Save Arch Bar in Hulme

Arch Bar in Hulme was a great community resource but sadly there were occasional problems on the door. It has been closed for two years. We have lost the legendary Russell Club (aka the Factory, aka the PSV) and far too many pubs to mention... There's nowhere left for the community to meet! (Very few places, anyway.)

BREAKING NEWS: 8/1/10
The Cavendish pub has now closed, having been sold by the owners last week. It is rumoured that it will become a fast food outlet. THIS IS ALL THE MORE REASON TO SAVE THE ARCH.

We are nearing "tipping point" in Hulme, past which the local community will be swamped by transient young people who have no roots and who are generally encouraged to keep themselves apart from the local populace (e.g., local pubs).

We know that MMU plans to build up to 900 student spaces, according to their own "Impact Assessment Report", and yet we've just had the announcement of a private 672-space block that's going to be built on Coupland Street, near Birley Fields.

We're not anti-student - so many people in Hulme are ex-students that it would be daft to be so - but we are concerned about keeping a viable community going in Hulme. There are few enough venues for going out, or having meetings or running workshops. The Arch Bar could be a great resource for the community - don't let the Council cave in to the first money-making scheme that comes along.

The people of Hulme deserve better!

The planning application report can be viewed here:
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downloads/Report_on_the_Arch_Bar__List_No_1_to_the_Planning_and_Highways_Committee_on_17_dec_09.pdf

Or else try http://snipurl.com/u1cf4 [www_manchester_gov_uk]

14th January 2010: LATEST NEWS

The Planning Dept. made a "site visit" in the morning, when they actually GOT OFF THE COACH (a very rare occasion) and later in the day the deferred the decision. The next planning meeting is mid-February. Please join the "Our Hulme" email group if you want to be involved in the campaign to save the Arch and to resist the saturation of student blocks. (Post a message to me on here if you want to be added to the group.)

Thanks for all your support so far. The first thing that happened at the start of the meeting was that the Chair defensively declared that "there's no such thing as a done deal here", quoting from a local activist's Twitter update of that day. They are now aware that there are genuine concerns from the local community about the proposals.