MORE THAN 200 ways of improving Ashton-under-Lyne have been gathered as the town received another £20 million funding boost.
Regenerating the town is the focus of both Tameside Council and the town’s Neighbourhood Board.
Now after the sum from the government’s Pride in Place Programme was awarded, work to make ideas a reality can begin.
In total, Tameside has received £41.5 million, with £20 million for Hattersley and £1.5 million allocated for borough-wide projects, both of which will be revealed later.
For Ashton, though, it is now a case of drawing up a 10-year regeneration plan and a four-year investment strategy.
And paperwork for the board’s meeting on Friday, November 21 highlighted the scale of the issues it faces.
It states: “Ashton is characterised by deep and widespread deprivation across multiple domains.
“Ashton faces significant challenges across a range of deprivation domains, particularly crime, health, employment, income and education/skills, placing it among the most deprived areas nationally.
“These challenges are deeply interconnected. Poor health can limit educational attainment, which in turn affects employment prospects and income, while inadequate housing and unsafe environments can exacerbate all of the above.
“Across all four Ashton wards, 25 per cent of residents have no formal qualifications, which is notably higher than the averages for Tameside (22 per cent), Greater Manchester (20 per cent), and England (18 per cent).
“This limits access to employment and training opportunities contributing to cycles of deprivation.
“Ashton also lags behind in higher-level qualifications. Only 39 per cent of residents hold Level 3 qualifications or above, compared to 42 per cent in Tameside, 49 per cent in Greater Manchester and 51 per cent nationally.
“This gap in advanced skills could hinder local economic growth and reduce the town’s competitiveness in attracting investment and high-value employment.”
Documents also revealed some 190 ‘project ideas’ and 24 ‘projects’ have been formally put forward through public engagement with about 40 groups since 2024.
And while final selection has not yet taken place, it is initially expected St Peter’s ward will be the initial focus.
Paperwork adds: “The Pride and Place Programme will empower the local community of Ashton and provides the opportunity to support the council’s growth programme for the town and build on recent regeneration activity taking place as part of the Levelling Up Funding, the Ashton Mayoral Development Zone and Ashton Regeneration Partnership.”
“The vision for Ashton is to create a place where everyone feels at home, empowered to grow, and truly valued.”
And the make-up of the neighbourhood board was revealed, with Phillip Brown MBE as its chair.
Paul Westwell, of Bromleys Solicitors, will be deputy, while the town’s MP, Angela Rayner, is also on it,
Philip Milson, of Milson Group, Whitecroft Lighting’s David Seriff, Tameside College principal Jackie Moores, Stephanie Sloane of the NHS and Action Together director Anna Hynes will also be on it.
Simon Brereton, headmaster Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Greater Manchester Police’s Chris Foster, Andrew McIntosh, of the Graeter Manchester Combined Authority and Kelly Gray, of Greater Manchester Growth Hub, also have places.
Labour Cllrs Stephen Homer and Andrew McLaren will also sit on it, along with Atta Rasool – but there is no spot for Independent St Peter’s Cllr Kaleel Khan.
An advisory board – including homelessness campaigner Pauline Town, business owners Val Unwin and Amanda Crossland and Peter Marland, of Ashton Pioneer Homes, has also been formed.
And Mr Brown said: “This plan has been developed through extensive engagement with local organisations and community groups in Ashton – engagement that will continue across the 10-year programme.
“The funding will unlock £20 million of investment in Ashton’s local regeneration priorities over the next 10 years.
“Our Regeneration Plan for Ashton aligns with the three strategic objectives of this Government programme.
“Thriving places – Ashton’s town centre and neighbourhoods must evolve and regenerate to meet the needs of our community.
“Strong communities – Relationships must be rebuilt in Ashton to restore a collective sense of belonging to community, bringing people together so they can feel proud of and safe in their neighbourhood.
“Taking back control – Ashton’s children should have the best start in life and adults should be able to live the life they want to. Empowering people to enter the workplace, workers to progress, and enabling businesses to grow can help this.
“The Board and I recognise that it will take more than Pride in Place funding to deliver this vision, which is why we are committed to working with partners to convene existing organisations in Ashton, and capitalise on existing initiatives and investment.
“The flexibility underpinning the programme gives us a unique opportunity to target investment where it is most needed, to fill gaps that other funding streams cannot reach.
“The strength of the Neighbourhood Board also lies in its ability to bring people together – residents, community groups, businesses, and public services – to shape a shared future for Ashton.
“Together, we can ensure that Ashton’s regeneration is not only delivered but owned and shaped by those who live and work here.”
Councillor McLaren, Tameside Council’s deputy leader and executive member for growth, housing and homelessness, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to continue to transform Ashton-under-Lyne.
“By working together with local people, we will create a town that is vibrant, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
“The additional funding for other areas will also really help bring plans to life and there is much more to come.”
Mr Brown added: “This funding gives us the chance to make Ashton a town where everyone feels proud to live.
“We’ll continue to work closely with the local community to make sure their voices are heard and shape every decision.”