From the Canal to Sevenways

‘Sankey’s’ Licence Application @ the Quays

Kate Green, our prospective parliamentary candidate attended a meeting with residents and developers on Wednesday night.

(Click on image to view the developer’s brochure.)

“It was a useful and well attended meeting. Whilst it was clear that these were ambitious plans, it remains that up to 16,000 people could be descending on Gorse Hill and the surrounding area late at night and in the early hours of the morning, creating havoc for residents. There are serious questions to be answered about adequate transport and crowd control as well
as concerns about noise nuisance and public order offences. But once again, the Council seems to be bending over backwards for big
business and ignoring residents’ worries about these issues”.

Kate Green

Following on so quickly with the council’s alarming disdain for the concerns of residents in connection with United’s hosting of stadium concerts, there’s a real worry that Trafford’s Conservatives once again neglect to impose any meaningful conditions, if it goes ahead.

Excerpt from the weekly licensing list

LA3749/09 23/12/2009 Stadium Point Limited, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford, Manchester, M17 1EX New Premises Licence :

Sale of Alcohol (on)

Mon-Sun :

00.00 – 10.00 & 14.00 – 24.00

Late Night Refreshment :

Mon-Sun : 23.00 – 05.00

Prov of Reg. Entertainment :

00.00 – 24.00

Prov. Of Entertainment Facilities :

00.00 – 24.00

 20.01.2010

We understand that the above application is for an international class venue on the Quays not far from the Imperial War Museum.  The proposal is from David Vincent’s Sankey group and from what we can gather, is not dissimilar to The Labyrinth project that was refused by Manchester’s licensing. is for a massive 24 hr live music venue.

Already I understand there’s been a concerted effort to oppose the proposal with a leaflet drop in Gorse Hill.

The Quays area is a mixed tourist/leisure and residential area these days but beyond the theatre, it has a weak night-time economy. Given that it’s away from the established residential area, would it be so inappropriate to have a world class venue such as this in the Quay’s area?

The sheer scale of it means that dispersing that amount of people without disturbing the peace of residents on the Quays and throughout Gorse Hill and beyond becomes critical. I have grave doubts that it can be done, but even more worryingly, experience of Trafford’s Tories suggests that they’re unlikely to make any effort to even mitigate the disturbance.

The opinions of the Lowry Centre and Hotel together with other businesses like Media City will be also be critical.

It’s especially important to me that we learn your views.

Mike Cordingley

Gorse Hill Councillor Dave Acton adds:
“I’m totally opposed to this proposal. People in this area have enough to put up with already with parking and traffic problems on match days at Manchester United and the cricket club. A 24 hours a day 365 days a
year licence will create even more problems for local people in Gorse Hill and Longford. It’s absolutely unacceptable.”


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Comments

  1. Mark Johnson avatar
    Mark Johnson

    Dear Sirs
    I object to the license application relating to the stadium point building at Trafford Wharf Rd. Please can you advise me of any hearings and the final outcome. My name and address is:

    Regards

    M Johnson

    Reply
  2. admin avatar
    admin

    Thanks Mark,

    I’ll pass on your comments to the licensing dept.

    Reply
  3. Stuart avatar
    Stuart

    I think if managed correctly this could a wonderful opportunity to kick start the night time economy of the quays with local businesses/hotels benefiting from increased footfall.

    Having a world class venue of this type is mutually beneficial for both Media City and local businesses. Local residents would also benefit from the additional businesses/facilities that would also spring up should the plans go ahead.

    Given we have football matches of 40,000 plus on a regular basis it is proven that this area can cope with proposed numbers.

    I’m a resident of the quays (with no local business interests) and have reservations if this is not managed correctly – however, I can see the huge potential benefit it could have to the whole community.

    Local residents will probably not be in favour of this application given the older demographic of the local population.

    Reply
  4. Ben Walker avatar
    Ben Walker

    I totally agree that a “world class venue” would sit well with the area.
    A venue which could rival the Manchester Evening News Arena would be great.
    This proposal though, is for a 5am license….and is for large scale raves, similar to the days of Bowlers.
    The last time there was a rave in this area, at the Daytona centre, sadly, there was a tragedy, and that was something on a much smaller scale, which caused a total nuisance with people coming and going.
    I used to go to Sankeys a few years ago, and to be honest, I used to have a great time.
    It was extremely druggy though, and this is proposing something 15 times as big.
    Even the owner who you name, used to come out during the evening, dressed as Ketaman….glorifying the now illegal drug Ketamin.
    If you google images of ketaman, you will see my point.
    Im not one for spoiliing parties…in my day I was the biggest party animal!….but I can see where this is going and the agro that it would cause.
    I have already objected and so have my friends who live practically opposite the venue, but fall into the Salford region.
    Im very very concerned by this and don’t feel that decisions should be made on a purely commercial basis.
    For me and my neighbours, this is something which could sway our vote in the nearby elections.

    Reply
  5. Dean avatar
    Dean

    noise nuisance and public-order offences!!!. I live practically opposite the venue, on Salford Quays side. I moved here because of less noise and it being peaceful in the evening.

    Reply
  6. Stuart avatar
    Stuart

    Having now heard in detail from the proposed developers I am completely against this development – this is wrong for the development of the Quays, its residents and local business.

    Reply
  7. David avatar
    David

    Some people need to get a grip. If people honestly believe that this will be open 24 hours a day/365 days a year like Councillor Acton, then you have no idea about the entertainment industry. Go to the MEN Arena or Apollo – I don’t see people in Ardwick complaining.

    This is (just) a warehouse which Sankeys are prepared to invest £5m and create 250 jobs. Oh, but someone might be noisy- that would never happen at Man U.

    Yes, better to invest the money in Manchester or Salford, we don’t want your money or jobs here

    Reply
    1. admin avatar
      admin

      David
      I welcome your comments. Whilst you’re right that it would not be open for all-nighters every night and the capacity of 14-16 thousand people would reached on less occasions, what worried me was the dispersal of the audience through the night in an area without a night-time transport infrastructure. I know the police were also worried about the impact on their capacity.
      At present the license application is withdrawn. If it comes back, we’ll see where we stand.
      Mike Cordingley

      Reply

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