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BARRED: Melissa Fletcher
BARRED: Melissa Fletcher
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Barred - girl in black


6/ 6/2005

A TEENAGE girl was turned away from an upmarket shopping centre in Manchester - because she was dressed like Coronation Street's Rosie Webster, who wears black clothes.

Melissa Fletcher, 16, met two friends at the Triangle, in the city centre, for some Saturday afternoon shopping. But security guards would not let them inside, apparently because of the way they looked.

Melissa has red and black hair and a pierced lip, just like the character Rosie in the Street who has rebelled against her parents Sally and Kevin Webster by dyeing her hair black and listening to Goth hard-rock music.

Melissa's mum, Sharon, 34, from Denton, said she had already taken her daughter shopping inside the complex on Saturday morning. But Melissa was barred when she returned with her friends, both 16, later the same day.

Sharon said: "Melissa does not drink, smoke or take drugs. She knows what is right and what is wrong but dressing differently is no reason to be singled out. She had money in her pockets to spend but Melissa did not even get through the front door.

"The security guard told me later that he was under strict orders not to let them in because of the way they looked."

The Triangle - the former Corn Exchange - includes designer clothing stores like Karen Millen, Jigsaw, and Muji, and a Nicky Clarke hair salon.

Melissa, a pupil at Egerton Park High School, Denton, said she would not be returning to the shops. She said: "I think it is discriminatory."

A spokesman for the centre said: "If it is believed the behaviour of some is likely to compromise the safety or enjoyment of others, then the Triangle is able to reserve the right to refuse admission."

Should people be barred from shops for wearing black? Have your say.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(91)


Most recent 2 of 91 user comments

   I can't believe the society we live in today. That's ridiculous. So she looked like 'she was going to cause trouble' that doesn't stop her from going to a shopping centre. I'm a goth and I hate all the negative comments i recieve from people. Why can't they accept that some people like to be unique?
Charlie, London
5/08/2005 at 16:33

Offensive or Inappropriate?

   The triangle is next to URBIS gardens, home to all the apparent goths, stoners, skaters and other 'juvenile delinquents' frowned upon by today's society. The grass outside urbis is pointlessly regularly populated by the younger generations who come to sit, talk, smoke and look 'cool'. Admittedly poserish, this place is regularly patrolled by police to monitor underage abuse of... things. I am guessing therefore the reason she was turned away was the prejudice she faced as a prime urbis-going culprit; one of whom the Triangle has had 'problems' from in the past. This is a snobbish excuse not to let her in and shows ignorance between cultures and generations.
Jess (aka moose), Manchester
1/08/2005 at 01:31

Offensive or Inappropriate?

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