Library Walk inquiry reconvenes

The public inquiry into the closure of Library Walk between Manchester's Central Library and Town Hall Extension will resume today after it was postponed due to the quantity of representations received.

The inquiry initially began on 20 October, and was expected to last two days but went on for four. Proceedings recommence today at 11am and are expected to complete on Friday 7 November.

A glass corridor across the Library Walk designed by Ian Simpson Architects is under construction as part of the Town Hall Extension.

Manchester City Council is seeking special powers under a stopping-up order to lock the automatic doors between 10pm and 6am.

Library Walk campaignersHowever, opponents argue that it is a public right of way and should remain open at all times.

Objectors to the council's plans include the Open Spaces Society, The Twentieth Century Society, Manchester School of Architecture, Manchester Disabled People's Access Group, the Liverpool School of Architecture, the Manchester Modernist Society and Friends of Library Walk.

Morag Rose, a member of Friends of Library Walk, said: "We are fundamentally opposed to the closure of public space. We believe everyone should have the right to enjoy our cities' streets. Library Walk is beautiful, and of significant architectural merit. We have testimonies from hundreds of people who love and cherish it and want to preserve the right of way for future generations. The council has only spurious arguments, we believe our evidence can successfully challenge every one of them. The closure sets a terrible precedent which blights the cityscape and wastes £3.5m which could have been used to significantly improve the public realm instead of stealing it."

Your Comments

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I am confused, is it the glass walkway they are proposing to close or the access underneath the walkway?

By MancLass

Its the glass carbuncle

By AJD1984

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