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Controversial: Ed Glinert says he stands by his book
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Lawless streets and crackdens: A new guide to our suburbs
Laura Thistlethwaite7/ 4/2008
RESIDENTS have reacted furiously after districts of south Manchester came in for a bashing in a new guide book.
In the Manchester Compendium, a street-by-street history of the city, author Ed Glinert describes Whalley Range as a land of ‘lawless streets’ characterised by ‘crumbling Gothic villas turned into squats, crack houses and student bedsits.’
He has also infuriated householders in Didsbury by claiming the affluent suburb is ‘shorn of character’ and home to ‘rough pubs and tacky restaurants’. He also complains that Chorlton is ‘lacking in history’.
And the author also had some harsh words for Manchester City fans.
In a section on Maine Road, he writes: "Wheras the story of Manchester United represents everything about Manchester at its best:...fierce independence and style with swagger, Manchester City symbolize everything about Manchester at it’s worst: victim mentality; cheap, quick-fix solutions regretted at length and over-confidence bordering on woeful arrogance...as defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory generation after generation."
Manchester City Supporters Club secretary Kevin Parker has hit back at Mr Glinert. He said: "It is true that the club has made mistakes but it is unfair to call us incompetent. I wish him luck because no City fan is going to buy his book now."
Whalley Range councillor John Grant said he was furious with the comments about his area.
He said: "It outdated nonsense to say that the streets are lawless here. Whalley Range has some lovely houses and is now one of the greenest areas in the whole of Manchester."
Didsbury landlord Martin Devlin, who runs the Royal Oak pub on Wilmslow Road, also took umbrage at the comments. He added: "It’s not rough, some of the pubs might occasionally have a bit of trouble but that’s the exception, not the rule."
Art of Tea owner Karen Schofield, added: "There is still plenty of character and hidden gems in Didsbury; parts like Barlow Moor Road are really changing."
Historian Philip Lloyd, of Chorlton Civic Society, took issue with the claim that Chorlton was lacking in history.
He said: "That isn’t the case at all, Chorlton has a rich and varied history from Hough End Hall, to notorious murders and ice skating on Chorlton Meadows."
In his book Mr Gilnert, also described Withington as ‘bedsitter land’ and describes Fallowfield as an inconsequential suburb turned-‘student city’.
Northenden, Burnage and Levenshulme did not even make it into the book.
But despite the criticism Mr Glinert, who lived in Chorlton’s Beech Road area for 20 years before recently relocating to Stretford, said he was standing by every word.
He added: "I expect to tread on plenty of toes. People get defensive about where they live, even if they know it has flaws, not everyone wants to admit it."
The journalist, who has a 14-year-old daughter, Katy, founded City Life and has written a series of books, including The London Compendium, Literary London, the East End Chronicles and the West End Chronicles.
He added: "There are plenty of nice parts in south Manchester, but I think I offer a reasonable and honest idea of what they are like now. I wanted to combine interesting bits of history that people wouldn’t necessarily know.
"I’ve tried to input some of me into the Compendium too, there are far too many books that are lacking in personality."
What do you think about some of the accusations cast in the book? Click on 'Submit comments' to let us know ...
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Got an opinion you want to share?Should less emphasis be placed on the results of tests and more emphasis on general education for children?
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He's just a lowlife author scraping the barrel trying to turn a dollar in his own greasy way.
Let his books gather dust.
Having lived in Didsbury for 22 years, it's ok for me.
10/04/2008 at 00:20