The Royal Oak on Nook Lane in Ashton-under-Lyne reopened on Thursday 17th April following a phenomenal investment of over £300,000 the award-winning community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns which operates more than 200 pubs across England Inside The Royal Oak has been completely transformed to include a brand new bar area to give the pub a more spacious feel as well as refreshed furniture fittings and fixtures to breathe a new lease of life into the site The existing games area also benefitted from a revamp and now boasts a brand new pool table and dart board as well as five television screens throughout the rest of the pub complete with Sky Sports The Royal Oak hosts a spacious beer garden – seating approximately 30 people – which also received a refresh to include brand new wooden benches and a pergola to ensure customers can enjoy it all year round The pub reopened on Thursday 17th April and celebrated with a live DJ set and special performance from popular local artist The pub offers a wide range of drinks promotions offering customers a bottle of fizz for £10 The Royal Oak runs a busy schedule of regular entertainment including weekly live music the operator is also hoping to support several community initiatives and will start by fundraising to have a lifesaving defibrillator installed at the pub and collecting food to donate to the local foodbank She is also hoping to work with several local and national charities close to her heart including Willow Wood Hospice the local hospital’s children’s ward andMacMillan Cancer Support “On behalf of myself and the entire Proper Pubs team we wish our community hero the very best of luck in her future endeavours at The Royal Oak.!” Proper Pubs is always looking for ways to support its communities through an annual schedule of events and fundraising initiatives it was crowned Community Pub Operator at the Publican Awards the Group collected 20,500 Easter Eggs to donate to communities in need and raised nearly £100,000 in just three months for various local charities across the UK Proper Pubs successfully donated enough food to local foodbanks across the UK to feed 1,300 people for a week and has also been recognised UK-wide defibrillator installation campaign which has already saved 11 lives CLH News is published by RBC Publishing Ltd Contributions are welcome for consideration no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised In the thrilling week two of the Ashton Under Lyne Sunday League football enthusiasts were treated to electrifying performances from teams in the Premier League and Division 1.In the Premier League the clash between Blazed Munich and Lethal Shooters ended with a decisive 3-0 victory for Blazed Munich The Shooters were overpowered by a resilient Munich who proved their mettle with a dominant display.Yet the match of the week was undoubtedly the tense encounter between Going Toulouse and Murder On Zidanes Floor The two teams gave spectators a thrilling display of offensive tactics with Going Toulouse narrowly emerging victorious with a 4-3 win.Westend FC also had a remarkable performance this week with a resounding 7-4 victory over Only Here 4 The Beer This high scoring match saw a stellar performance from Chris Perry who bagged a whopping three goals for Westend FC Perry's incredible feat earned him the title of the week's top scorer in the Premier League division.Meanwhile Inter Row Z routed Sons Of Pitches with an 8-0 triumph The Sons Of Pitches were overwhelmed by Inter Row Z's relentless attack Ant emerged as the top scorer in Division 1 for the week highlighting his crucial role in Inter Row Z's success.This week of the Ashton Under Lyne Sunday League has been truly exhilarating with stunning performances from teams and individual players alike fans await more thrilling action on the field A SEVEN-year-old girl from Ashton-under-Lyne has won hearts with her imaginative Easter scene dedicated to North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) crews who lives near Ashton-under-Lyne ambulance station created the display for a recent school competition after drawing inspiration from the emergency vehicles she often sees passing by so we regularly see ambulances and wave at the crews,’ said Ava-Grace’s mum ‘We were sitting in the car thinking of a theme when one drove past Ava-Grace crafted an Easter scene honouring local ambulance workers FURTHER details of how Ashton-Under-Lyne’s new market square will look have been revealed which has worked on projects up and down the country which will see a contentious canopy placed over the area Now Buttress has provided a glimpse of how things may look underneath it once the work is completed in March 2026 The new design includes what are termed ‘softer greener gateway spaces leading to the central Market Square – a high quality welcoming setting for the Grade II listed market hall town hall and library with the new market canopy as its centrepiece.’ Ashton’s new outdoor facility will have 10 retail food and beverage kiosks with space for at least 90 outdoor market stalls It is hoped that will provide space for a range of uses including cultural activities and civic events There will also be a range of seating and play opportunities Buttress state: “The scheme is designed to reflect the town’s traditional market qualities and community spirit that is fitting for modern-day trading and outdoor events and activities “The new design captures the colourful essence of Ashton highlighting and celebrating its history and unique assets.” And senior architect Paul Hobson added: “We are super excited work is well underway on site which heralds the start of this exciting transformation of the heart of Ashton “This area of the town is known for its heritage and rich character and our designs for the new market square draw upon this “It is an exciting milestone for Ashton which will transform Market Square for generations to come.” Buttress’ designs for Ashton’s market have been done in conjunction with Planit whose principal landscape architect Anna Marohn said: “We’re delighted that the regeneration works at Ashton Market Square are progressing town hall and library buildings and creating more space in the square has also been integral to the new streetscape “We want to encourage day and evening activity for the entire community and make the space more inclusive and welcoming including the introduction of nature-based rain gardens and tree pits will manage surface water and protect against flooding the inclusion of edible plants will provide a direct link to the market traders creating opportunities for the community to engage with locally grown Title: "Ashton Under Lyne Monday Football League Kickstarts With Thrilling MatchesThe Ashton Under Lyne Monday football league kicked off its first week of the season with a series of exciting games spanning across six divisions Spectators were treated to an array of goals from the league's top talent with notable performances from the divisions' top scorers.In the Premier League Unathletic Madrid and 2 Girls 1 Schlupp ended their match in a 1-1 draw Oreo FC and Barclaysmen gave spectators a thrilling game that ended in a 4-4 tie Rowan from AFC BC emerged as the top scorer of the Premier League division netting a total of two goals.Division 1 saw Troopers FC succumb to a 5-1 loss against Colts Tameside Tigers squared off Droylsden United in a 2-2 draw while Railway FC dominated Lads On Toure with a 5-1 victory Alex Barcz of Railway FC stood out as the division's top scorer with three goals.In Division 2 Man Chest Hair United emerged victorious with a 5-2 win over Yemen FC while Ngolo Zante edged out Egg Fried Reus in a 3-2 game and Millgate FC suffered a 2-3 loss to Low Taper Fade FC Dan from Ngolo Zante was the star of the division scoring two goals.Division 3 saw Sticky Bandits trounce El Tigres 4-1 Stamford FC narrowly beat Jack Derbyshire's McMuffin Men 2-1 while UK Decs fell hard to Lets Get Messi with a 1-7 defeat Josh from Lets get Messi boasted an impressive four goals.In Division 4 Tekkerslovakia fell to Danny Drinkwater FC 1-3 while MK Dongs triumphed over Knotvery Athletic 2-0 Lee from Danny Drinkwater FC emerged as the top scorer with two goals.Division 5 was no less exciting High scoring match saw Why Ayew Running defeating Ashton Villa 12-7 The Queens Football Club shut out Droylsden Dynamos 4-0 while Inter Yer Nan faced a 2-3 defeat against Horndog Hamster Ultras Jack from Why Ayew Running was the standout player with four goals.As the season has just begun each team showed promising skills and sportsmanship that bode well for future matches The escalating excitement is expected to continue as more games unfold in the forthcoming weeks." AN ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE building familiar to many as a charity shop will be converted if planning permission is granted has applied to Tameside Council to alter the Scope store the ground floor will remain as retail space with one apartment alongside but upstairs will be converted into two other one-bedroomed flats in £350,000 scheme The lower of the trio would be accessed via neighbouring Wood Steet and documents supporting the application state the belief it would improve the structure They say: “The current Delamere Street façade has been affected by deflection This is to be rebuilt in brickwork to match the proposed rebuilding of the Delamere Elevation of 202 Stamford Street “Windows and doors are to match the development at 179-181 Stamford Street (completed by the same developer.) “The retained retail element of the building is to be renovated and made available for letting although at this time it is uncertain what type of use this might involve “Renovation of the commercial part of the building will ultimately provide opportunities for employment In terms of the financial viability of the scheme the number of apartments and potential rental revenue is paramount to the scheme going forward “Although in a poor state of repair there is still an opportunity to renovate and bring back this building “Conversion of part of the building to residential use is considered a sustainable solution to the long-term viability of the building and conforms to local and national planning policy “The retention and repair of the front elevation will improve the visual amenity of Delamere Street and the renovation of the building will contribute towards the revitalisation of Ashton’s old town centre and contribute to the underlying principles of the Conservation Area.” Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse permission In last night's heated matches of the Ashton Under Lyne Sunday League the Premier League and Division 1 teams displayed their skills and grit on the pitch Week 9 of the season saw both close encounters and one-sided victories setting the stage for an exhilarating future lineup.In the Premier League division an impressive match unfolded as Lethal Shooters overcame Urgoingtoulouse with a final score of 4-2 while Westend FC demonstrated their supremacy against Going Toulouse with a 3-1 win The star player of the night was Jordan from Lethal Shooters who shone as the top scorer of the Premier League division netting a grand total of 1 goal.Switching gears to Division 1 an intense face-off resulted in a draw with 5 points each between leaders Blazed Munich and Ladzio The match between Exeter Gently and Murder On Zidanes Floor was a spectacle as the latter team dominated the field with a whopping 16-1 win The star of Division 1 was Joe from Ladzio netting a total of 3 goals and demonstrating his prowess on the field anticipation builds for the forthcoming games The teams are showcasing their exceptional skills and determination promising more thrilling matches in the Ashton Under Lyne Sunday League to see if they can continue their scoring streak and lead their teams to victory in the coming weeks Join Wiggett Homes for an exclusive first look at their stunning show home open Fridays through Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00 Explore their selection of 3 and 4-bedroom semi-detached and mews houses More than 50% of the first phase is already sold Ideal for Commuters: Just 2 miles from the M60 and conveniently close to train and metro stations offering easy access to Manchester family-run developer with a legacy of over 4,400 homes delivered across the region Book your appointment now and view online: https://wiggetthomes.co.uk/developments/fern-lodge/ By George Lythgoe – Local Democracy Reporter and Gary Carter THE OUTDOOR market stalls in Ashton have been dismantled The area where the fixed stalls used to sit – in the shadow of the town hall – is now a fenced-off building site It is part of a project that will see fixed stalls and kiosks replaced with a large canopy The new covering will provide outdoor market traders with protection from the weather and is expected to become a hub for events and cultural activities The new structure has been designed to prevent pigeons roosting underneath the temporary outdoor market will be set up on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Fletcher Square and Market Street The indoor market immediately next door to the construction site will remain open Ashton Market Hall is also set to be upgraded using £250,000 which falls under the council’s ambitions for the Market Square The scheme forms one part of the emerging strategy for the town centre and the use of the £20m Levelling Up Fund for the overhaul of Market Square A masterplan touting the future vision for Ashton town centre stated: “The Market Square will be the beating heart of the town; a modern market and public space enlivened by events café culture and a vibrant evening economy “A friendly and welcoming place for future generations to enjoy A destination where people can socialise and relax.” Whitecrate will manufacture the new kiosks The Casey Group will construct the canopy and public space beneath it after landing the near £4.5 million contract enhanced lighting and CCTV covering the entire area will also be introduced public realm work around the area will make it more accessible with the aim of making it more attractive and desirable The building site used to house 104 fixed market stalls and eight kiosks This was the product of a £4.5m investment by the council SHOPPERS at the Ladysmith Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne have been left disappointed after the removal of the beloved North Pole post box which allowed children to send their letters to Santa the box is no longer safe to keep in place we will no longer be able to accept Letters to Santa.” The removal has sparked frustration among shoppers “It’s coming to something when you can’t even have something to give kids a bit of joy because mindless vandals can’t leave it alone they won’t even feel bad for it—they’ll just think it’s funny.” THE former Ashton swimming pool on Water Street is set for demolition after plans were approved in 2023 which sparked significant public opposition saw 7,000 people sign a petition in an attempt to save the site Originally closed to help sustain other Active Tameside facilities the building was later transferred back to Tameside Council is part of wider plans to ‘capitalise’ on the land as part of Ashton town centre’s public realm improvements A report to the cabinet’s meeting outlined the condition of the building – and how it would essentially pay for something not being used It also revealed how an attempt to get it listed failed It stated: “The rateable value is £100,000 which will represent an annual rates payable liability to the council of £51,200 The council will become liable for the payment of the business rates after expiry of the initial three months relief “A condition survey undertaken in 2021 which identified £610,000 of backlog maintenance was required and the building condition has significantly deteriorated since then Members and users of Active Ashton told The Correspondent of their horror at the closure of the facility despite thousands letting their feelings known in a petition The report adds: “A petition with 7,000 signatures was lodged requesting the council to consider keeping the Active Ashton Pool building open there have been numerous other similar correspondence seeking the same “The Ashton leisure centre was constructed more than 50 years ago and with rising energy costs and inflation was being run at a considerable financial loss to Active Tameside “The council is unable to support the petition received to keep Ashton Swimming Pool open as it has insufficient capital to repair and maintain in a safe condition and insufficient revenue to manage the day to day running costs.” A FAMILIAR social club in Ashton-under-Lyne is to close formerly known as Beaconsfield Conservative Club hosting numerous events and gatherings over the years But it will see its final pint poured and its doors closed for the last time on Saturday listed as being at The Gables on Stamford Street An announcement posted on the club’s social media pages conveyed the bittersweet news to its loyal patrons It said: “We sadly announce that The Beaky Club will be closing its doors for the last time on the 1st of March 2025 Expressing gratitude for the support received throughout its operation the club extended a thank you to its members and supporters the club announced specific dates for its final events The last Saturday night for non-members is scheduled for February 22 TAMESIDE Rotary’s Santa will be taking to his sleigh and touring the streets of Ashton-under-Lyne once again in the run-up to Christmas the man himself has got a busy schedule to fulfil in time for the big day He will be visiting the town’s various neighbourhoods between Tuesday as well as stopping by at popular shopping locations – so you might bump into him when you’re at the shops The mobile routes will take place between 6.30pm and 9pm when Santa will be accompanied by his helpers so the Rotary Club can raise funds to continue its valued work See when Father Christmas will be coming to a street near you… December 10: Starting at OL7 9TJ – Dog & Pheasant on Oldham Road (Top Dog) December 11: Starting at OL6 8DE at 6.15pm – the top of St Albans December 12: Starting at OL7 9JA – Newmarket Road/Patterdale Avenue December 16: Starting at OL6 8HR – Rosehill Road/Mossley Road December 17: Starting at OL6 6NQ – Neal Avenue December 18: Starting at OL6 8BQ – Hartsmead Greenhurst Road December 19: Starting at OL6 8QW – Old Ball Inn Santa will also be at the following locations on these dates: December 6: Aldi on Wellington Road in Ashton-under-Lyne (10am to 2pm) and Tesco on Manchester Road in Droylsden (3pm to 8pm) December 7: Ashton-under-Lyne town centre precinct (10am to 4pm) December 8: B&M at Snipe Retail Park in Ashton-under-Lyne (10am to 4pm) December 13: Asda on Cavendish Street in Ashton-under-Lyne (10am to 4pm) December 14: Ashton-under-Lyne town centre precinct (10am to 4pm) December 15: Sainsbury’s on Lord Sheldon Way in Ashton-under-Lyne (11am to 4pm) Tameside Rotary say the above details are only an approximate guide and can be subject to change due to adverse weather equipment and the number of Santa’s helpers available Click here to find out where you can see Father Christmas in Dukinfield and Stalybridge TRAM users are being warned of disruption on the Ashton-under-Lyne line this weekend It’s part of improvement works planned to take place this year across the Metrolink network Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has said that track renewal work will be happening on the Ashton line this Sunday a bus replacement service will be in operation all day between Ashton-under-Lyne and Piccadilly Gardens Tram tickets will only be accepted on the replacement bus and not on numbered bus services TfGM has apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers PART OF a prominent Ashton-under-Lyne location will be converted into three separate houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) if planning permission is granted And the residents of the site at Clarence Arcade – the end bordered by Stamford Street Staveleigh Street and Fleet Street – would also have co-working space and a cinema room Manchester-based JJRH Commercial Ltd has applied to Tameside Council to convert the vacant office space into seven-bed along with associated residents’ co-working space cycle storage and minor external alterations The front part of the ground floor space of Clarence Arcade The main entrance to the HMO accommodation will be via the rear doorway – which will have electronic access and CCTV – which leads to a lobby area providing access to the building’s lift and staircase The six-bed HMO will be on the first floor the seven-bed on the second and the three-bed in the attic space And documents supporting the proposal believe it would make a positive impact They state: “The scheme will be associated with a series of positive planning benefits including the reuse and conversion of vacant floorspace and the provision of HMO accommodation which will provide housing for 16 people and will contribute to meeting housing demand in the local area “Future residents are likely to be young professionals working within the Greater Manchester area on lower wages who cannot afford to rent and pay all the bills associated with a one- bed apartment on their own or who prefer to share with others and live in a high specification property which they could not afford otherwise “The scheme largely utilises existing window openings with only minimal external changes proposed to facilitate the conversion “Future residents will be provided with a good standard of living accommodation in terms of sizes of bedrooms communal space and the quality of the fit out “A sustainable development that will have economic social and environmental benefits including the reuse of a vacant building and provision of housing in a highly sustainable and accessible town centre location “The accommodation will be targeted to private residents seeking an affordable housing solution in the local area “The accommodation is anticipated to be particularly attractive to NHS workers at the Ashton Primary Care Centre “A property manager will be employed and will visit the property regularly checking on cleaning of the common areas and making sure the bins are being kept tidy “A cleaning company will also be appointed to clean communal areas on a weekly basis.” Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse planning permission A FORMER chip shop in Ashton-under-Lyne will be turned into two flats if planning permission is granted But even the applicant wanting to transform the Golden Pool describes his proposal as ‘a modest accommodation.’ Mohammed Yasir has applied to Tameside Council to transform the building into a two-bedroomed property on each floor the existing door from Mossley Road will be improved to provide access into the property and a staircase up to flat two will be installed Existing external walls will be repaired and rebuilt with the yard at the rear storing bins while the rest of the area will be landscaped it says: “The proposals provide a modest accommodation with good amenities that does not compromise any surrounding properties “We therefore trust that Tameside Council can support this application.” The authority’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse planning permission A SUSPECTED robber stopped in tracks during bold daylight heist a cash-in-transit robbery took place on Old Street in Ashton town centre Witnesses were stunned as the dramatic moment unfolded when a suspected robber attempted to steal a cash box in broad daylight – but was swiftly stopped in their tracks A man aged 41 was arrested on suspicion of robbery Enquires so far which have been conducted by Tameside’s Neighbourhood Crime Team have established that a man approached the driver who had collected the cash and physically assaulted him knocking him to the ground with kicks and punches before robbing him of the cash box and making off in the direction of Church Street on foot The driver called 999 whilst suffering from his injuries and whilst on the phone to one our call operators a dog handler from GMP’s Specialist Operations was on-duty and patrolling the area in his vehicle when he heard the job on the district channel on his radio Superintendent Paul Walker of GMP’s Specialist Operations said: “I can’t imagine the fear that the driver felt when he was subjected to this terrifying and outrageous robbery “This is a great example of the proactive work that happens daily in Greater Manchester by officers who relentlessly pursue those who are blighting our communities and causing the most harm This was really good outcome with a suspect arrested and all stolen cash recovered.” If anyone has additional information that may help detectives further their enquiries into this incident please call 101 quoting log 636 of 24/12/2024 details can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE’S MP has had an up close and personal tour of the major building work taking place on her doorstep Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also believes it will result in a ‘top notch’ facility The senior politician met with officers from Tameside Council and key representatives from building firm Casey and architects Buttress to view progress on the town’s Market Square The much-debated project will see a canopy placed over the area with 10 retail food and beverage kiosks and space for at least 90 outdoor market stalls A new glimpse of what it may look like when it is finished in March 2026 was recently released whose constituency office lies just feet from the multi-million pound project spoke of her excitement after seeing it for herself She said: “It was great to meet with the team and see the ongoing transformation of the public realm “Work is progressing at pace and I’m excited to see it all coming together I’m confident Ashton will have a top notch space for cultural and civic events that reflects the history and heritage of our town.” MOVING Ashton-under-Lyne’s market to a temporary site while a multi-million pound project is carried out is being delayed Current stallholders will shift to an area behind the Market Hall while a canopy and kiosks are installed after the town was awarded almost £20 million by the government’s Levelling Up Fund a date cannot yet be identified for the switch because complications with electricity supplies to those currently in place mean they cannot move Paperwork for the meeting of Tameside Council’s strategic planning and capital monitoring panel on Thursday Documents state: “Electricity North West are continuing to cause delays with the establishment of the temporary market which requires utility disconnections to the existing kiosks before they can be relocated “The issue relates to the subcontractor responsible for undertaking the jointing and disconnection works who are unwilling to commit to a date despite the order for these works being submitted in May this year “We are in regular contact with ENW in order to try and resolve this matter.” all Levelling Up Fund money must be spent by March 2025 but Tameside Council says officers are in ‘ongoing discussions’ with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government over an extension Not securing one is sure to raise the eyebrows of the woman in charge of that body Ashtons MP Angela Rayner – whose constituency office is literally on the doorstep However, documents for the meeting also revealed a possible start date for remodelling work at Ashton’s indoor market, which The Correspondent told may see stalls moved in a bid to make it more ‘flexible.’ But more money is needed to complete the job fully Initial work will see the installation of a partition Yet they add: “Additional design work based on market trader feedback has been completed to create a flexible food and drink destination with creative and cultural uses “Shutters will be installed to enable the market to operate into the evening time “To deliver on the entirety of the vision for the Market Hall An enquiry has been submitted for £250,000 to the National Heritage Lottery Fund creation of new spaces for creative and cultural uses that will enable local artists and enterprises to flourish AN ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE pub hopes to become a mighty Oak once again as it reopens will be serving again after a refurbishment costing more than £300,000 on Thursday New woman in charge Naomi Pinder grew up in the surrounding area and has spent the last 15-years working locally in various positions within the NHS she worked in the hospitality industry and even helped her family run their very own community pub in a nearby village And she is looking to cementing it at the heart of the local area She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking over The Royal Oak and I can’t wait to open our doors to welcome everyone in and show off the pub’s fantastic new look and everything it has to offer “Having been raised in the area and spending many years working in pubs with my family when I saw that The Royal Oak was available new challenge and leapt at the chance to take it over “This is an incredibly exciting new chapter for me and I look forward to all that’s come!” Naomi hopes to support several community initiatives and will start by fundraising to have a lifesaving defibrillator installed at the pub and collecting food to donate to the local food bank She is also hoping to work with several local and national charities close to her heart including Willow Wood Hospice, Andy’s Man Club, the local hospital’s children’s ward and MacMillan Cancer Support Owners Proper Pubs have put in a new bar area and refreshed furniture The games area has been revamped to include a new pool table and dartboard and the pub will boast five televisions complete with Sky Sports The Royal Oak’s beer garden will see brand new wooden benches and a pergola April 17 and to celebrate will host a DJ followed by a special live performance from local artist added: “I am delighted to welcome our brand new operator to The Royal Oak and it’s been a pleasure working so closely with her to bring the vision for this fantastic community pub to life “I’m confident the operator’s hands-on experience within the hospitality industry combined with her local knowledge and passion for the community will enable her to create a thriving social hub where residents can come together.” A MAN who aims to reinvigorate Ashton-under-Lyne has told Tameside Council ‘no HMOs.’ Several sites in the town centre have either been turned into houses in multiple occupation or are targeted for them The Correspondent told of a scheme to convert part of the Victorian Clarence Arcade into three separate developments. who has brought Chute Bar back to life and eventually hopes to redevelop the town’s former cinema we need to highlight the issue of HMO developments and the danger it brings to the decline of our town centres “These developments in our town centres need to be stopped and are a huge contributing factor to damaging our towns especially Ashton where there seems to be a surge of these proposed developments in the town centre “It is quite frustrating for us to see these applications when we are working hard on building fit for purpose dwellings with commercial opportunities in our shops “We have come across developments on George Street Wood Street to name a few in the last week which we urge the community to object to “They are applied for simply for monetary gain to get as much money per square metre as possible with no regards for living quality or the impact on the town “These schemes will destroy our town and are applied for by people who do not care about our community whatsoever and are motivated purely by financial gain from the project.” who also hopes to convert the former Yorkshire Bank site into a bar and restaurant also pointed out his fears that once HMOs are put in And he believes they will result in more unsightly conditions for occupants who he suspects will not bring much to the town He added: “HMO housing is generally undersized dwellings not fit for purpose and will only attract a certain type of demographic into the town due to the poor and inadequate sizing and facilities they will become a management issue with fly tipping and other issues arising from it “This is something we already have a huge issue with and are currently fighting so we do not need it contributing to further especially when we can build fit for purpose dwellings with enough living space to live properly “We will be campaigning to stop these developments and are in discussions with the council and other investors opposing them “We will be highlighting the HMO applications we are made aware of for the public’s knowledge.” A CORDON remains in place at Tesco Express on Oldham Road after a serious incident on New Year’s Day The store has been closed since 6pm following an alleged stabbing that left a 17-year-old boy with serious injuries DS Steve Carroll from GMP’s Tameside division said: but we are following several lines of enquiry to establish the timeline of events We urge anyone who was in the area that evening or has any information to assist our enquiries to speak with police.” – Submit info online: gmp.police.uk A FRIENDS group of a popular Ashton-under-Lyne park has expressed its dismay after youths allegedly caused damage by setting a bin on a fire The incident happened on Saturday evening (April 19) at around 8pm at the King George the Fifth Playing Fields The group told the Correspondent that five young boys dressed in grey leggings and a navy blue hoodie They were collecting logs and branches to make a bonfire before a woman disturbed them with her stepson It’s left the Friends of King George the Fifth Playing Fields – established in 2012 with the aim of making the park a better place for local residents – baffled and disappointed “I don’t know why the gang would kidnap a poor defenceless blue bin and cause this damage in the park,” said the group’s Chair “Our volunteers spend a lot of time in the park to make it a better place for everyone “We also run the Georgie Porgies cafe in the park which normally opens 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays if the weather is not pouring down.” The incident has been reported to the police and anyone with information is asked to contact GMP on 101, or via the website www.gmp.police.uk Anyone interested in volunteering in King George the Fifth Playing Fields in any role can get in touch with Alan by emailing chairman@fokgvpf.co.uk or call 07931 765 120 A MAJOR road in Ashton-under-Lyne has been closed after a 5G mast caught fire Police have confirmed they were called at about 4:10am with reports of a mast/pole at Manchester Road being ablaze Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue told The Correspondent: “The road has been closed in both directions as a precaution with GMFRS crews and fire investigation officers still at the scene The funding comes as part of the Labour Government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods announced in the House of Commons on Tuesday (4th March) The Plan for Neighbourhoods will see local high streets and public services ‘transformed and strengthened’ and comes as a wider part of the already-existing Plan for Change £1.5 billion will be spread across 75 areas in the UK with Ashton Under-Lyne being named among them Each area will receive up to £20 million in additional funding spread over the next decade Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner said local communities had so far been ‘starved’ of investment “Communities across the UK have so much to offer – rich cultural capital an understanding of their own neighbourhood,” she said our fully funded Plan for Neighbourhoods puts local people in the driving seat of their potential having control of where the Whitehall cash goes – what issues they want to tackle where they want to regenerate and what growth they want turbocharge.” The government will also set up ‘Neighbourhood Boards’ in each of the 75 areas who will decide how best to spend the money to benefit their local communities many of these boards have already been set up but will now be tasked with resubmitting their plans with the additional funding budget in mind the list of people who can sit on these boards has also been expanded to include social housing and workplace representatives Mayors will also have a role in each board allowing members to take advantage of their powers and reach to make lasting changes in their homes Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety Alex Norris said: “When our local neighbourhoods thrive That’s why we are empowering communities to take control of their futures and create the regeneration and growth they want to see “Our Plan for Neighbourhoods we will deliver long-term funding that will bolster that inner community spirit in us all and relight the fires in corners of the UK that have for too long been left fighting for survival.  along with our ambitious reforms to streamline the planning system devolve powers and strengthen workers’ rights will help get places and people thriving once again.” TWO men were rushed to hospital following a stabbing during an altercation in Ashton-under-Lyne on Friday night Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 11om on Friday after reports of a ‘brawl’ breaking out in the town centre GMP cordoned off the area close to B & M bargains and Admiral Casino on Bow Street are reported to have non-life-threatening injuries have been arrested on suspicion of assault and violent disorder in connection with the incident GMP has described the altercation as an isolated event with no immediate threat to the broader community Detective Chief Inspector Abdul Kahar of GMP’s Tameside division commented on the situation “These sorts of incidents justifiably cause concern in the community but I want to reassure people that we believe it is an isolated incident with no wider threat to the community.” we are still working out the exact sequence of Friday night’s events I am asking anyone with any information to please come forward This includes anyone who may have witnessed the fight or mobile phone footage from the area at around that time.” GMP is urging anyone with information to reach out via the non-emergency number 101 or the Live Chat function on their website information can be provided anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 In addition to the two men who sustained stab wounds another individual involved in the fight suffered minor injuries Police are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances that led to this violent encounter Let’s hope the bobbies also investigate the criminal waste of money by Tameside council in keeping the outside market stalls’ lights blazing away round the clock since last November AN ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE ‘monster’ has been jailed for a minimum of 13 years after a campaign of physical and sexual abuse against a woman Ryan Schofield subjected his victim to several  traumatic incidents after befriending her online The 34-year-old was originally arrested for being in breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order but officers found evidence on his phone of him abusing her Schofield – of Whiteacre Road – subjected his victim to a string of attacks Now after pleading guilty to making threats to kill controlling and coercive behaviour and false imprisonment he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years at Bolton Crown Court on Thursday of Greater Manchester Police’s Tameside Challenger Team I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case “I cannot begin to imagine her pain and suffering but hope she finds solace in the sentence this monster was handed “Greater Manchester Police takes domestic violence and sexual offences very seriously and I would like to highlight this case as an example of this “If you are a victim of domestic or sexual offences you will be heard “This sentencing is testament to our investigation team in providing the good work bringing Schofield to justice.” GMP doubled the number of rape outcomes in the year ending May 2024 compared to year ending May 2021 – 209 to 426 – and domestic abuse offences are down 13.7 per cent from the year ending May 2023 If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted GMP encourages you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police or a support agency so you can get the help and support available Greater Manchester Police can be contacted via 101 or through the Live Chat function on the website, www.gmp.police.uk Reports can also be made anonymously through the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515 Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk THERE’S plenty of fun and fundraising planned at an Ashton-under-Lyne centre for all of the community to get involved in this spring The 4C centre on Taunton Road will be holding table top sales a craft market and an Easter egg trail in the coming weeks This Sunday (February 23) sees their latest table top sale from 1pm to 3pm – but there will be free cake and a drink on offer in return for donations The centre is looking for unopened gift sets Items will be accepted at the discretion of staff and volunteers the next table top sale will be at the same time on Sunday Anyone who would like to be a seller on the day can email josie@4ccommunitycentre.org.uk to book a pitch for £10 – you must bring your own table and rail The centre is also searching for people who have what it takes to dance for three hours non-stop and make it to the end the three-hour dance-a-thon is on Saturday There’s free entry for spectators and there will be a raffle If you would like to take part, email josie@4ccommunitycentre.org.uk for a copy of the entry pack If you like being creative or buying crafts save the date of the centre’s craft market on Saturday It’s a market with a difference as a few of the stall holders will offer on-the-spot workshop opportunities Entry is free and there will be handmade items And there’s something for the kids too as they can have a cracking time on the Easter egg trail on Saturday It’s a free Easter event with 200 tickets available for families to book for their children they will be given an Easter egg and there will be opportunities to have a photo with the Easter Bunny Anyone interested in taking part can email Josie on the address above PLANS to convert part of a historic Ashton-under-Lyne shopping arcade into three houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) have been refused And Tameside Council believes the scheme for Clarence Arcade could be considered as for one 16-bedroomed facility that could accommodate 32 people Manchester-based JJRH Commercial Ltd applied to convert the vacant office space into seven-bed, six-bed and three-bed HMOs But those have been turned down over concerns it would leave occupants feeling ‘institutionalised,’ the facilities are not good enough and the impact would alter the community planning officers state: “Each of the HMOs would share the same entrance and exit doors to and from the building “The proposal might then not unreasonably be considered as being for a single sixteen-bedroom HMO albeit including three shared kitchens/dining/sitting rooms “The conversion would represent an overdevelopment and occupation of the property “The communal space by virtue of the proposed internal arrangement and complete lack of external amenity space is considered inadequate to cater for the needs of the occupants whilst promoting social interaction the accommodation proposed fails to meet the needs of potential occupiers creating an institutionalised environment with an overall poor standard of amenity the poor standard of accommodation could also fundamentally detract from the character of the town centre and conservation area and the amenities these offer “The proposal would not improve the economic social and environmental conditions of the area nor does it comply with the development plan and therefore does not comprise sustainable development or conditions which could reasonably have been imposed which could have made the development acceptable and it was therefore not possible to approve the application.” was constructed in 1894 and is the only covered Victorian arcade in Tameside 28 objections were received to the proposal and concerns over refuse and disturbance to other people living in the area were also cited in the rejection The report adds: “In respect of the licencing regime and the council’s Landlords Guide to Houses in Multiple Occupation guidance the bedroom sizes are such that each might be occupied by two people “The interference then being that the proposal might result in 32 people residing in three HMOs all in the same building “With multiple tenants living in close quarters the likelihood of frequent disturbances increases These can range from loud music and parties to general everyday noise “Such disturbances can significantly alter the character of an area and the amenities from which it benefits the transient nature of HMO tenants can lead to less accountability and higher incidences of anti-social behaviour “The greater the number and concentration of HMOs and HMO tenants in such close proximity will then exacerbate these issues Communities become unbalanced because the number of short-term tenants with less-established community ties “The proposals included for the storage of refuse bins as is confirmed by the Environmental Services Manager are inadequate in terms of size to cater for the development as a whole “In these circumstances it is probable refuse bins and bags would be deposited and stored in the public highway ahead of collection “Such an arrangement would be detrimental to the locality not only visually but also environmentally and compound existing issues being experienced in the vicinity.” FIXED stalls are likely to be removed from Ashton-under-Lyne’s Market Hall – and some of the entrances closed off The latest plans for the building have been revealed in an update of Tameside Council’s use of money it has received from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) And the meeting of the authority’s executive cabinet on Wednesday is likely to approve the use of £250,000 of the £3,812,000 grant to make alterations to its layout with the intention of making it more ‘flexible.’ That includes attracting more small businesses to use it Documents state: “Ashton Market Hall is set to be re-purposed using £250,000 of UKSPF funding in line with the ambition of the emerging public realm strategy for the town centre and the Levelling Up Fund ambitions for Market Square “Works will include the reduction of entry points into Market Hall as well as the removal of fixed stalls within the Hall to provide additional flexible space – communal seating network points and power for small business pods The entire UKSPF grant must be spent by March 31 2025 and has so far been used for things like Stalybridge’s Street Fest work on fountains at Ashton’s St Petersfield and work to improve shop frontages on high streets in Tameside’s towns Now the executive cabinet is being asked to agree to the £250,000 worth of work to the Market Hall Documents add: “A recommendation is made that the council enters into the standard Tameside additional services contract with the inspiredspaces Tameside Limited (Local Enterprise Partnership) for the works to Ashton Market Hall to a value of £250,000 “As this project relate to repairs and improvements to an existing building and not a design and build project the council propose to enter into the standard Tameside additional services contract with the Inspiredspaces Tameside Limited (LEP).” Is this the same council that modernised stalybridge market and now it hasn’t got one is this also the same council that altered Ashton outdoor market and are now having to do it again Leave Things Alone You Ruined Ashton Outdoor Market And The Bus Station We Lost All The Named Shops We Have More Charity Shops Than Anything Else We Are At A Loss Because Nobody Listens To Us this council couldn’t run a bath let alone a market Why couldnt they just do a tidy up and refresh then lower the rent and more traders will come on the market bringing in more shoppers and more revenue Its a disgrace now its gettering like a ghost town most days x Ashton is an absolute disgrace no descent shops outrageous parking charges It used to be the best place to shop with a fantastic market People used to come from all over to visit Now it’s a disgrace nothing there and the council keeps wasting money on things that aren’t needed eg another bus station but the bus station has nothing to do with the council It is Transport for Greater Manchester that have spent the money on the new bus station It is an important link for people wanting to escape Ashton and go somewhere better I’ve lived in Ashton for 30 years and used to enjoy the bustling outdoor and indoor market and now I rarely go into the centre if I do it’s the Indoor market and just walk right past the outdoor one Yes we have excellent transport links but get them for people to come into the town Reduced entrances/exits needs to be looked into carefully for safety evacuation procedures for both customers and stall holders Ashton is unrecognisable – what was once a thriving market town with great community spirit is a vile attractive only to people who like to disrupt and antagonise others It is neither welcoming nor friendly and sadly Yet again this absurd Labour Council poking their unintelligent nose into something that is not required ,its supposed to be a market – look it up ,its not for bonkers ideas its for buying and selling .when are they going to take notice of the people that matter – the residents the council supposed to represent them but that disappeared years ago ,time to get rid Free parking for shopping will help also more disabled parking near to market Not all disabled people have mobility scooter’s they’re saying they want to improve the market by getting rid of the entrances and the stalls Isn’t that a bit like improving a fireplace by bricking it up and removing the coal Tameside council you should all hang your heads in shame you have done your best to rip the heart out of Ashton town center and this new plan will be the final act Everybody is always blaming the council for being inept Why not just reduce the rents so the traders can make a living You could put a red rose on a pig and get voted in in ashton Let’s hope there’s a few bob left to fix the clock in the picture above not to mention the four-sided one near the taxi rank Everything about Ashton town centre shouts “neglect” and has done for years So much could have been done at relatively low cost and incrementally over the years but hasn’t been Meanwhile those who sing from Tameside council’s song sheet don’t say a dickie bird but look the other way are the stallholders being compensated for losing space are they being given a new stall if losing one so much space and so little ideas of how to improve the environment plastic bottles and the grids around haven’t been cleaned for years These Aston market hall alone tanemside council has done enough damage to Ashton and other areas it’s not what people ask for or want Let’s hope Tameside Council is listening and abandons it’s ridiculous plans Let’s make ASHTON MARKET GREAT AGAIN ! A town of charity shops and drug and drink users The market ground is a disgrace as for the indoor market the traders are trying their hardest to survive and in my opinion give excellent service close due to high rent and not loss of customers I’d like to know what has happened to the flea market on a Tuesday No update anywhere and the Sunday info is near impossible to find Absolute joke for people wanting to use the market and for the poor traders ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE was chosen as the location for the return of a flagship BBC political debate show was back on our screens for the first episode of a new series on Thursday evening (September 19) Secondary school Great Academy Ashton was the venue for the programme where political and media figures answer topical questions from members of the public Many Tameside residents packed into the Broadoak Road establishment after applying to be part of the audience which is carefully selected so that it reflects the electoral picture of the country Labour are now the majority party in the House of Commons none of the borough’s three Labour MPs – Angela Rayner Jonathan Reynolds or Andrew Gwynne – were part of the panel Labour’s representative was Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell who is the Leader of the House of Commons and former Shadow Secretary for Digital She was joined by Conservative MP Graham Stuart who has represented Beverley and Holderness in Parliament since 2005 and is a former Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero multi-award winning economist Mariana Mazzucato and Telegraph columnist Jill Kirby were also part of the panel The opening question by Nathaniel Welsby concerned whether there is ever any justification for an MP to accept a gift while in office It came amid recent scrutiny of gifts received by both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria raised by an audience member called Gareth asked the question of whether controversial cuts to the Winter Fuel payment – worth up to £300 – for millions of pensioners is the ‘start of austerity 2.0’ The panel also discussed Danny Anderson’s question of whether it was right for the Labour government to ditch the previous Conservative government’s plan to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda following the deaths of eight people earlier this week while trying to cross the Channel from France to England Among those in the audience included Dr Faisal Parvez the husband of Mossley councillor and former Civic Mayor of Tameside Tafheen Sharif mental health counsellor Juliet Johnson asked the panellists about plans to improve mental health services It came after eminent surgeon Lord Darzi published an independent report last week – commissioned by the government – into the NHS in England which found around one million people were waiting for mental health services by April 2024 The episode is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and listen to on BBC Sounds from Friday (September 20) in full for anyone who missed it I walked across Ashton’s fully lit market late last night en route to net zero and noticed that two of the clocks on the Market Hall tower were lit up – for the first time in years Add in that the four-sided clock behind the Hall is now working and also lit up Is it so that a few VIPs visiting Ashton wouldn’t notice the way its town centre has been neglected over the years (with not a peep from the council’s yes-folk) At least Tameside council left the outside market fully lit (has been for ten months) so they could see the cheap and unpainted stalls before they’re ripped out after only 8 years service how the hypocrites within the council can pump out their ‘save the planet’ ‘cut the carbon’ nonsense stretches my imagination to the limit outside investigation of Tameside council’s performance in other areas is long overdue Was having Operation AVRO on Question Time day a coincidence If ashton has been neglected I’d love to hear how the other towns in tameside have been treated At least ashton has had/is planned to have significant investment AN ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE theatre has been named on a national at risk register for the 16th consecutive year But the threat surrounding the Tameside Hippodrome has been reduced to its lowest level And the group looking to revive it has told The Correspondent of its pride at seeing its score lowered Its rating of five is made up of two for community rating two for star value and only one of risk factor of the Ashton Empire and Hippodrome (Building) group said: “The score means that the theatre is seen as being of high community value and high architectural/historical value “When I started campaigning for the Hippodrome to be restored it was rated “8,” so I’m very happy to see the progress we’ve made Ashton Empire Hippodrome (Building) Ltd recently submitted its business plan for the theatre to Tameside Council and this will form the basis for discussions with council officers over the coming weeks.” The Theatres Trust has once again included the Grade II listed Oldham Road venue on its list of what is now 43 around eh country at risk illustrating the interwar fashion of adaption to cinema and retaining a wealth of art deco features from the 1930s re-fit,’ it has been closed since 2008 But its latest assessment offers hope as it states: “Recent research and careful measurement have revealed that the 1930s changes to the central portion of the façade were not as invasive as previously thought original to the 1904 building with the stained-glass design closely resembling an early design by Charles Rennie Mackintosh It is believed that the entire 1904 brick façade is intact underneath.” Tameside Hippodrome has been the centre of efforts to renovate it by Ashton Empire and Hippodrome (Building) the trust’s latest report says: “The building remains vacant and there are ongoing concerns about its deterioration although repair works to the roof were carried out in 2024 Tameside Council added the Hippodrome to its list of assets for disposal The conditions stipulate that acquisition proposals require a level of social and financial sustainability “While this could help provide a route for asset transfer to community ownership and onward to restoration and live performance use the potentially wide scope of the conditions cast additional uncertainty around the building’s future “A local group has been campaigning for the building with the ambition to upgrade and refurbish the theatre to its former glory the group set up Ashton Empire and Hippodrome (Building) Ltd a private company limited by guarantee with the aim that this company could take the acquisition of the building carry out the necessary works to restore the theatre and be responsible for the maintenance of the building fabric Ashton Empire Hippodrome (Building) Ltd was awarded £5,000 through our Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities programme to strengthen the governance of the group and map out the steps the group needed to take its vision for the building forward the group has been continuing with its organisational development work to include creating a business plan and community engagement work to create a viable future for the building “The aim is to take a community asset transfer of the building from the council and to reopen the theatre for the people of Ashton-Under-Lyne and wider local area “Theatres Trust will continue to provide advice and support to see this important theatre reopened for its local community.” A total of five theatres have been added to the At Risk register through a combination of pressures on local authority budgets and the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in their structures after the group behind it was granted listed building consent to carry out various works including roof repairs and alterations to facilitate its use as a cultural centre And the fact it is in regular use as that means the threat of harm to the building has reduced to the extent where the Grade II listed structure is no longer on the Theatres at Risk Register the alterations have been carried out with listed building consent and should there be sufficient demand in the future the building can physically be restored as a working theatre.” Theatres Trust Director Joshua McTaggart said: “We understand that local authorities are faced with making tough decisions but the savings made in the short term will leave communities without vital facilities “Buildings where RAAC is present are particularly tricky but it is important that communities are not left without theatre provision “Theatres Trust wants to work with local authorities and theatre operators to explore all possible options and find solutions to put theatres on a firmer footing.” Retail technology news and views for omnichannel retailers Asda is piloting a self-service returns system where shoppers can deposit unwanted or faulty products and be automatically refunded A trial is underway at the retailer’s Ashton-under-Lyne store in Greater Manchester. Asda is also testing out a service allowing shoppers to buy tobacco and vape products without having to queue at the traditional kiosk Senior Manager - Retail Front End Service and Back Office at Asda Massive well done to all the people involved in landing our brand new self- service returns concept in our Ashton store in Greater Manchester.” She added: “The service allows customers to return items they have purchased in-store using their receipt and then get a refund via their original payment method If the return is a simple change of mind it can be done in around 30 seconds If the customer requires help or the return is more complicated then our colleagues are on hand to help.” “This is designed to help customers speed up their shopping trip by removing the pinch point of queueing at a traditional kiosk with customers wanting multiple missions.” In-store technology is a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which are now closed for entries celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London Sign up with your email address to receive the daily RTIH newsletter straight to your inbox We respect your privacy and will not pass your email address on to third parties we will occasionally send you promotional messages on behalf of our advertisers or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Paxton Media Ltd FOUR familiar landmarks are set to disappear from the skyline after a proposal to take down Ashton Moss’ transmission masts was tabled Arqiva has approached Tameside Council for permission to remove the 71-metre structures from an area close to the M60 they are ‘no longer required for operations’ and if permission is granted they could be removed as early as the end of November A 23-metre ‘whip antenna,’ which lies close to the railway running through the area will be restored to an open grass field The masts – which broadcast the AM bandwidth – were put in place in 1974 by the Independent Broadcasting Authority for Piccadilly Radio and has most recently carried Lyca Radio Grater Manchester their time s coming to an end and in a planning application Arqiva has gone into great detail about how they will come down they will safely topple them with large exclusion zones around them the steel structures will then be cut up into sections weighing no more than 30 kilograms before being removed Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse its approval WORK on the multi-million pound project to transform the market square in Ashton-under-Lyne is underway Diggers have been in place to create new electricity diversions and supplies for when the new facilities – including kiosks under a canopy – are in place a temporary outdoor market will be set up on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Fletcher Square and Market Street The indoor market will be open as normal while a Sunday tabletop market will be relocated to Old Cross Street car park for 12-14 months from the end of August did not hold back in what he and the authority is looking for which have dominated talk among traders for some time He said: “Our ambition is nothing less than turning it into a shining example of how markets can form the economic and social heartbeat of a modern town whether they’re from Tameside or further afield to congregate and enjoy the new market square as a vibrant multi-use space “We will look at the parking issue while the work is going on “The successful launch of our transformation of the Market Square shows that even in this most difficult time local companies are still capable pf being a force for positive change and economic growth.” Almost £11 million of near £20 million secured from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund will be used on the project It will see the market hall remain untouched with the triangular canopy to the height of the roof level erected meaning its clock tower will still be visible a number of kiosks will house permanent stalls with up to 44 ‘pop up’ facilities able to be put up and taken down on the day Contractors for the project have been brought on board by the council Market Avenue and Wellington Road will all see surfacing landscaping and street furniture enhancements done with the intention of encouraging people to dwell and spend time there Tameside Council’s executive member for town centres and communities added: “It will be fantastic to see work starting on site on this exciting transformation but we are aware that it will cause some disruption we will be doing everything possible to minimise the impact for visitors “We really want to support our local retailers and market traders and to encourage everyone to shop as usual “Ashton will remain open for business and there will be events and activities to bring in more footfall like Saturdays on the Square which has free parking at Union Street car park and it is vital we continue to use the town centre as usual and keep shopping local to support our businesses community.” Markets have been in decline for years the indoor at Ashton has plenty of empty stalls if you cannot fill them why spend a fortune on the out side space throwing money away that could be used more effectively I don’t see a skate park in the design Some kid might want to be the next Tony Hawk it presents an opportunity for someone to open a skate board stall; market Red Bull; create a new urban clothing brand designed and manufactured in Ashton ;and possibly create some local bands connected to the scene Now how many potential new jobs do we have in Ashton With the amount of money you have to spend This is why people are sometimes critical of the council As usual the drunks ,the druggies ,uncontrollable youth and council will screw it all up YET AGAIN I woud’nt bother going to Cross Street Car Park there was 8 stalls last week and the same this week 13 th of October its pitch Black there’s no main lights on there’s no coveirngs and most of the out door stall holders have gone somewhere else and are saying they wont come back to Ashton to stand on a Sunday when the works have finished as usual this Council have ruined this market again and whatever the Council says its not true that most Stallholders agreed to it most of them did’nt and dont want the change or the upheaval the Market is just going to die especially when Winter really sets in who’s going to stand in a Car Park when its absolutely throwing it down with rain or snowing heavy there’s been no thought to this at all they could have moved the stalls without the tables to the car park if only to give cover Cars then could still park there anyway i hope if there’s Council Elections in May that people remember this and Pensioners remember having their Cold weather payment taken off them to vote a different party in any party but Labour i’m not bothered which A COUNCILLOR has hit out after one part of Ashton-under-Lyne was left more like a ‘war zone’ on Bonfire Night And Kaleel Khan has criticised the lack of action from his ward colleagues The Holy Trinity and Millennium Green areas saw terrifying scenes as fireworks were let off in the streets the independent and volunteers picked up more than 200 spent devices including many which were tied together to And Cllr Khan rammed home the effect it had on people living in the area He said at the time: “Are we living in a war zone What are authorities going to be doing about this after weeks of reporting my concerns with little action?” he continued: “Families are living in fear and our elderly residents are visibly distressed Our community’s wellbeing should not be an afterthought “The fireworks began as early as 6pm and continued relentlessly until just after midnight leaving my constituents feeling deeply let down by the authorities who were supposed to keep our community safe.” Cllr Khan also took aim at the authorities plus Cllrs Bowerman and Bray after he said he had raised the issue He added: “I have been raising these concerns with authorities since September warning them that this situation was a ticking time bomb and that real “Despite my efforts to engage the relevant parties the response has been frustratingly inadequate “I’ve also been reaching out to my fellow ward councillors particularly the two Labour councillors in St Peter’s ward to appeal for a united approach to tackle this issue my calls for collaboration have been ignored failing to prioritise our community’s wellbeing putting the community above party politics it seems that others don’t share this commitment.” Cllr Khan intends to speak at a Greater Manchester Police community engagement event at Dukinfield Town Hall on Wednesday Cllr Bray responded: “The remarks are typical and are not unlike those that have been made before “The path he has chosen is that of an opposition Councillor and he must do his best to represent the whole community of St Peter’s ward from that position “Joyce and myself are both working on residents’ problems as we have done for years with care and concern.” SPECSAVERS Opticians in Ashton-under-Lyne has marked a significant milestone for a group of fundraisers in Tameside Honouring the 40th anniversary of Hyde Fundraisers the business has made a generous donation towards the group’s efforts in supporting various charities The celebration was enhanced by an eye-catching display featuring characters such as the iconic robot dog K-9 the latest incarnation of Batman portrayed by Robert Pattinson which has captured the imagination of locals enthusiasts will have the opportunity to meet Davros The Dalek will remain in the town and soon relocate to the library A FAMILIAR building close to Ashton-under-Lyne’s town centre has been demolished after it became dangerous The structure on Penny Meadow – the former home of Stewart Electronics next to what was ladies’ clothes shop Lace – has come down after its owner did not act on notices to get it sorted And Tameside Council has told the Correspondent the work was done to protect the public A spokesperson for the authority said: “Tameside Council’s Building Control Team has been monitoring the above property following concerns raised about its current condition and structural integrity “Notice was previously given to the owner of the property that defects to the property need to be addressed no works or remedial actions have taken place despite notice being given over a reasonable period of time “Following recent inspections by the Council’s Building Control Officer the condition of the property has deteriorated to the point where it has deemed a dangerous building under Section 78 of the Building Act 1984 (as amended) demolition of the dangerous structure was arranged by the council to take place on October 24 to remove the risk to the public.” Wow two people prosecuted for fly tipping how amazing ROAD closures and diversions are still in place as work continues on a scheme to increase safety and improve the environment on roads in Ashton and Stalybridge The Stamford Drive to Granville Street scheme aims to reduce the volume and speed of traffic on residential streets and promote walking and cycling by providing a new safe crossing of the B6431 Clarence Street A significant number of vehicles currently reroute along residential streets to avoid traffic signals on the main A635 Stamford Street Frederick Street will be permanently closed to motorised vehicles and a new signalised crossing will be installed on Clarence Street quiet route for pedestrians and cyclists to access between Ashton and Stalybridge The work is being funded by a grant from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund and will take approximately three months to complete Extensive consultation was carried out to give residents an opportunity to help improve the scheme An 18-month pilot study involving closing Currier Lane to motorised vehicles was also well received by residents in the area The following temporary road closures will be required A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “This scheme will increase safety and create a more pleasant environment on these roads encouraging our residents to walk and cycle if they choose to do so and reducing pollution “While there will be some inevitable disruption we will keep it to a minimum and undertake the work as quickly and efficiently as possible so that residents can soon benefit from the improvements.” The project is part of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund which is being used to establish the Bee Network a 1,800 mile route connecting every neighbourhood and community across the city region TRAM users are being warned about a network-wide shutdown of the Metrolink which will affect the Ashton-under-Lyne line Transport for Greater Manchester say it’s part of “essential improvements” to “ensure the safety and efficiency of the tram service for many years to come” there will be a full closure of the network on Sunday no tram services will operate across all lines between those times – with no dedicated bus replacement service or ticket acceptance in place they will operate every 15 minutes between Ashton-under-Lyne and Eccles they will run between Piccadilly and Crumpsall Rochdale and East Didsbury via Exchange Square and Trafford Centre and Deansgate-Castlefield That day will also see additional works take place on the Bury line and the Rochdale line There will be no trams operating between Bury and Crumpsall throughout the whole of October 20 with a replacement bus service in place instead Ashton are the visitors to Ballafletcher this Saturday as 'Vagas' try get the wheels back on the wagon after a big defeat away last week in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire.  Cam Findlay banked all the points away at league leaders Garstang last Saturday as the side went down 104-7 Ashton however are just three points ahead of Vagabonds in the standings and could provide a fourth win of the season The two sides didn’t meet earlier in the season due to the pre-Christmas league structure so there’s no real current form to go with.  Fleetwood and Orrell all of whom lost at Ballafletcher.  Statistically however Vagabonds' indifferent scoring and conceding records suggest that Ashton should win notwithstanding the “Ballafletcher effect” Much will depend on team news - 'Vagas' were without Dan Bonwick and Tom Gascoyne last week Bonwick’s knee will be a concern for them however with a week’s rest he may be OK.  One player they can usually rely on though is probably an unsung hero Jon Ferguson; he is solid in the set piece at either front row or second row; he’s powerful around the ruck and maul and for a front five forward He’ll always keep an eye on his back three and if they’re committed to attack its not unusual to see him lurking in the backfield as cover he’s good under the high ball and strong enough in counterattack to allow his team mates to get back and help the team are always lifted by their home crowd and that may just be enough to tip the balance There are just three games remaining for Vagas in Womens NC2 North (South) this trip to Bury and then home and away against Littleborough.  Both clubs are below 'Vagas' in the standings and a 15-point finish would certainly put them close to the promotion pot.  Bury sit at the foot of the table with just one win from six outings they were put to the sword 70-0 at Ballafletcher however Vagabonds haven’t yet won away from home this season Only league leaders Leigh have score more points than 'Vagas' which is a good omen to begin the stats review with.  Two narrow defeats at home have come back to haunt them though so concentration right to the final whistle is probably the message from the coaching team The pack can hold its own in set piece - Becky Dunne and Leona McGovern are very influential in the back line plus the powerhouse that is Maylyn Campbell is a guaranteed line breaker.  Tries came from all over the squad in their big win against Winnington Park three weeks ago so provided the full squad can travel they are definitely capable of taking all the points Ramsey host Southern Nomads in Manx Shield Southern Nomads visit the Mooragh this Saturday for their Manx Shield clash since Christmas both sides have been turned over in friendlies against a powerful Douglas Casuals team and with Cheshire ambitions still on the horizon both will want to acquit themselves well A home tie for England in the Six Nations may well have a say on the outcome of this game.  last Saturday though a few newish faces emerged in the red and black shirt.  Leo McVicar bagged two tries on debut and there were also two for wing Adam Dempsey in just his third game; Ffinlo Corkill made a little cameo on the wing and Owen Bevan showed he has blossomed into a terrier while at university Nomads' Rob Craine seems to be their form man this season he was excellent pre-Christmas against Ramsey and scored their only try last Saturday against Douglas.  The remainder of the team are capable and experienced too with skipper Finn McGregor able to play a number of positions and a good hard runner with ball in hand This should be a close game and is impossible to call Vagabonds v Ashton-Under-Lyne @ Ballafletcher (1.30pm KO) Ramsey v PDMS Southern Nomads @ Mooragh Park (2.15pm KO) A FIRST litter pick in a small community in Ashton-under-Lyne proved such a success that they may take place on a more regular basis Residents young and old turned out to show that looking after the area they live in matters to them parents and staff from St James’ CE Primary School were joined by members of St James’ Church as well as Scouts from 3rd Ashton and local councillors Bill Fairfoull The group armed themselves with bin liners brushes and shovels as they cleaned the church grounds before taking to nearby streets – including Egerton Street Romley Street and Westbury Street – to ensure they were left spick and span Their first outing saw more than 20 bags of rubbish collected Alan Fish, who recently stepped down as Chair of North Tameside Scouts District but still continues to support local Scouting said: “This showed the best of the community of St James’ both adults and children plus 3rd Ashton Scouts showing that they cared for their surroundings where they lived schooled and worshipped in their respective faiths “It was such a success that plans are afoot to hold more litter picks on a monthly basis.” thanked everyone who gave their time and energy to make the first litter pick a most enjoyable and successful event Anyone who would like to help with litter picking or join the Scouts can contact Alan by emailing alan.fish.161te@gmail.com or calling 07931 765 120 Top marks to the community – but only the community As can be seen in the picture linked to below general litter has been with us for a very long time What hasn’t is the dumping of household refuse and bulky items on our streets – lots of it Evan a dimwit knows that if bags of household refuse are left on the streets before being shifted some of their contents can get scattered about by the wind and litter an area I’ve never seen any serious attempt in the past by any to try to get to the root of why so much is being dumped many years ago I emailed all 12 Ashton councillors about a bulky item dumped on a main Ashton thoroughfare but 10 couldn’t even manage an acknowledgement https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Martin-Parr-GB.-England.-New-Brighton.-From-The-Last-Resort.-1983-85-LON6982.jpg critical of Tameside council and its councillors As one who was blocked years ago from the Correspondent’s Facebook page for criticising Tameside council I won’t sully your pages with my comments again A FUN day out for all of the family is being held once again in the Hurst area of Ashton-under-Lyne The Hurst Festival is organised by Smallshaw-Hurst Children’s Community supported by the charity Save the Children in conjunction with Ashton United in the Community and Jigsaw Homes It will take place in Cedar Park on Queens Road on Thursday Rain didn’t stop families ending the summer holidays on a high last year grandparents and carers turned out to join in the fun JULY 4 will be known for something else than American Independence Day this year – it is the date the country goes to the polls in a general election Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s call for a summer vote took many by surprise but campaigns are up and running and questions being asked The lines have been redrawn as Audenshaw and Dukinfield have moved into the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency – which if polls are correct may be the home of the Deputy Prime Minister Labour’s Angela Rayner has competition on her doorstep after the Workers Party of Britain launched its national campaign outside its town hall And with a professional wrestler among those standing if it ever threatens to get physical there may be a battle those standing tell The Correspondent about their aims and what they stand for and now own a house with my fiancée in Mossley I’ve never moved out of the area and I’ve seen the decline of Droylsden we would come to Ashton for a family day-out go to the swimming baths and watch a pantomime at the theatre or visit our war museum inside our great town hall so I’m not going to tell you that there is a quick and easy answer to these issues and make a bunch of false promises that I couldn’t possibly deliver but I owe zero political favours and I’m self-funded I am willing to work with the local council to bring life back into town by reducing crime through zero-tolerance policing supporting small and medium sized businesses with tax relief restoring our beautiful but decaying buildings and ultimately regenerating what was once a great town I grew disillusioned with the state of politics in this country I feel an obligation to stand because I love our home and I love all the people that live here and together we can turn our great towns and our great country around Ashton-under-Lyne has been ignored by Labour for too long and needs an MP that listens and puts your priorities first ‘if Labour run the country like they do here we are in for a real mess’ the Conservative Government gave Tameside Council £20m for regeneration and three years later the Labour-run council have nothing to show for it I would hold them to account and ensure that investment is delivered for residents I know what it’s like to grow up on a council estate in a single parent family and would put aspiration at the heart of everything I do Having worked in education for the past seven years I understand how important it is to give children the best possible opportunities to enable the greatest choice for their futures I would work with local schools to help them deliver the fantastic education for our children I know how devastating antisocial behaviour can be for a community and would partner with the police and local stakeholders to tackle crime I have seen the importance of a focus on prevention rather than just cure to help deescalate community tensions For an MP who will fight for you and hold Labour to account and then studied Ancient History at the University of Manchester I now work in a family clothing company and am a local councillor in Stockport My mum was born in Ashton-under-Lyne Hospital and brought up in the shadow of Moore’s Hat Factory in Denton (where my grandparents worked as hatters) and went to Ashton Grammar School I spent a lot of time growing up in Tameside with my grandma going around the market and building model planes with my uncles I’ve known and loved the area since my childhood Our priorities for Ashton are health and social care My family has had bad experiences with Tameside Hospital and I want to see the hospital improved along with the social care available to our residents We would scrap the two-child limit benefit cap and bedroom tax to ameliorate the cost-of-living crisis We would end the sewage scandal that sees local waterways like the River Tame befouled by greedy water companies I support community-led regeneration plans that put local needs first and foremost I AM the product of parents who aspired to leave the world a better place than they found it I have inherited those values and hope to effect profound and meaningful change which I have always pursued through my activism in the voluntary sector I intend to be hands-on and present in all eight wards I will champion projects by engaging with local leaders who have dedicated their lives to improving our communities Together we will work to ensure transparency in funding allocation and regular consultation with the public before and after projects are undertaken Making sure funds are truly spent on projects that serve the community instead of vanity projects that are repeated every few years I will tackle anti-social behaviour and push for new youth projects to engage our young people community centres and recreational facilities for healthy bodies and minds and investigate the failure of our children’s services we intend to address the cost-of-living crisis by nationalising our energy and water to reduce ever-increasing bills and costs of running a household we will reduce the terminal housing shortage our country faces by investing in affordable housing in Tameside where the current waiting list is approximately 7,400 We will end the privatisation of our beloved NHS and seek to increase funding across health services and improve working conditions while reducing waiting times and enhancing access to services for all We also pledge to hold a referendum on NATO membership and make our foreign policy aligned with creating peace and prosperity My over-arching ambition is to bring integrity and accountability back to politics as the Green Party candidate to represent Ashton-under-Lyne Greens are the only party being honest about funding public services and rectifying the inequality in our society A moderate wealth tax on the super-rich would fund services lost by decades of tax cuts for the fat cats A nationwide retrofit of home insulation would create new jobs reduce costs to those who are suffering the most giving feedback to residents with regular newsletters I spent 10 months teaching armed services veterans a nationally recognised horticulture qualification donating my full salary back to the Curzon Ashton Community Foundation I created the Waterloo Wombles in 2018 to focus on litter picking across my ward and in 2022 encouraging exercise and community spirit amongst youngsters I helped plant hundreds of trees in Waterloo Park and helped maintain school and community garden areas I also campaigned against the closure of Ashton Pools and the demolition of the conservatory in Stamford Park Tameside residents have already shown their faith in the Greens with an increase in vote share from nine per cent to 18 per cent SERVING the people of Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015 has been the honour and privilege of my life I have always promised to do all I can to get the best for Ashton I am so proud to represent the people of this constituency I hope you will re-elect me so I can continue to do so Times are hard and families are struggling after 14 years of chaos but wages and benefits are not keeping pace trapped in the cycle of insecure work and unable to plan for a better future It’s time for change and I’m determined to make life better for people As a single mum who grew up on a council estate I’ll fight every day for families to have the same opportunities I had under the last Labour Government Labour will deliver a new deal for working people We will end fire and rehire and zero hours contracts and guarantee your rights at work from day one on the job My plans to Get Britain Building will make sure the right homes are built in the right places I’ll deliver the biggest boost to affordable social and council housing for a generation Labour will put police back in neighbourhoods to make streets safe again and drive down crime and anti-social behaviour including in some of the most deprived parts of the constituency I can continue working for you locally and take a strong “Times are hard and families are struggling after 14 years of chaos but wages and benefits are not keeping pace.” How strange the government have been paying for Angela’s accommodation / rent £2.8k per month and council tax bills etc (all online) for her London accommodation – so obviously Angela has not been impacted per her above paragraph Angela you are out of touch with people of Tameside and you have done nothing for us in the last 9 years as an MP and it is time for you to move on There is going to be stiff competition for the MP role this time round and I hope the best candidate wins for our sake The working class have and still are struggling Only one party that I can see that will start to change this It will be refreshing to have a candidate representing the area who is local knows the challenges and is not influenced or controlled by any organisations I will be voting Reform for real change ❤️??????? The question marks at the end of my post was the Union Jack emoji but this appears to have been deleted TRADERS whose stalls are being earmarked to move in a £250,000 reworking of Ashton-under-Lyne’s market hall have questioned the plans Tameside Council has announced fixed units are set to be removed with more space inside being used for other things Bosses believe it will help push a ‘transformative agenda’ and that it is a ‘good news story.’ But those who have been told their businesses are likely to be shifted have expressed doubts over whether it will work Gary Mottershead has worked at Farmhouse Deli which has been on the market for more than 100 years said: “Is it going to be better for the market “These people that come down and do all these plans “They’ve probably gone to Altrincham and seen that it’s working but it’s a posh area it’s a working man’s town – they don’t want bars “They’ve opened three new ones outside recently and they’re not busy What gives them the right to think it’ll be thriving inside I’ll put hot pies and peas on – I’m selling hot food then.’” Kath Keeley has worked at one of the most familiar stalls – The Egg Nest – for 25 years and doubts the food hall plan would work She told the Correspondent: “All they’ve said is they want to move us and try and find a similar space to what we’ve got “Gary’s stall and mine have always worked off each other “There are no stalls big enough to put Gary on unless they’re going to move other small stalls first There are three stalls on the back wall that all leak water when it rains “Who’s going to want to set a stall up selling food when there are bins and buckets to catch the rain I can’t see the practicalities of putting food stalls there “I can see where they’re going but people like wandering around and finding a little café there or a food thing here The latest plans for the building were revealed in an update of Tameside Council’s use of money it has received form the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) approved the use of £250,000 of the £3,812,000 grant it received to make alterations to its layout said: “The interventions outlined are supporting – and will continue to support – the council’s strategic priorities.” And Ashton Cllr Vimal Choksi believes the scheme will help the traditional building in the future I welcome the investment in the market hall We’ve seen UK-wide that many markets are struggling and what we’re doing is future proofing by investing £250,000 in extending the food and drink offer as well as introducing some cultural offer for our youth We’re not losing any traders and they have been consulted “It’s based on what we did many months ago with traders and councillors We’re just addressing the vacant spaces we have.” No-one is losing their stall and we’re looking at the food offering “Go to the Trafford Centre and the Arndale Centre that’s important because what you’ve got is a lot of young people going from the college to Greggs or McDonald’s and we think we’ve got an extra offer there “We think it’ll enhance and bring a different age profile into the indoor market this will enhance the indoor market and the offer that’s in there.” The Hall’s opening hours are 9am to 5pm so the clock in the above picture is obviously telling the wrong time (it still is) If Tameside council can’t even get a town-centre clock to work the Leader of Tameside Council says “We think it’ll enhance and bring a different age profile into the indoor market” That’s the generation which uses the internet Check out the council’s market web page – https://www.tameside.gov.uk/ashton/market – and there’s no link to the market’s Facebook page. Check out the Ashton Market Hall Layout page – https://www.tameside.gov.uk/ashton/markethall/layout – and the hover feature doesn’t work Neither are there any links to the traders’ websites or Facebook pages Simple things which in the internet age should be done and with which the ‘different age profile’ is familiar and makes use of Wasted money people don’t have money to sit in the market eating an drinking The older generations will miss going to the market an indoor to buy from the food stalls that’s been there for years 😕 Don’t want to sit in posh eating bars 😢 sad it will kill the indoor an out door market completely Why don’t you just leave the inside market alone we don’t have as many people visiting ashton like you do in Manchester We don’t need the market hall turning into a food hall it will effectively destroy the small cafes and eateries in and around ashton town centre As it is now and where business’s are situated are what people are used to You think because of the surrounding colleges it will bring all the students in what so if a business is doing well you can charge extortion rent to get the money back your using to get this crazy idea on the go There’s a cost of living crisis or don’t you know that Spend your money on improving houses and schools people suffering from drugs and alcohol abuse What this council and its MPs have systematically done over the past 30 years to reduce this town to its current state is nothing short of a scandal Am I correct in thinking creating an indoor cafe culture in Ashton indoor Market will attract younger people I only hope there’s going to be a vast increase in permanent security in there as all that happened at MacDonalds was added trouble as was written about in the press not long ago Sadly I don’t think it will attract the right sort of clientele Altrincham is a completely different kettle of fish It’s down to Local Tameside council Tameside towns are dead Can’t blame the Tories The labour council absolutely ruined the outside market years ago traders left and never returned because of the time it took to convert it to its present state It will be the same for the inside market leave it alone the people don’t want this But whenever have the council ever listened to the people of Tameside footfall reduced when are these idiots going to loose the stranglehold they have in the Borough Obviously Shameside Council have not had the courtesy to consult with the market traders Just a bunch of brain dead idiots messing with people’s livelihoods