Let’s make the most of the inevitable concerts in the park (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Let’s make the most of the inevitable concerts in the park

9:11am Thursday 9th July 2009

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Cllr Wiseman wants Manchester City Council to stop all future concerts in Heaton Park (Guide Letters June 25). Frankly, this isn’t going to happen, the park is Manchester’s and they are free to do whatever they want with it.

As someone who lives just 200 metres from Heaton Park I was as concerned as anyone at the prospect of three nights of Oasis so I attended the local area partnership meeting, which Cllr Wiseman didn’t attend and listened to the concert promoters outline their plans. To be fair to them, what they promised they delivered within reason, yes there were incidents of anti-social behaviour in Prestwich, but the majority of concert goers were well behaved and it also has to be said that many local residents attended the concerts themselves. There were no problems with parking where I live either.

Local businesses benefited from an increase in trade in these difficult times. Even Park View Primary School’s summer fair had visitors (I’m a governor) who were all young, polite and who enjoyed our cuisine. One group of Yorkshire lads even donated £20 to the school.

These concerts may be the first of many, so instead of being negative about them I feel it would be beneficial to engage with Manchester Council, the promoters and the police so we have minimum disruption and maximum benefit for Prestwich.

Alan Quinn Whittaker Lane Prestwich

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