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MANCHESTER IS
CHANGING ALL THE TIME - In Salford Quays, the Lowry opened
on 28 April 2000 to generally positive comments, but in Manchester
city centre, Piccadilly Gardens is about to be dug up...
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In May
2000, barriers suddenly appeared around the well-loved but
neglected Piccadilly Gardens, with signs saying "Construction
Site Keep Out", and notices about the closure of pathways.
The instigators
of this construction work, Manchester City Council, posted
no photographs or artists impressions of how their construction
project will look when it's finished.
Is this
the demise of Piccadilly as we know it?
Keep visiting
Eyewitness in Manchester to see how this scene looks in a
couple of month's time.
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THE LOWRY
and the new footbridge across the Ship Canal form a dramatic
silhouette against the skyline at dusk. Here we are looking
roughly north west from south wharf.
It's 8.30pm
on Tuesday 2 May 2000, and the enlarged red disk of the sun
is about to set behind the industrial buildings of Trafford
Park.
Work has
already started on the Imperial War Museum North, situated
just beyond the footbridge to the left. When completed, its
jagged outline will be visible for miles around, adding another
eye-catching element to this already impressive scene.
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THE LOWRY
was officially opened by Culture Secretary Chris Smith on
the evening of Friday 28th of April 2000 - this is how it
looked at around dusk that evening, seen from the newly-opened
multi-storey car park next to it.
Workmen
were still making carrying out final jobs on the building,
and to the area just outside. On the left we can see the new
footbridge, completed in 1999.
On the
right is North Bay, the largest dock in the former Manchester
Docks, linked to the sea by the Manchester Ship Canal which
leads off centre right.
In the
distance on the right, we can see the lights of Eccles.
It's an
inspiring and futuristic scene, symbolic of the successful
transformation of the former Docks from a derelict area in
the early 80's into a trendsetting business, residential and
now cultural district.
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These
wooden slabs are all that remains of the jetty from where
a ferry used to cross the Manchester Ship Canal here at Irlam
Road, Town Gate, near Flixton (Borough of Trafford).
To reach
Irlam (City of Salford), visible on the other bank of the
canal, you have make a detour of around six miles (10km).
On the
left can be seen one of the Manchester Ship Canal towers,
all of a similar design, with a pyramid roof.
Irlam
locks are just beyond the tower to the left.
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MORE PICTURES will be added shortly -
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