'It's not a protest, it's life...we feel safe here'

PEOPLE AT TOWN HALL RED TENT CAMP SAY WHY THEY ARE THERE

- RAMAZANI MWAMBA

THEY are usually the go-to spot for that Kodak moment for tourists and budding photographers, but for three weeks the arches in St Peter's Square have been a haven to the homeless.

The red tent camp sprang up on March 23.

It was initially described as a protest by organiser Emma Leyla Mohareb, who said they would only leave the camp if Manchester council agreed to use 'two buildings that are used for staff training' as temporary shelters.

Word spread and it soon morphed into what Emma described as a 'community. At its peak, around 100 people were camped underneath the arches by Central Library, sharing the space with the commuters, delivery drivers and students who make the area one of the busiest in the city.

Numbers significantly dwindled after occupants were offered temporary accommodation by the council, this week the last few stubbornly remained.

While much has been made about the inception of the gathering and its goals, those who are still there say it's nothing more than the grim realities of living on the streets.

"It's not a protest, it's life," said one homeless man who asked to remain anonymous. As far as he's concerned, this is simply one of the most attractive places to sleep rough. It's sheltered, it's visible and it's central. The company and camaraderie is respite from the isolation of the streets.

"People want somewhere safe to live, we feel safe here," he says. "It's busy, the public are always walking past, if we're on the street corner in the town centre we're going to get mugged, we're going to get our stuff nicked. It's not a protest, we are genuinely homeless."