Homeless camp is moved for revellers

ROUGH SLEEPERS RELOCATED AHEAD OF NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS

- JOSEPH TIMAN

A HOMELESS camp was moved ahead of Manchester's New Year's Eve celebrations, relocating outside the Midland Hotel.

Rough sleepers who have been camping outside Manchester town hall for weeks say police told them to leave St Peter's Square on Monday.

A letter from Manchester council dated December 19 accuses them of 'trespassing' and lists concerns about the camp, including 'urine and defecation' causing a 'strong unpleasant odour! A map attached to the letter marked the area around Central Library, the town hall and the town hall extension in red and ordered all those residing in the tents to leave the area 'immediately. The letter also made reference to 'pre-event safety procedures' ahead of last night's New Year's Eve celebrations in the city centre.

A free fireworks event was set to take place in St Peter's Square from 10pm with up to 20,000 people expected to attend. Fireworks were due to be released from the roof of Central Library with a live stage set up outside the building.

Ahead of the event, the area in front of the town hall extension building which had been lined with red tents for months, was fenced off.

Manchester council has said the tents had to be moved to allow for a 'full police sweep' of the area to ensure it is a 'secure and safe site' and remained so ahead of the New Year's Eve event.

The authority said that the people sleeping in the tents have were offered somewhere temporary accommodation.