Vandals are to blame for city centre embarrassment, says council spokesperson Pat Karney
Vandals and unusually hot weather are to blame for the embarrassing state of Piccadilly Gardens, according to City Council spokesperson Pat Karney.
The Harpurhey councillor's comments follow widespread public criticism of the council for the condition of Manchester's busiest square following an unsuccessful (and no doubt expensive) re-turfing programme.
Works to improve the lawns were carried out by the council on Friday 4 May, however a combination of sprinkler failure and temperatures of up to 25°C over the Bank Holiday weekend left the new turf looking extremely dry and straw-like.
"The kids were trying to make them [the sprinklers] more powerful, that's what we've seen on the cameras," Karney told Confidential. "I've asked the chief executive to look into it, why the council didn't pick it up, why the sprinklers weren't working, and why it was just left to dry up."
Council employees have now begun work to relay the turf.
It is the latest in a series of embarrassments in Piccadilly Gardens for the council, which recently carried out £400,000 works to repair the garden's fountain, only for it to cease working again.
You can watch Councillor Pat Karney explain the council 'cock up' in full above and read Confidential's reaction here - If we’ve said it once, we've said it a thousand times: Piccadilly Gardens MUST be paved.
