Manchester's Residents Back New Year's Eve Celebration Event

12.00.00am GMT Thu 27th Mar 2008

Manchester Lib Dems are Delighted by Public Response to New Year's Eve Plans

Manchester residents, including many city centre residents, have given a thumbs-up to a properly organised New Year's Eve celebration, after the Council failed to organise any event last year. Following Lib Dem calls for a public consultation, nearly 500 people gave their views.

Of the 476 people who took part, 435 (91%) said they supported an official New Year's Eve event and only 41 (9%) said they didn't.

After heavy criticism for the media and local people, as well as a call from Manchester Liberal Democrats to look into holding a New Year event in 2008, Labour's Town Hall bosses have done a U-turn, and will agree to hold an event in 2008.

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Shannon welcomed the consultation's outcome at this week's Council meeting, and said:

"We consistently argued that as a world-class city, with a reputation for organising some great events in the past, New Year has in the past been a huge let down, and a major rethink was needed. The people of Manchester have now voted overwhelmingly for an organised New Year's Eve event. Manchester Lib Dems are delighted to have helped get this U-turn from Town Hall bosses."

Steps will now made to organise a safe and family friendly event that does credit to Manchester, and its status as the UK's second city.

End