A large migrant ‘tent city’ in Manchester was removed after months, but a new camp quickly reappeared nearby.
The Manchester City Council evicted people that morning in St Peter’s Square outside the town hall. They evicted dozens of people. The council acted early, around 6:45 am, removing people from the “red tent camp” after a judge gave the council permission to do this.
People packed using plastic bags as bailiffs told them to leave. They knocked on each tent for those inside. Quickly, folks set up a new camp near the Midland Hotel in the city center.
The “red tent camp” started last spring as a protest, evolving into a longer-term homeless spot. Authorities moved them for some events, including Remembrance Sunday and New Year’s Eve fireworks. Still, the camp felt like a normal sight.
The Greater Manchester Law Centre made a legal challenge to stop the eviction, but the challenge failed. The Law Centre represented one asylum seeker, and the council withdrew its claim against them. About forty other refugees appeared without lawyers.
One refugee spoke up in court to Judge Bird and stated no one living in tents was happy. The judge said they were trespassing and ordered them to leave. The judge thought St Peter’s Square helped everyone and felt reassured the housing system would help them.
The council said the order ended the camp successfully. They said refugees with legal rights now lived there. They assessed people for housing, offered some temporary housing, and gave others advice to find housing. People could pack up their own tents, and discarded, abandoned tents got thrown away.
The council felt that St Peter’s Square was not safe, sanitary, or good for getting support. They said camping did not help their applications and that tents caused problems during events and blocked the town hall.
The council claimed help is available and that camps are not suitable anywhere in the city. They said they would monitor the new situation. The council wanted to end the St Peter’s Square camp because refugees there had rights to stay in the country. The council claimed they helped many find housing.
The Law Centre said they are still helping those evicted and that these people seek help for months. Moving people, they argued, doesn’t solve homelessness.