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Town regeneration work hitting turnover - traders

Richard Stead
BBC News, Manchester
BBC Photograph of shopkeeper Val Unwin, who runs a store in the centre of Ashton-under-Lyne, during the redevelopment work. Part of the background is fenced of and workmen wearing yellow hi-vis clothing are at work.BBC
Val Unwin runs Decisions Clothing on Fletcher Street in Ashton-under-Lyne

Building work to regenerate a town's market square has led to "significantly reduced" footfall, shopkeepers have said.

Ashton-under-Lyne's fixed outdoor market stalls have been dismantled, temporarily leaving behind large piles of rubble.

Val Unwin, who runs Decisions Clothing in the town centre, said her company's turnover had fallen 23% since work on the scheme began in November.

Tameside Council said it was committed to minimising disruption for businesses during the work, which is expected to be completed early next year.

Photograph of a bulldozer in Ashton-under-Lyne. Large piles of broken concrete lie in them middle of an open space in front of Poundland.
Work has started on the redevelopment of the market square

The outdoor market kiosks will be replaced with a large canopy, which is being built with the help of £20m from the Levelling Up fund.

Ms Unwin's store is in Fletcher Square, where work is under way to build temporary outdoor market stalls.

She said that while she was in favour of the redevelopment, the work was taking "too long".

"It has really affected my business turnover," Ms Unwin said. "My shop is blocked off at one side - but when the work is done, I expect this will be a busy little area."

Photograph of Michael Barlow, who runs the Bow Street Cafe on the market square in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Michael Barlow runs the Bow Street Cafe

The new covering will provide outdoor market traders with protection from the elements.

The council hopes it will become a hub for cultural events in the town.

Michael Barlow, who runs the Bow Street Cafe on the market square, said 18 months of growth in his business had "flatlined" since the building work began.

"We're not getting new customers through the door," he said.

Despite that, Mr Barlow said he was optimistic about the future: "The market redevelopment is a really good thing - but this is the worst part and it's worrisome."

Photograph of redevelopment work in front of the indoor market hall in Ashton-under-Lyne
Work is under way outside the indoor market hall
Photograph of Julie Kelly outside her balloon and card shop on Market Street in Ashton-under-Lyne
Julie Kelly runs a balloon and card shop on Market Street

The council said the redevelopment would also bring high-quality seating, attractive planting, new paving, enhanced lighting and CCTV for the safety of shoppers.

Julie Kelly has run the Sincerely Yours balloon and card shop for 26 years.

"Since work started, I'm down 30%," she said. "They should've done this in the summer when people can still walk about. A lot of places will close before the work is finished."

Tameside Council CGI image from Tameside Council on the plans for the outdoor market in Ashton-under-Lyne.Tameside Council
The plans include a canopy above the outdoor market stalls

The indoor market hall in Ashton-under-Lyne is also set to be upgraded.

£250,000 will be spent on changing its layout in the hope of bringing in a wider age range of customers by offering improved food and drink options.

Councillor Stephen Homer, executive member for towns, transport and connectivity, said the redevelopment would "enhance the town's ability to host community events and provide an improved market offering".

He also said the new market square would "attract further investment to make Tameside an even better place to live, work, and visit".