Major Security Issues & Safety Concerns
Bolton Market Hall is a listed building in Bolton, Greater Manchester that is now the Market Place Shopping Centre.
opening on 19th December 1855 it now boasts a huge number of vistors every year, upwards of 2.5 million people.
However, I have found a major issue that the management team have so far refused to acknowledge.
I have spent many hours researching and admiring this beautiful old building and all its hidden secrets.
Visiting the Market Place on several occassions I was able to explore much of the unseen areas and take many photographes.
Now whilst this is good for my own research purposes, this presents a huge gaping hole in the so called "Security" and "100% CCTV" coverage that they claim to have in place.
With each visit I made my confidence grew to the point whereby I was literally able to walk into areas via unlocked and unmarked doors, doors with no signs such as "No Entry" and or "Staff Only".
Well this total and complete lack of security allowed me to access very old corridors, lifts, storage area, loading bays, cleaning cupboards, etc. as well as areas known to myself to be underground beneath shops and major roads.
I also discovered that I was able to open emergency doors without activating any such alarm systems and whilst never being bothered by security on any of my many visits.
On only one occassion I was approached by not a member of the security team, but two ladies from the management team, closely followed by two security guards, however, this was only after I had spent literally 3hrs+ wondering around the back of house areas of the Market Place.
I explained my intentions and the reason for my interest, however, they did not seem interested in this and they certainly wasnt interested in the security flaws that I highlighted to them.
I did not make a fuss and I left the building, not before returning the following day to make a direct complaint to the management team in order to highlight my concerns about security. I spoke to a young lady, she was not interested in anything that I had to say and could only refer back to myself "trespassing" the day before. I pointed out that whilst my intentions where good, what would happen if a child wondered into such areas and god forbid was injured as a result? or worst someone with bad intentions, considering the events at the MEN, I would expect security to be somewhat better then it taking them 3hrs to ask myself to leave? My complaint and concerns very much fell onto deaf ears, as the lady didnt take any of this onboard and even told me to "piss off" befoore slamming the door.
