What do you think of Manchester city centre – and how is the council doing?

People who live, work in or visit Manchester city centre are being asked for their views about it from Monday 29th July.

The information gathered will help Manchester City Council and its partner organisations to reinforce what people like about the city centre, while improving the response to its challenges.

This is the second annual survey – the first last year attracted more than 3,000 responses – and follows on from a major city centre review, which concluded at the end of 2016. It helps measure progress from 2017 onwards in addressing the challenges identified.

But the issues highlighted in the comprehensive questionnaire launched today look very familiar. For homelessness, including rough sleeping; begging; street environment and crime and anti-social behaviour were all identified as priority areas for improvement in the 2018 survey.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We have a good understanding of the many strengths of our vibrant city centre and are equally clear about some of the complex challenges.  

“Whether it’s helping to support people who are rough sleeping off the streets, or improving the environment in places such as Piccadilly Gardens, we are working hard on improvements.

“But this survey gives us valuable extra insight into people’s experience of the city centre, which is crucial in shaping our strategies. I’d encourage everyone who spends time in Manchester city centre to take a few minutes to fill in the survey and give us their views.”

The council recently announced “new arrangements” seeking to banish street kitchens from serving the homeless and hungry from Piccadilly Gardens from the beginning of August.

Much of the online survey covers the same ground and seeks to ascertain from people whether they have seen any changes, positive or negative, since last year and asks again what the city centre’s challenges are and how effective the council and other organisations have been in tackling them.

Several of the 48 questions in the survey focus on people’s attitude towards the state of Piccadilly Gardens and nearby China Town.

People who complete the survey, which is open until Thursday 29th August, will be entered into a draw for prizes – including tickets for Great Britain Basketball European Championship Qualifying fixtures, the Manchester International Athletics meeting at the Manchester Regional Arena (all events in August) and lunch for two at Manchester Art Gallery. 

HAVE YOUR SAY