Upcoming station access restrictions in Manchester

[northwichcat]

Metrolink have already said the following applies for Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop due to the Conservative Party Conference:

Access to the Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop will change from midnight Friday 2 October to 7am Thursday 8 October.

During this period there will be no access to the Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop via the bridge link over Watson Street to AMC Great Northern and the walkway alongside Manchester Central through to Windmill Street.

Please use the steps at First Street or the steps or lift at Deansgate-Castlefield.

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=222

However, I've just seen Northern Rail Tweet the following:

Due to a rally in the centre of Manchester, #Deansgate station will be closed on Sunday from 15:00 - 19:00.

That appears to relate to the TUC Rally.

 

[thenorthern]

The area around the conference hall has being sealed off since earlier this week and there are quite a few police around the hall already some of them armed.

I think there was similar disruption at Deansgate-Castlefield and some of the exits were closed off for security reasons last year when the Labour Conference was held.

Given though the current hostilities towards the Conservative Government at the moment with things like cuts, Syria e.c.t. I think the disruption will be greater than when the Labour Party was there last year and I don't think Sunday will be the only time that the Metrolink and Northern Rail are disrupted next week.

 

[miami]

Every year I go to the conference at Manchester (labour last year, Tory this). This year I was clever and, after years of thinking that "get off at Gmex" I decided to get off at St. Peter's square as its nearer the entrance. Obviously that didn't work.

The Tory conference in my experience (I've been an infrequent regular visitor to them since about 08, used to do all 3), tends to have more security than the lib dem and labour ones - even in the brown years, due to the Brighton bomb. Conference is wide open today to anyone with a press card, lock down is tomorrow evening then you need your credentials to get in after that.

They're expecting 80k people to protest, which if you think about it isn't much more than a weekend at old Trafford. I'd expect more disruption when both city and United are playing at home.

Needless to say though, with the current disruption at St. Peter's square, and all the hoarding up around Gmex, perhaps best to avoid that end of town for the weekend.

 

[thenorthern]

According to Metrolink there are no services between Deansgate-Castlefield and Market Street/St Peter's Square, Deansgate (National Rail) is due to close in about 5 minutes from the time of writing. I understand their right to protest but this is rather ridiculous to be honest.

 

[Boysteve]

According to Metrolink there are no services between Deansgate-Castlefield and Market Street/St Peter's Square, Deansgate (National Rail) is due to close in about 5 minutes from the time of writing. I understand their right to protest but this is rather ridiculous to be honest.

I completely agree. A route for the protests should be chosen that avoids the need to suspend Metrolink for several hours. With several roads closed around the city centre during the conference the need for Metrolink to function is greater than normal
I don't want to get political or reveal whether I side with the Government or the Union on the reasons behind the protest, I am sure that would be against the rules. However I do have a problem when the protest organisers claim to be defending the rights of ordinary working people whilst disrupting so many of us! Also I am sure several people disrupted where then late for work at many of the hotels/bars/cafes/shops in town.

 

[thenorthern]

By the looks of it everything has reopened now however given the current hostilities towards the Government with austerity, refugee crisis and Syria I don't think that this will be the only disruption we will have this week given how close the trams runs to the conference center.

I have noticed a large amount of armed police around the building which given that the Prime Minister will be attending and the heightened threat from Middle East related terrorism I think the Security Services aren't taking any chances.

I completely agree. A route for the protests should be chosen that avoids the need to suspend Metrolink for several hours. With several roads closed around the city centre during the conference the need for Metrolink to function is greater than normal
I don't want to get political or reveal whether I side with the Government or the Union on the reasons behind the protest, I am sure that would be against the rules. However I do have a problem when the protest organisers claim to be defending the rights of ordinary working people whilst disrupting so many of us! Also I am sure several people disrupted where then late for work at many of the hotels/bars/cafes/shops in town.

I agree, it annoys me when they say they are peacefully protesting but they cause a large amount of disruption and throw eggs at people. It would have been useful if St Peters Square wasn't being re-built at the moment but there is nothing Metrolink can do now.

 

[yorksrob]

Ah, that will explain why central Manchester looked like a Juliet Bravo convention today.

 

[miami]

I'm surprised that they put the Tories in Manchester this year - would have been better for Labour to stay there and Tories to Brighton given the obvious disruption that it would attract coupled with the Metrolink and the fact Manchester's a major city. Tomorrow will be interesting as people are back at work (I suspect most of the protesters won't be. They were holding a raven in Picadilly Gardens on Friday night, great view from the Mercure bar. They've been kicked out now http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...illy-gardens-protest-rave-manchester-10186051)

 

[thenorthern]

Been looking at what is planned next week from the "protest organizers".
http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/manctimetable

I reckon the Wall of Sound sirens protest on Tuesday will mean tram services will probably be suspended. The Student protest may affect the trams as well.

The only protest that I think will affect the trains though is the Cycling protest on Tuesday which meets at Deansgate as Cyclist Groups have an annoying habit of not realising trains can only carry a certain number of bicycles. I have spoken to Virgin Trains and they say that trains will be busier than normal.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'm surprised that they put the Tories in Manchester this year - would have been better for Labour to stay there and Tories to Brighton given the obvious disruption that it would attract coupled with the Metrolink and the fact Manchester's a major city. Tomorrow will be interesting as people are back at work (I suspect most of the protesters won't be. They were holding a raven in Picadilly Gardens on Friday night, great view from the Mercure bar. They've been kicked out now http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...illy-gardens-protest-rave-manchester-10186051)

I hate the Tories as much as anyone, but I'm not sure that ornithological hostage-taking is the right way to register discontent!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They were holding a raven in Picadilly Gardens on Friday night.

Was that a "Common Raven" or the lesser-known "Thick-billed Raven"?

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I reckon the Wall of Sound sirens protest on Tuesday will mean tram services will probably be suspended.

Is such a matter that you describe against any noise abatement regulations in the city centre? There is a nice picture of some rather attractive nubile sirens hanging in the Manchester Art Gallery that was painted by William Etty.

 

[HSTEd]

I've come to the conclusion they should build a party convention centre out in the middle of nowhere and only offer to police there for free, and charge if they want to hold it someplace else.
Slots in 'Conference Season' would be awarded by lot, and the rest of the time it would be let out for conventions on the cheap to cover marginal running costs

That way we don't cripple a major city for several days for no real reason.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It's nothing to do with antipathy- perceived or otherwise- towards the Tories. When Labour had their conference up in Gateshead a few years ago the Tyne Bridge was closed to pedestrians, with a shuttle bus operating, all on Northumbria Police's shilling of course.

And I'll bet it is GMP that are footing the bill this time.

There are plenty of convention centres out in the countryside that could be used- the G14 summits have used most of them in recent years- but if they're out in the country little Rupert doesn't get to goad a crowd then run off to mummy when the crowd bite back.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

"I'm surprised that they put the Tories in Manchester this year"

As a matter of interest, who's "they"?

As far as I know, all the party conferences are organised by the parties in question. Each party decides where they're going to go, and a lot depends on what is the best deal they can get. I'm sure that there's no central control telling each party where they can go.

 

[thenorthern]

Just passed the conference hall, there are armed police around the building and barriers put up around the whole place and there was a lone protester outside Deansgate-Castelfield station. So far it all seems as planned and the trams are running fine although that could change tonight and tomorrow.

 

[miami]

"I'm surprised that they put the Tories in Manchester this year"

As a matter of interest, who's "they"?

As far as I know, all the party conferences are organised by the parties in question. Each party decides where they're going to go, and a lot depends on what is the best deal they can get. I'm sure that there's no central control telling each party where they can go.

The police could have refused permission on safety ground. The council could have refused planning permission to close off the area. You have to wonder why they chose Manchester, with 96/96 Labour councilors. They'd have been more at home in Scotland!

More to the point though, no metro problems today aside from "some disruption on the Rochdale via Oldham line after a problem at Ashton-under-Lyne".

 

[6Gman]

There are plenty of convention centres out in the countryside that could be used- the G14 summits have used most of them in recent years- but if they're out in the country little Rupert doesn't get to goad a crowd then run off to mummy when the crowd bite back.

I take it you've never attended a party conference? Where are delegates supposed to stay "out in the country"? Don't know how many delegates there are in Manchester, or were in Brighton last week, but even the Lib Dems had over 2,000.

Needs a major resort or a big city to provide accommodation.

 

[HSTEd]

I take it you've never attended a party conference? Where are delegates supposed to stay "out in the country"? Don't know how many delegates there are in Manchester, or were in Brighton last week, but even the Lib Dems had over 2,000.

Well leaving aside that party conferences are increasingly just a stage managed theatre at which nothing is ever decided.
They could simply commute like most people do every day.
And a 3,000 room super travel lodge would be a snitch compared to the costs of policing and economic disruption caused by this nightmare several times a year in a major city.

 

[yorksrob]

In my view, it would be best to keep these conferences in seaside locations such as Blackpool which already have the facilities, but where the need to keep them making money out of season, outweighs the operation/policing inconvenience.

 

[DarloRich]

As a matter of interest, who's "they"?

As far as I know, all the party conferences are organised by the parties in question. Each party decides where they're going to go, and a lot depends on what is the best deal they can get. I'm sure that there's no central control telling each party where they can go.

I am sure the police and local authority have some say!

In my view, it would be best to keep these conferences in seaside locations such as Blackpool which already have the facilities, but where the need to keep them making money out of season, outweighs the operation/policing inconvenience.

isn't the GMEX/Manchester Central not a massive conference centre?

 

[yorksrob]

I am sure the police and local authority have some say!



isn't the GMEX/Manchester Central not a massive conference centre?

True, but a city like Manchester hardly suffers the same 'out of season' economic difficulties.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I take it you've never attended a party conference? Where are delegates supposed to stay "out in the country"?

I've organised professional conferences before, believe me the hotels will ensure there is enough accommodation for everyone. They are very lucrative events.

Something like the G14 summit, which has been held in secluded places like The Grove at Watford, isn't exactly a small event.

 

[thenorthern]

I have just been through the City Centre and I must say it seemed quieter than normal, I only heard 1 siren which was an ambulance and both the trams and seem to be running fine.

Maybe we should have a Tory conference during the week every week.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Easy way to lower public transport disruption, just bung both the Labour and Tory confrences together then done with it.

 

[miami]

The MEN believe the tories are in Manchester solely to bait the city - a city with 94/94 Labour councils - http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...hester-news/tories-really-manchester-10194049

No issues with the metro on this morning's trip in, via Cornbrook. I don't commute into town very often, but the local bus charged me £3.80 to go 2.5 miles - about the same per mile as the Thiefrow Express. Add £4.60 for a metrolink ticket and a value between £1.50 and £3.80 (it's random) for the bus home. It's just insulting. Over an hour door-door rather than 20 minutes by car. No wonder people drive in.

 

[Stats]

I'm surprised that they put the Tories in Manchester this year - would have been better for Labour to stay there and Tories to Brighton given the obvious disruption that it would attract coupled with the Metrolink and the fact Manchester's a major city.

The location of party conferences are decided years in advance, usually on multi-year deals. The Conservatives have a deal to hold their party conferences in 2016, 2018 and 2020 in Birmingham. Labour have a deal to hold their 2016 and 2018 party conferences in Liverpool.

 

[northwichcat]

isn't the GMEX/Manchester Central not a massive conference centre?

I'm not sure I'd describe it as massive. It's the former (9 platform) Manchester Central Station.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In my view, it would be best to keep these conferences in seaside locations such as Blackpool which already have the facilities, but where the need to keep them making money out of season, outweighs the operation/policing inconvenience.

October is not out-of-season for Blackpool due to the illuminations.

 

[thenorthern]

The Conservatives have now gone which means Manchester is getting back to normal.

I think Deansgate is closed at the weekend sometime though because of the Rugby.

 

[yorksrob]

October is not out-of-season for Blackpool due to the illuminations.

Ah cheers. I assumed they would be nearer to Christmas !

 

[Thomas6187]

I think Deansgate is closed at the weekend sometime though because of the Rugby.

It is from 18:00 till end of service