Further Ashton improvement works detailed – but funds needed to do them

TAMESIDE Council has unveiled its strategy to further redevelop Ashton-under-Lyne’s town centre – but admits it has no funding to do it.

The £11 million project to revamp the town’s market square, using money from the government’s Levelling Up Fund and deliver other public realm work around what is described as ‘the beating heart of the town’ has been approved.

Now the authority has proposed what it wants to do in other areas. However, it will need cash from other areas in order to deliver it.

A report to its executive cabinet, which meets on Wednesday, September 27, highlights several different areas for work.

It includes Ashton Market Hall, Old Street – with options to improve the environment for pedestrians and cyclists, Stamford Street Central – creating a walkable, pleasant, and attractive zone with tree-planting and ‘flexible spaces.’

The width of Oldham Road may be reduced with improved pedestrian crossings and street trees in a bid to create an attractive environment for walking and cycling, while Katherine Street would also be improved.

St Michael’s Square may also be ‘re-animated’ with proposals to introduce a green barrier and encourage a space for outdoor seating and a place to celebrate the heritage of the town.

Work is also ongoing to finalise a draft business case for the Mayor’s Challenge Fund scheme known as Albion Way and Wellington Road.

The council found out what people think of Ashton when a Love Ashton engagement event with the public produced several disparaging comments, including ‘level the lot and start again.’

Others included: “Market square is characterless – missing the vibrant atmosphere from the past. It should be an attraction and destination rather than a cluttered space.

“Market stalls are unattractive, impractical and in bad condition. Safety issues in the square, related to antisocial behaviour, poor lighting and visibility.

“Accessibility from public transport should be improved, as well as connections to St. Petersfield and the rest of Ashton Town Centre and the theatre once an important place (Charlie Chaplin played here) is being left to rot.”

Market traders and business owners voiced their concerns, as well as Tameside Owners and Drivers Association, Tameside College and the council’s greenspace team and its place and external relations scrutiny panel.

And a strategy for what is called phase two of the public realm strategy for Ashton, wider town centre, has been drawn up.

Main themes include connecting St Petersfield to the heart of the town, creating a series of spaces to create destination in the town, redefine the market as the heart of the town, enhance the arrival to the town centre to encourage footfall into the town and define connections across the town to improve people movement in and around Ashton town centre.

However, the report also admits in its risk management section: “No funding identified to deliver projects in the Phase 2 Strategy.”

It adds: “Whilst new projects are identified in the strategy for delivery, the council has no funding available at the present time and will be seeking opportunities to attract further funding streams.

“This second phase of the strategy is important in ensuring Ashton town centre has a clear vision and plan in place to respond positively to future funding initiatives, as and when they emerge, to deliver these later phases of works.

“The Director of Place proactively apply to have additional external funding to support the proposed cohesive approach to Ashton’s regeneration in the Phase Two Public Realm Strategy.”

As a result, Tameside Council will: “Continue to seek opportunities for external funding to deliver schemes.”

And there can be no reallocating of funds from the council’s £4,251,000 budget for public realm works across the borough.

The report continues: “Any decision in future taken by Executive Cabinet on use of this in support of the Ashton Public Realm Strategy should be considered in the round against the needs in the Borough so as not to make a decision that, upon review, is recognised as being sub-optimal in terms of the council’s best value duty.

“In the current high interest environment around borrowing from the Public Works Loans Board (PWLB), it is not recommended that the council finances Phase Two from external borrowing currently.”