Apparently, living on one of the sexiest streets in the UK isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.
Residents living on two of Manchester's prettiest streets have revealed film crews, influencers lining up for photos, and parking nightmares can make living there frustrating at times.
Once a thriving suburb peppered with steam-powered mills during the Industrial Revolution, the neighbourhood of Ancoats has undergone some big changes, but Anita Street and George Leigh Street – two rows of historic terraced houses – remain, and are a huge hit with visitors.
Advert
Both streets have played a part in history and are now used as film sets, including a recent slot in a Seabrook crisps advert.
But the constant influx of selfie-hunters, walking tours and film crews can take some getting used to.
Teacher Sam Bishop, of George Leigh Street, said: "It’s kind of strange. We’ve been here for two years and there are walking tours that go up and down this road, which is really surreal.
"It’s a beautiful place to live. We’ve loved living here for two years. A lot of people posing for Instagram photos at either end of the street, especially when the blossom is out."
However, passersby can become a problem come nighttime, Sam said, adding: "I’ve never seen anything too stupid, but people just hang around this street, especially at night time. It’s so annoying.”
Sam said the area is also plagued by speeding motorists who 'drive like absolute idiots'.
Sam shared: "They go through that [no entry] sign there constantly and do about 40mph, all day long, and there’s kids about.
"It’s the same with the whole of Ancoats, it’s awful. It’s all unmarked and there’s been quite a few accidents this last couple of weeks [at] some of the these junctions around here and it’s just a matter of time before someone gets killed, or really hurt."
A few doors down, Susan Taylor reiterated the issues of traffic on the picturesque street.
Susan said: "We got a nightmare with parking, with every building that’s being built, they’re supposed to be making provisions and they’re not.”
She added: "Parking and traffic is a big issue. The street is very beautiful and attracts people and filming but from the council, I’d say it’s badly neglected."
A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: "It is unfortunate that some drivers fail to take into account the clearly marked signage around this street and fail to comply with the one-way system.
“However, extra signage and markings have been added to reinforce the rules of the road.”
The council’s statement continued: "The council appreciates the frustration this must cause for residents, but as it cannot currently enforce moving road traffic regulations, we would urge residents to report any violations to the police."
Aisha Nozari