Gardens now that the Christmas Markets have been taken down.
There’s no denying this open space area situated in the heart of the city, which connects the many areas of Greater Manchester, is in dire need of a glow up.
As the gateway of the city, it’s hardly a welcoming place and not representative of what the city of Manchester has achieved and what it means to its people.
Piccadilly Gardens was once landscaped as a pretty sunken garden area with benches for visitors to sit and enjoy the surrounding flowers and open space.
After the 1996 IRA bombing, the city underwent an urban renewal programme and the gardens were made into a one-level concrete pavilion with fountains that spat out from the ground.
The design of the new gardens was drawn up by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
In 2002 it also gained a concrete slab nicknamed the ‘Berlin Wall’ which completed the design in time for the Commonwealth Games that year.
Sadly, over the years the area has gained a bad reputation for being a hotspot for crime and drug use and has become the part of town many try to avoid where possible.
Last year, after rainy weather and the Christmas Markets were taken down, the grassed sections of the gardens had completely turned to mud and Piccadilly Gardens became even more of an eyesore than it’s already criticised for.
Manchester City Council re-turfed the gardens and visitors to the city were seen basking in the sun over the summer.
The central site for the Christmas Markets was usually Albert Square, but as the Town Hall has been undergoing huge repairs and refurbishment, the main hub used for the stalls over the festive season has been in Piccadilly.
On the approach of the Christmas Markets 2023, protective decking and walkways were put in place in the hope that it would not happen again.
But although the site didn’t turn into a complete mud bath this new year, it seems the gardens will need some TLC again to give it back some element of ‘garden’ – with a fresh layer of turf put down this week to start the process.
With what was once the focal point of the city looking like it needs some tlc, we asked Proper Manchester readers what they think should be done to improve Piccadilly Gardens.
Mags Hughes commented: “It looks a disgrace. Why can’t Manchester get to grips with this open space? It’s been a thorn in the side for way too long while the rest of the city makes amazing strides?”
Ann Kay suggested the area be transformed into ‘beautiful gardens with flowers and benches so you can sit and have a coffee or a sandwich at lunch times’.
She added: “The old gardens were lovely. Don’t know why they were ever changed.”
Kevin Yates said Piccadilly needs ‘trees, big trees. We need lungs in the city’. Mark Tracey vented: “New grass every year, fenced off for 3 months.”
Janette Harris remembers: “I worked in the city centre during the ’70s and early ’80s. It was a beautiful place to sit for lunch in the summers back then. It’s just awful now. So sad to see.”
Tracy Lyn has an idea – similar to that in Dubai – of what she would like to happen to Piccadilly Gardens, as she says: “A lovely grand fountain. With lights. A small performance area so musicians can perform and deckchairs in summer.
“The fountain can do a light show in time to music. It can be for all ages. What better way to showcase our technology and local musicians.”
Judy Valentine commented: “Gardens, flowers, lawns and benches. Needs lots of colourful flowers and to be regularly cleaned and maintained.”
And Barbara Jones added: “Lovely green grass. New benches to sit on. Beautiful flowers everywhere and a nice little section where you can buy drinks and food.”
It seems the people of Manchester would like to see some colour added to this grey and gloomy area with the addition of flowers, as well as some greenery – putting the ‘garden’ back into Piccadilly Gardens.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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