What's Manchester missing? Greenery, a proper DIY store and more art, Mancs say

Manchester famously has everything except a beach, Stone Roses singer Ian Brown once quipped.

And it’s certainly true to say our fair city has a lot going for it. Bars, restaurants, shops, cafes, and gig venues are aplenty. But is there something Manchester city centre is missing?

To find out what those living, visiting, and working in town think the area needs, the Manchester Evening News spent an afternoon speaking to members of the public for their thoughts. Despite only having a small sample size, their answers were varied.

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James Gill, a 25-year-old aerospace engineer, perhaps had the most predictable answer. He said: “More greenery in the city centre. We need more plants and trees and general greenery.” That was also a complaint of Alex, the first person interviewed for our new ‘I work in town’ feature.

David Stephens, owner of the Leica shop on Police Street, had a more practical way of looking at things. “A DIY shop to go and buy a packet of screws, some bulbs, or something you need for a store,” he replied.

“We get everything online now. There used to be one on Chapel Street and it had everything. Now we have to go to B&Q in Cheetham Hill.”

Outside his store was Colin Geary. He started out as the ‘window-cleaning punk’ when he in 1978, wearing outlandish spiky hairstyles. He added: “People do not chat like they used to. There’s only so many shops where people can have a chat. People are more aloof.

“It’s turning into London. It is too sterile, another city. Manchester’s famous for its community.”

However, 74-year-old Linda Jawando, who lives in Fallowfield, said she loves the city as is. She explained: “It’s