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Morag - it sounds like (from a planning policy/law perspective) you might have not many legs to stand on. You need to look closely through Council policy for any kind of statement that you can interpret as preserving public open space and rights of way - there may be some kind of local by-law or policy that specifies retention of public open space? Perhaps your best course of action is more direct - picket, occupy, campaign, and generate wider appreciation of what is about to happen. If there's enough of a groundswell opposing the plan, that might swing it your way. Stephen's right that rational argument is unlikely to work. Some links to campaigns on planning-related issues (though none specifically related as far as I can recall on your issue) is on Planners Network UK's website here: www.pnuk.org.uk Good luck Libby Dr Libby Porter Senior Lecturer in Human Geography School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 AUSTRALIA Phone: ++613 990 20109 Interested in progressive planning and critical urban action? Visit *Planners Network UK *at www.pnuk.org.uk, or *Planners Network* at plannersnetwork.org, or the *International Network for Urban Research and Action*, at www.inura.org Get all the latest planning scholarship from *Planning Theory and Practice*, see www.tandfonline.com/toc/rptp20/current On 18 August 2012 01:03, Stephen Hall <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Whatever you do don’t rely on the power of rational argument. I worked in > a local authority for five years and it has no place, especially in an > economic development sense. For whatever bluster they put out as > consultation they DO NOT CARE. There are two ways you can fight it. Find > some way in which it is illegal or get someone really powerful or famous to > come out totally against it. Since all the powerful and famous in > Manchester probably want another nice covered, policed and swept arcade in > which to buy more Louis vitton, I would go to the law. If it is as good as > you say it might be listed, you could campaign to get it listed? > > Once again I have SEEN an engaged citizens group with a wonderfully > rational argument and 'ethics' on their side with fabulous local support > simply ignored. > > Stephen Hall > Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, University of > Hull, HULL HU6 7RX > Telephone: +44 (0)1482 465313 (direct); +44 (0)1482 465385 (Departmental > Office) > Mobile: 07946220086 > Email: [log in to unmask] > Personal profile > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: A forum for critical and radical geographers [mailto: > [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Morag Rose > Sent: 17 August 2012 15:36 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Struggles for Public Space in Manchester > > Dear Critical Geographers > > As a student and activist I’ve lurked on this list a long time and enjoyed > many debates, however I’ve not been sure when and what is appropriate to > post so apologies if this is inappropriate. > > Much of my work concerns public space and the right to enjoy the city > streets; I know many here have spent a long time studying these matters and > I’m looking for lessons learned and ways to support a community struggle in > Manchester which I am involved in. > > The Council plan to gate and glaze library walk; although this may seem a > trivial thing it is arousing deep passions and illuminates wider debates > about who and what the city is for. The issues will be familiar to > critical geographers everywhere - enclosure, privatising public space, > fearmongering and creating an atmosphere where people do not feel safe or > welcome on the street, dodgy council "engagement" strategies and > authorities not listening to communities about which places matter to them > > There is a petition here: > > http://www.change.org/petitions/manchester-city-council-refuse-permission-for-the-plans-to-enclose-library-walk > > Briefly, this is why I – and the other members of Friends of Library Walk > - oppose the councils plans: > > 1) We object to the de facto privatisation of public space and the closure > of a right of way and believe the streets should be free for us all to > enjoy. (this of course is part of a much bigger struggle) > > 2) Manchester City Council have tried to demonise the walkway as > dangerous: we challenge this attempt to denigrate and stigmatise. It is > statistically untrue - one attack occured there - this is clearly one too > many but closing an area where something bad happened sets a terrible > precedent. Which streets are safe for us? Where are we allowed to walk? As > a woman, and as a human, this is a disgraceful response. > > 3) Library Walk is a beautiful place, one of Manchester's true cultural > gems. We feel the heritage statement accompanying the councils plans are a > gross misrepresentation: Far from being an "accident" as alleged the walk > is the work of E Vincent Harris, a much admired architect. He designed both > Manchester Library and the Town Hall Extension - both Grade II* listed > buildings - and the space between them is glorious. We delight in its > sensual curves, its glimpse of the sky and the respite it provides from the > bustling city. > > 4) There are serious issues raised about democracy and the consultation > process. The publicly lauded plans for refurbishment of central library and > the town hall did not include this work. There were assurances a new > underground link (which we did not object to) would be fully accessible. > Our Freedom of Information Request to find out why there was a change of > mind has been rejected. The cost of the scheme is estimated at £3.5million > - to proceed with such a folly when vital services are being cut is a > disgrace. (This includes domestic violence services of course) > > Finding myself in the labyrinth of planning (my background is more direct > action and cultural activism) I am bemused and looking for ways to put > theory into practical action and perhaps learn from and make links with > other campaigns. We want to keep this fluffy and rational and evidence > based as experience with this council suggests this is the way forward. > > Any support or advice or information anyone could give us would be much > appreciated, I can supply further evidence (and rants!) and you can find > our website at www.friendsoflibrarywalk.wordpress.com and finally, if you > have read this far please please can I ask you to sign the petition > http://www.change.org/petitions/manchester-city-council-refuse-permission-for-the-plans-to-enclose-library-walk > > Many thanks > > Morag Rose > > ************************************************** > To view the terms under which this email is > distributed, please go to > http://www2.hull.ac.uk/legal/disclaimer.aspx > ************************************************** > --