Manchester’s iconic Chinatown pagoda is set to be ‘improved’ following ‘extensive damage’ caused by vandals.
Last month, the pagoda was trashed by a vandal, who also made off with four ornate statues that were attached to it. Three have subsequently been recovered.
Due to the scale of the damage, the pagoda will be closed off for ‘a while’, council insiders have told the Manchester Evening News . The repair job will require broken railings and fences to be taken away from the site to be fixed.
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Now, it’s understood that the council is working with members of the Chinese community on improving the area. An insider told the MEN : “Because of the extensive damage we are taking the opportunity to improve the structure and what it offers the community.
“We have started extensive consultation with the Chinese Community to see what ideas they have for, e.g. should we create a community garden next to the structure.”
The area will be fenced off away from the public in the interim. Following the vandalism, one man was arrested in connection with the incident .
Residents and business owners in the area were ‘heartbroken’ by the damage. David Law, who has owned the Arts and Craft gift shop opposite it since the late-1980s, said in the aftermath: “It is mindless. What animal does that? There are a few old people’s homes here. They use it and the car park to do their exercise in the morning.
“It is not good. It is a tourist attraction, so it’s just heartbreaking to see it in this state.”
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