Manchester City Council plans to redevelop part of the iconic Gay Village have caused controversy. In less than 24 hours over 2000 people signed a petition protesting that city bosses’ regeneration proposals threaten the unique community.
Campaigners are pointing out that the document sneaked out on the council website doesn’t properly recognise the contribution of LGBTQ people and isn’t fit for purpose.
The “Portland Street Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF)” proposes completely reshaping blocks in the Gay Village, prioritising hotel and residential building.
Piccadilly Ward Independent candidate Adam Prince said:
“We are calling on the council to scrap and rewrite the Portland Street SRF development plans. Communication failures and noted omission of the LGBTQ community are undeniable in this document.
Many consider the erosion of the area to be intentional, as the area has faced a lack of advocacy, a long-term failure in creating or supporting community infrastructure. There has been an unwillingness to protect the area or struggling businesses. Now, this backdoor gentrification property takeover is proposed, hurting this world-famous area”
The regeneration area includes the site of the tragic death of Albert Kennedy, whose life inspired the trust working with young LGBT homelessness that still bears his name.
City centre activist Loz Kaye who has spearheaded anti-hate crime campaigning said:
“This document was simply not ready to bring to the public. We’re not saying the area shouldn’t move forward, we are saying we have to get proposals right.
LGBT people will not be written out of our own area. Our history, our lives, our deaths are in these streets. Any plans must reflect that.”
Link to the petition: https://www.change.org/p/
