A short time after this incident I was commander of a 737 and informed by tower, as we taxied out at MAN that our TO run was reduced to xxxx meters (I had noted this in the NOTAM) I asked the FO to politley inform atc that we could not accept reduced TO run and request the other runway as stated in our clearances prior to push-back. The responce from tower was nothing short of snotty, telling us that we would have to take a delay if I was insistant on using the other runway. Well let me put it this way, I would rather take a delay, than smash an 80 tonne fully laden jet into the hedge at the far end of the runway. It really is that simple. It's long overdue for safety to be put first, Chief execs to trust their Captains and crew, and commanders to bloody well command!