Manchester City Council Executive discussed an Action Plan for Chorlton in July.  You can download the document at: Chorlton District Centre Action Plan 2010-2020.

You might also be interested in the Local Development Framework – Core Strategy Prepublication partial consultation

Email keepchorltoninteresting@gmail.com with your thoughts.

 

Rumours that The Feathers Pub (300 Barlow Moor Road) is to become a Tesco Express* seem to be true. John Leech MP forwarded an email to KCI earlier this week.

Current planning law does not require a planning application to be submitted where once there was a public house and now someone wants to open a supermarket.

Eric Pickles, the new secretary of state for local government and communities has decided not to call in the LCCC/Tesco planning application which includes a mega Tesco.

If you wrote to government office north west urging a call in then you will have received the following copy of a letter to Janet Callender Trafford Chief Executive Officer:

What follows is a press release sent out by KCI on 21 July 2009

For Immediate release

Plans for massive superstore – just not cricket!

Keep Chorlton Interesting (KCI) today challenged Trafford Council and the developers of the Lancashire County Cricket Club at Old Trafford to provide local people with accurate information on the scale of the proposed superstore currently included in the development proposals.

Misleading information

Chorlton has the second largest shopping district in Manchester. It stands out as a place where independent local traders thrive. KCI want this to continue. We believe:

- it will not be possible for independent traders to thrive alongside another supermarket. We oppose the inclusion of a new supermarket any larger than the existing Quality Save store (around 10,000 sq feet).

- an influx of chain stores able to afford high rents in a new precinct would upset the balance of retail provision and destroy Chorlton's identity.

I was in St Helens yesterday and came across a 'Be Local Buy Local' campaign - launched by the local council in May 2009. I  thought people might find it interesting!  Sadly St Helens doesn't seem to have too many local shops - the place was littered with chain stores but its great to see the Council doing this.  Wouldn't it be good if Manchester City Council did something similar?!

Keep Chorlton Interesting would like to hear about any examples of private developments that support independent retail.  What follows is some work our group did last year. Please send us details of other examples with web links if possible.

Redevelopment of Chorlton’s shopping precinct has been on the cards for many years. Built in the 1970’s, it is fairly typical of its time, and perhaps a bit neglected. But it is well-used, home to a mixture of independents, smallish chains, and a Boots and a Quality Save. Recently, plans for redevelopment have become definite, and the owners of the precinct are soon to sign an agreement with Ask Developments for a large-scale redevelopment of the precinct, and possibly the surrounding area as well.

Campaigns against Tesco began back in 2006, when the company applied to build a Tesco ‘Extra' on playing fields on Chester Rd, Stretford. This format is the biggest of all, and the proposal was for a store of over 8000 square metres, selling everything from groceries to clothing to electronics. Although the area around the proposed site is certainly not well served for shopping, these needs could easily have been met by a small supermarket, or preferably a number of small local shops. A store of this size would not only drain business from other local centres and local shops, but also prevent any sort of alternative ever developing in the area.