ASHTON town centre must change to cope with a changing world, Tameside Council has revealed.
The authority, which once branded the area ‘not fit for purpose’ sees it as a vital part of regeneration plans for the borough.
And while it admits ‘further issues and barriers’ have delayed the final phase of the Vision Tameside plan, it is ready to take its hopes to the next stage.
The Market Square is key, with a consultation to launch later this year on what are called, ‘emerging thoughts and proposals for the Town Centre, with focus on options for Market Square as first area for delivery.’
A report adds: “The regeneration of the Market Square presents an opportunity for Ashton town centre to provide a unique offer and utilise Levelling Up Fund funding secured.”
Ashton’s town centre is the centre of much argument about what it has become, with once bustling marketplace the focus of many complaints.
And a presentation for Tameside Council’s place and external relations scrutiny panel revealed what they think it needs.
It states: “Ashton town centre is over reliant on retail. It is lacking in diversity of uses and users. Only certain groups are using the town centre.
“It is in need of a public realm that successfully integrates all areas of the town centre and it is failing to capitalise on transport links and visitor numbers.”
It also announces what people want from it in that the population ‘has a desire for a greater leisure offer.’
But it also adds it ‘displays a general lack of pride an enthusiasm for the town.’
Tameside Council has secured almost £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund to push work in Ashton and it has engaged with the owners of The Arcades and Ladysmith Shopping Centres since 2019 to ‘better understand opportunities for significant change.’
It is finalising the acquisition of the former interchange site from Transport for Greater Manchester, then will commence enabling infrastructure works to unlock the site for future redevelopment.
A report to the strategic planning and capital monitoring panel adds: “This work will be undertaken in the context of longer term opportunities for comprehensive development which is the subject of ongoing discussions with the owners of the Arcades and Ladysmith Shopping Centres.
“Work has commenced on the preparation of options for the improvement of the Market Square, and a Town Centre Public Realm Vision Strategy.
“Previous reports have provided details of the plans to deliver the next phase of the public realm works within the Northern Core and across Wellington Road in order to connect Clarendon College with Tameside One.
“It is anticipated that works can start on site before the end of 2022.”
But it concedes: “Despite investment to date there are further issues and barriers to improvements the final phase of Vision Tameside and unlocking further development.”
One big part of plans for Ashton is getting its town hall operational again.
The Correspondent went inside and heard what is planned for it and work to strengthen its roof is scheduled for December to June.
From there work on the rest of the landmark will commence, with an end date of September 2024.
And enabling works have got underway on the next phase of bringing back to life a structure that has been mothballed since 2015.
Angela Rayner MP joined senor council members, Cllrs Bill Fairfoull and Vimal Choksi, at the building before the vans came on site on Monday, September 26.
Even though some said ‘demolition’ it is not a demolition job – it is taking in fact down a number of internal ceilings and removing “stud” walls to fully expose the structural fabric of the building and hidden architectural features.
This partial internal strip-out will facilitate the completion of detailed surveys required to fully inform the ongoing design process for the restoration of the building envelope, including the roof and internal layout.
Tameside Council’s executive leader, Cllr Ged Cooney, said: “After being inside of the building and seeing its current state, it is obvious that it will take significant investment and resources to return it to its former glory.
“There is a lot of preparation work involved so that the state of the building can be fully appreciated before work starts on repairs.
“We are really keen to restore the building and bring back pride in the Town Hall and the surrounding area and the Levelling Up fund is helping us make a start on that.”
The description of Ashton is part of the draft Tameside Town Centres Framework, which has been produced to cover each town centre and act as a strategic ‘umbrella’ to co-ordinate future development and regeneration activity.
That, according to the report: “Provides the context for strategies in each of the individual town centres to realise the opportunities that exist over the next 15 years, support formal planning guidance and provide a strategic co-ordinated approach.
“Tameside Council recognises that its town centres are crucial components to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of the borough.
“Each town centre provides a unique but complementary offer, where Tameside’s residents and visitors should be able to easily access a range of facilities and services; and locations where businesses can grow and reach their full potential.
“There is a significant opportunity for Tameside’s town centres to rebuild and reinvent themselves as the heart of their communities, with a diversification of offer and increase of other uses, including residential.”
Consultation will shape final plans, but Cllr Cooney previously told The Correspondent: “We have to accept that Ashton needs to be resolved. Look at it and you think, ‘Yeah.’
“We want Ashton – and I know from talking to the Ashton members – they want it to be the place where people come to shop.
“Coaches still run people into Ashton, so we’ve got to say, ‘Let’s give them something they’d want to come back to’.”
We no longer need a town hall, the money could be used to develop it as a place for shops and cafes, similar to how the corn exchange in Manchester has been developed.
I agree we don’t need a town hall. We need Ashton to be a market town like it was. Offer free stalls to stall holders because they are stood empty now just attracting the wrong people. Get some nice stalls on again. Instead we get high vis tops and nothing much else. Take some of the seating away from the side of the market because the only people that sit there are drunks that are not bringing anything to Ashton apart from trouble. A nice Christmas market would be nice this year like Manchester has there is enough space too. Come on Tameside Council we love Ashton and we want other people to.
The Clown Touncil systematically destroyed every single town in the borough. Then proclaim to be the saviours with magic beans from central government.
Ashton is a smackhead infested place and has become a no go zone for ordinary people. Let’s face it nobody visits Ashton voluntarily do they? Get in, do what you need to do and get out ASAP.
Market burned down then got delayed by imbeciles. The life had been sucked out of the town by the time it eventually reopened. Not content with that they then set about wrecking the outdoor market. Mission accomplished – it’s now dead…..unless you’re an ASBO club member with an aggressive dog.
Stalybridge – marooned by cutting off the town with the added benefit of slapping a supermarket in there and simultaneously redeveloping the market hall into a…..errr …..civic hall? (Which has since been neglected and requires massive amounts of repairs). They sort of re-opened the road through but it remains a pain and most locals don’t even know the town centre exists. Less smackheads than Ashton so that’s positive.
Hyde. The Clarendon Centre is such a shame. Wow. It’s like a Soviet era throwback.
Denton. Crown Point North probably the only thing most visitors visit. The rest might as well be bulldozed.
Droylsden. The promise of the wonderful tram making Droylsden a destination town with prosperity all around. Well that worked out well didn’t it! Good business for boarding up companies I guess.
Mossley. Nothing happened. Ever. Zero investment since 1974.
Dukinfield. Worse than Mossley. Not on TMBC balance sheet. Think they’ve forgotten it….except the crem – it’s a cash cow.
I give up on the rest……just like the Clown Touncil.
I hope whoever does the work on the town hall is a local reputable firm ..