With local elections across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester just two days away, the people of Manchester have mixed feelings.
As the build-up continues and the polling stations prepare for the counts some people had their say on their feelings ahead of election day.
Nathan Smallwood, 20, from Salford, was looking forward to a day of helping people in need get to their polling stations with the City of Salford Votes scheme.
He said: “Over the last couple of years, my auntie uses a wheelchair, so I’ve had to take her out to the polling station.
“We’re hiring a rickshaw for the day and we’re going to take that around all 20 wards of Salford – all being well – and give anyone who needs a lift or who wants a lift a ride down to the polling station so they can get out and vote.”
The main issues up for debate in Salford vary from cleaning up the Salford Quays area to supporting strike action.
“We have more problems than we care to shake a stick at in Salford!” Nathan said.
“How many of them are going to be fixed by the council? I don’t know.
“Things like anti-social behaviour and the loss of history in the city centre with modern high-rises. Equally, we need lots more affordable homes so I see more of them being built.”
However, Ian Ross, 75, from Whalley Range, did not feel so optimistic about the state of the local elections.
He said: “There is too much going on, that the local election people, Labour, Conservative whoever it is really take no notice of us.
“It’s only when the elections come up, then you disappear for another three or four years.”
Debate topics in the area range from social housing and tackling poverty to investing in green spaces through the city centre.
Ian said: “Everyone I talk to says how dirty the city is and how bad it is for people living on the streets.”
Mancunian Matters will have all the latest coverage from the local elections including live updates from the counts.
