Yahoo News Residents sick of empty promises on streets where some don't even know who Rishi Sunak is
A sign looming over the centre of Wythenshawe makes a bold declaration. This, it says, is the original garden city.
It promises investment in homes, shops and entertainment.
Beneath, as NHS workers queue at food kiosks and parents with prams go about their business, a man sits alone asking passers-by for spare change.
A long-term resident, Peter Wright, points to the message towering above the precinct. He shakes his head.
"We’ve needed this investment a decade ago. Now we’re getting it and I haven’t seen anything change since this sign went up last year. Without any action, it's just empty promises really.”
He adds: “You see all these places in Manchester get investment and new things but we continue to get worse, shops continue to close, people get more fed up.”
READ MORE: 'No one's bothered about our Greater Manchester town... it's neglected'
In full, the sign reads: "This is Civic. This is Wythenshawe - the original garden city. This is your home and we’re investing in the things you want. New homes, more shops and big entertainment. This is just the start and we’re gonna do you proud.”
It's been there for around a year.
Created in the aftermath of the First World War, Wythenshawe was supposed to house overspill from Manchester's industrial centre, eight miles to the north. The vison was a healthy environment home to 12 parks and areas of woodland, with the benefits of both the city and country - and the drawbacks of neither.
The project, built on the principles of the garden city movement, became home to the largest council estate in Europe. But by 2017, Wythenshawe's housing estates were described by the New York Times as 'extreme' pockets of social deprivation.
Now, as a General Election looms, residents told the M.E.N they are looking to the city centre as a reminder of what might have been.
Andrew, 41, counters the sign above the Civic Centre: “You hear rumours of investment like having a cinema but we’re stuck with nothing years later. We want physical proof.
“We have pictures of what it’s supposed to look like but we’ve not seen a change or improvement - there’s nothing like what we’ve been promised. Actions are better than words.”
‘Who are they?’
The constituency of Wythenshawe and Sale East was created before the 1997 General Election and includes the centres of both Sale and Wythenshawe. Since then, it has been firmly red - returning two Labour MPs in its lifetime.
Paul Goggins represented the area until his death aged just 60 in 2014. He collapsed while out running and never regained consciousness. Since then, Mike Kane's grip on the constituency has been firm. The Labour MP never failed to return less than 50 per cent of the vote in each of his four elections.
But this time around, locals told the M.E.N. they struggle to care, or even name their MP. Others had never even heard of the Prime Minister. To some, tapping into the noise of the upcoming election or politics in general is ‘not worth their time’.
Not when there are bigger worries, long working hours and political parties ‘in it for themselves’ to choose from.
“Who’s Rishi Sunak?” asks Dan, 31. “I don’t keep up with politics. Not when you're working 60-plus hours and two jobs. Don’t have time for it.
"There’s barely any time for myself between constantly changing hours. They’re all in it for themselves anyway."
“I don’t know who he is,” Dan says after the name of the Prime Minster is mentioned. His answer is the same for the other party leaders.
“I don’t know who’s in charge and I don’t really care. Life’s hard without caring about politics too. They’re all the same to me. Maybe I’d care if I had more time and actually saw any benefits of it but nah I don’t.”
Locals planning to cast a vote on July 4 told us they are unsure which box they will end up ticking. Many say they don’t know enough about the potential MPs who could end up representing their interests.
“I don’t even know who my MP is,” Steve, 52, says.
His friend, Gaynor, 58, chimes in to add: “I don’t either. I don’t even bother and go there with them. Who are they? Why have we never heard of them? They can’t be making much change if people don’t know them."
Considering what could happen should the July 4 vote return a Labour government, Steve says: “Would anything change? Personally it’s all about money. Who you're in business with and that’s it.”
‘We need investment…and physical proof’
Frustrated with the lack of change in the local area, many describe the prospect of investment in the constituency as just a ‘rumour’.
Duncan runs The Gift Doctor in Wythenshawe Civic Centre. The 63-year-old says: “As a retailer, I see lots of empty properties above shops, you're probably looking at a couple of hundred thousand in the UK and I think they should be utilised - give incentives to landlords to convert them.
"They need to look at business rates and regenerate the high street and use it as a community hub.
“Labour has a better chance at this. The Tories have had their chance really and the housing crisis is a lot worse than it should be so fingers crossed the Labour party can do that.”
One resident claims there should be a limit on the number of takeaways in the constituency. He says it drops trade for other smaller businesses and shops on the highstreets - especially in the centre of Sale, where his wife works.
Simon, 61, said: “More investment in the area. Like in Sale they’ve built all restaurants and bars but it’s made all the shops' trade drop by 50 per cent. There are no clothes shops for women to go to.
"In Northenden it's all takeaways and restaurants - it's like a mini curry mile [in Sale]. So there's not a lot of people going there shopping during the day. They should restrict the amount of takeaways in one area. Instead of 40 in the area there should be four. It makes the area go down when they do that."
Others are more optimistic about the redevelopment like Jane, she says: “There is a lot of redevelopment that is going to happen in Wythenshawe town centre so it would be nice to see the changes. I think it will bring in wider investment and help businesses in the area struggling.”
‘Homelessness is rife here - but so is everything else’
Linda, 67, was approached by the MEN about what issues are important to her - but she told us she has her hands full helping others, which leaves her unable to think about herself.
“I’ve just bought a lady a trolly so she can put all her clothes in there. She’s wet herself and on the streets without a toothbrush or nothing and it shouldn’t fall onto people on the streets. It’s hard to believe people are on the street today.
“I’m okay I’ve got a house but there are lots of people who are struggling,” she said.
Anti-social behaviour and crime is also a primary issue to locals. Susan, 55 tells the M.E.N: “Kids have no respect these days.
“They go around with knives and engage in crime instead of going to school. There’s nowhere for them to go during the holidays either. So they tend to just get up to no good. I think we need more plans to get the youth into work.”
‘I’ve no one to vote for’
Some of those in Wythensawe who are up-to-date on UK politics say they feel they've been left with little choice but not to take part in this week's General Election. Derek has voted all his life, but now the 71-year-old says he’s opting out because he has ‘no one to vote for’.
“It’s rubbish. I won’t vote for any of them. Reform party is like Donald Trump. I’ve no one to vote for. I don't rate any of them. We need politicians who can inspire us not to see Parliament and thinking ‘oh god not that idiot again," he says.
A friend, who wished to remain unnamed, puts it bluntly: "They’re all t****s. Neither parties will do anything for us so why would we pay mind to them?”
But John 78, chimes in: “This country after 14 years of Tory rule is a mess. There is nothing better, everything is worse under this present government. We need change and lots of council houses were built after the second world war. I was a war baby but Margaret Thatcher sold them all off so we’re really short and desperate for houses.
“I’d like to see the back of the Tories because they are corrupt and cronies. All they do is think about staying in power and not what’s best for the country just staying in power. The whole thing needs to change.
“Education and the NHS…all these things that have been deprived over the years and all need investment. Whoever gets in government is going to be left with a lot of debt. It won’t be done overnight but I think the Labour party is the party that will be able to do that slowly and talking about growth.”
Another passer by, 77-year-old Francis Brag, adds: “I’d like to see them telling the truth of their manifesto and to do what they are telling people to do instead of promising you the world and giving you nothing.”
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
