A blue tit mural on the side of 50 Newton Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter could be removed as part of plans to renovate the Hatters Hostel. The artwork, created by street artist Sarah Yates in 2011 as part of a project sponsored by Converse, has featured on the Grade-II listed building for over a decade.
A planning proposal for the hostel's revamp was submitted to Manchester City Council in July, and a decision on the mural's future could be made this month. The plans have drawn criticism, including from Piccadilly Councillor Jon-Connor Lyons, who previously expressed hope that the proposals would be "reconsidered".
Local Reactions to the Potential Removal
On October 18, passers-by in the Northern Quarter shared their thoughts on the artwork. One person paused to say the mural brought a "little bit of light" to the area. Will Shaw, 29, told the Manchester Evening News: "I kind of like it as it is. I’ve definitely noticed it before, but I’m sure it would be missed it if it wasn’t there."
Kyriaki Georgiou, 24, added: "I’m not local but I’ve been living here for quite a few years, but it is quite sad to see old things being replaced over time. It’s happening quite a lot in Manchester as well. It’s a shame. Everything that has culture is being moved."
Mixed Views Among City Centre Residents
Another passer-by, Bella, admitted she had not noticed the artwork before but said it would be a shame to see it go regardless. She said: "To be honest I walk here all the time and I don’t think I’ve noticed it that much. But it’s nice and it’d be a shame to see it go. Depends I guess what they would do with it."
The mural's fate rests on the planning decision, which could be made this month. The proposal to renovate the Hatters Hostel remains under consideration by Manchester City Council.
