direct to your inboxManchester city centre has seen a 480 per cent increase in the number of people claiming universal credit in just five months, it has emerged.A report that went before the council's economic scrutiny committee on Thursday paints a bleak picture of the impact of coronavirus restrictions on Manchester this year.And, in particular, the wide range of concerns in the city centre from vanishing footfall to fears about trade in 2021.In many ways, the data included in the report from the council's strategic director of growth and development Louise Wyman speak for themselves.In April, the number of benefit claimants in the Piccadilly and Deansgate wards was 230, by September it was 1,334.There has been 'a significant growth' in.
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