Manchester council is asking soup kitchens not to operate in Piccadilly Gardens, arguing the area isn’t appropriate for such a large gathering of vulnerable people.
The town hall is not bringing in a ban, but is asking the dozens of groups who hand out food in the area to consider doing so elsewhere in the city centre.
It is suggesting the car park of Thompson Street fire station, on the edge of Angel Meadow, as an alternative location, which it says is ‘more appropriate and self-contained’.
Since Manchester’s homeless crisis has spiralled in recent years the number of soup kitchens working in the city centre has also rocketed, with many congregating in Piccadilly Gardens in the early evening.
But the town hall believes the area is too busy and too likely to attract other people willing to take advantage of rough sleepers.
“We know that people operating street kitchens care and want to help. But we are clear that Piccadilly Gardens is not the right place to do this,” said deputy council leader Sue Murphy.
“This is an issue about where people are setting street kitchens up - not what they are doing, which is why an alternative location is being provided.
“But what we do want to do, wherever possible, is help ensure that people using street kitchens are connected with other services which can give them a package of wider support - ideally in a safe and warm indoor setting.
“We want to work with any groups operating street kitchens to identify how and where they can best do this and build better relationships with them.”
While the town hall prefers to point people towards broader services that not only offer food and bedding but also advice about how to get off the streets, she said it recognises that many people who have been sleeping rough long term will only accept the ‘informal help’ offered by soup kitchens.
“We don’t want to stop them accessing this provision but we do want to link them in with other services which can build a relationship with them and provide fuller support,” she added
The council has been under fire in recent times for proposing ‘public space protection orders’ in the city centre, which would have sought to ban ‘aggressive’ begging and clamp down on drug taking and public urination, as well as allowing them to fine people who refuse to move from stairwells or doorways.
That plan has been out to consultation, with the results due back at the end of the summer, but it said the latest request to soup kitchens is completely separate and does not constitute a ban.
The council said it was notifying charities of its latest position, however, which will come in from August 1.
“At the end of the day we all want the same thing - as many people as possible to be supported to get off them and build sustainable new lives,” added Coun Murphy.
