Village Businesses respond

Here is the official response to Pat Karney's remarks last week..

"Manchester’s Gay Village, like many other areas in Greater Manchester relies on a mixture of businesses that make up a modern night time economy. The Village Business Association (VBA) has recognised for some time that this, on occasions, can lead to difficult situations. We have worked proactively with others to improve the overall fabric of the village and address factors which can sometimes place the area in a negative light.  This is undoubtedly a long term aim and results will not been seen overnight.  

The VBA has highlighted to authorities on a number of occasions that a concentration of late night licensed venues alongside a number of late night takeaways and taxi ranks will undoubtedly encourage large numbers of people, many of whom are not necessarily patrons of the Village, to congregate into the early hours of the morning. This runs the risk of creating a number of antisocial problems and crime with most incidents occurring once licensed venues have closed. It is therefore disheartening that a licence has recently been granted for a brand new takeaway to open in the same area and a licence has been renewed and extended for existing takeaway premises.

It is worth noting that GMP provides the VBA with crime statistics for the area on a monthly basis and from year on year figures for March 2012 and 2013, there has been a 40% reduction in crime compared to last year.

Members of the VBA work together with Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police, along with community organisations on initiatives designed to create a welcoming and safe environment for all. An example of this includes the Village Charter, a document setting out principles by which all members of the VBA adheres and which has been publically signed in order to improve the way the village works as a whole.

It is therefore extremely frustrating to our members to see such damaging and irresponsible public commentary being made by city centre officials. Such actions are detrimental to the ongoing work currently being achieved between business owners in the area and associated authorities.

The VBA will work together with other interested agencies to ensure that positive steps are taken to resolve issues and ensure that the actions of the few do not escalate unjust negative perceptions of the area further. This is why we are so disturbed that recent comments seek to lay the blame for all the failings of a night time economy at the door of responsible licensees of the village.

We believe that it is not just the action of the VBA that will bring about a long term improvement in our village but also the positive action on the part of other bodies, such as the police, council and licensing authorities.

We would prefer a continuation of our policy of co-operation rather than public negativity and would call for a more proactive and practical approach in tackling such problems in conjunction with the authorities involved"..

Sincerely
The Village Business Association

Published: 11-Apr-2013: (1856)