'Tent city' site partly dismantled

PARTS of another 'tent city' that has sprung up outside Manchester town hall is being dismantled by council officers after a previous camp was removed months ago.

- ETHAN DAVIES

A 'red tent camp' first sprang up around the town hall in the spring.

Initially erected as a protest, organisers said it became 'a community' and refused to remove it until the council agreed 'a deal for a solution to open buildings' for rough sleepers.

However, the council said it did not have any more available space, and dispatched teams to get homeless people into temporary accommodation. Their efforts resulted in 100 people being moved off the streets and into temporary accommodation, but also drew criticism when they sealed off the tents so they could be taken away and the area cleaned.

The fenced-off-area- under the town hall's arches - has remained closed since April, when it was shut down. But more tents were constructed next to the fences six months later, in early October.