I’m currently studying at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) which means that I travel into Manchester at least twice a week. On my regular stomp between Piccadilly Station and All Saints campus, I see the construction of lots of new buildings alongside buildings and landmarks from my childhood.

I like new buildings. They’re cool. They stand out and make the city look modern, but I’m always sad when somebody changes or demolishes an old building that I remember going past on the bus as a little girl.

Over the last few years there has been a campaign to force some activity from the owners of London Road Fire Station. An enormous building near Piccadilly Station, with ornate stone carvings that has been boarded up for a very long time. In the days before firemen had cool looking uniforms and sexy calendars, London Rd was a working Fire Station and when I…