Around 340,000 concert goers will descend on the Prestwich area across five show days
Prestwich residents are gearing up for disruption during the five Oasis shows
Councillors in Prestwich claim Heaton Park is ‘not suitable’ for the Oasis shows, insisting the gigs ‘should be held in a stadium’.
With just two days until the first of five massive open air shows at the park, information for residents and businesses nearby has been shared by councillors representing the area. Around 340,000 music fans will descend on the park for five shows on July 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20.
Prestwich councillors have shared answers to the most frequently asked questions for the community close to the park.
They include the setting up of a community hotline phone number and email and details of compensation secured for local community groups due to the disruption caused with many roads closed and businesses and households affected.
Due to borough borders, Heaton Park is within the Manchester council boundary, but the park is surrounded on three sides by homes and businesses in the borough of Bury.
In a joint statement, Labour Prestwich councillors on Bury council have said that ‘from day one, we believe Heaton Park is not a suitable venue and that the concerts should be held in a stadium’.
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Last month a row erupted about the cash contribution secured to compensate for disruption caused by the shows. Coun Alan Quinn said the £25,000 he understood that Manchester council had secured was ‘pocket money’.
The money will be distributed among community groups in the town, with a similar amount to be given to the Manchester areas of Higher Blackley and Crumpsall.
Coun Quinn said that money was the same as the contribution given to the community for last month’s Parklife festival but the Oasis concerts would cause ‘three times the disruption’.
Heaton Park in the lead up to the shows
Coun John Hacking, executive member for skills, employment and leisure at Manchester council, said: “We have a tried and tested process in place to support the planning and delivery of large-scale live music events in Heaton Park which draws on experience and lessons learnt over the last 10 years or more.
“This includes discussions with local communities surrounding the park via the Heaton Park Event Community Consultation Group.
“During the concerts we’ll be implementing detailed plans to help reduce the impact of them on people living or working nearby and will have a dedicated community impact team monitoring and managing any concerns raised.”
Here are the questions and answers shared by Prestwich councillors:
They said: “As local residents ourselves, we know the up-and-coming Oasis concerts are of concern.“While we cannot control the decisions of Manchester City Council, who own and run Heaton Park, we have raised all the issues brought to our attention.”
Q. If I have any additional questions or issues who should I contact?
A. Please call the Community Impact Team:PHONE: 0161 883 1962 (Active to 23rd July, 5pm) The hotline will be manned in person from 14.00-00.30 on event daysONLINE: www.heatonparkconcerts.info IN PERSON: The Maccabi Centre, Bury Old Road, Prestwich, M25 0EG (from 16.00 –21.00)
Q. Are Bury Council responsible for the Oasis concerts?
A. No, this is a Manchester organised event held in Heaton Park which is owned by Manchester City Council. The park is surrounded on three sides by Prestwich.
Q. Will Bury Council receive any money from these concerts?
A. No, we will get monies for council officer time only, for example, hourly payments for traffic wardens, licensing officers (dealing with illegal taxis and street hawkers) and use of Bury’s CCTV.
Q. How many fans are going to the concerts?
A. 340,000 over the five concerts.
Q. How many people are going to turn up without tickets?
A. We just don’t know and this does worry us. We have expressed our concerns to Manchester City Council.
Q. Shouldn’t these concerts be held in a stadium instead of a public park?
A. We have said this from day one, we believe Heaton Park is not a suitable venue and that the concerts should be held in a stadium.
Q. Were Prestwich councillors informed in advance of these concerts being announced.
A. No, we found out at the same time as the general public in August 2024, however, we believe that non-disclosure agreements were signed in April 2024.
Q. Will there be a Community Fund payment, similar to the Parklife community fund?
A. Yes, a pittance of £25,000 has been offered. We have stated we want over £100,000 due to the extra days of disruption these 5 concerts may cause. We believe ticket sales alone for the Heaton Park concerts have raised well in excess of £50,000,000.
Q. Are there enough police officers on duty?
A. We believe that now we have enough officers after your local Labour councillors intervened and asked Andy Burnham and the GM Deputy Mayor Kate Green to help.
Q. Are local schools shutting early?
A. Yes, a number of local schools are shutting early. We believe that our children’s education, especially during exam season should not be disturbed.
Q. What have Prestwich councillors done to mitigate the effects on local residents from these concerts?
A. We have demanded meetings with Manchester City Council, we have met with Bury Council officers, GMP and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Q. Can the transport system cope, especially with 72,500 people all leaving at the same time at the end of the concerts on Fridays and Saturdays?
A. Over 100 buses are available inside Heaton Park and there will be extra trams, but we still have concerns about this.
Q. Are the organisers aware that Friday afternoon is a main time for prayers for Muslim residents and that Friday evenings and Saturdays are the Jewish Sabbath?
A. We have made this very point to the organisers on many occasions.
Q. Are the organisers aware about the disruption to and loss of earnings to local businesses?
A. We have brought this up many times and continue to advocate for our local businesses. We would encourage all residents to show their support too by shopping local using local restaurants and cafes etc.