Macclesfield Business Group Gives Cheshire East Council Town Centre Top Priorities
Businesses in Macclesfield have put forward their 3 “quick win” priorities to Cheshire East Council to capitalise on the recent announcement of the upgrade to Castle Street.
Businesses in Macclesfield have put forward their 3 “quick win” priorities to Cheshire East Council to capitalise on the recent announcement of the upgrade to Castle Street.
Members of Macclesfield Means Business, a local and well-established business group, met with representatives from the Council late last year. As part of the discussion, Macc Means Business were asked for a list of their top priorities for the Town Centre that could stimulate increased footfall and provide a more welcoming environment for visitors and shoppers to the main shopping areas.
Following discussions had with MMB Steering Group members, the top three priorities were identified as;
- Chestergate Review/Picturedrome – With regards to the whole of Chestergate, repair broken grids, potholes etc. and tidy up pedestrianised section. Put signs and maps up to connect the Picturedrome with the pedestrianised section of Chestergate and the rest of the town centre.
- Signage Review – Install better signs and new maps to indicate the routes from the train station and main ‘gateways’ like Jordangate/Whalley Hayes car parks to the town centre, as well as new signage to highlight historic quarters and places like the ‘Castle Quarter’.
- Car Parks – Improve pricing, lighting and signage. Tidy up and improve cleanliness. Ensure landscaping is managed so not overgrown to create a safer environment with visible routes in and out.
Other suggestions included re-visiting the opportunity for a cinema, but on a smaller scale to the previously proposed scheme that never materialised.
Following feedback Macclesfield Means Business has collated over the last 12 months, it is apparent that retailers and businesses alike have become disenchanted with the lack of progress from Cheshire East; it is hoped that with the new regeneration framework these three priorities could be delivered quickly.
Tim Mears, Managing Director of Axon IT and a Director of Macclesfield Means Business, mentioned: “Macclesfield has been largely ignored in the South Manchester and North Cheshire regions whilst town centres such as Altrincham and more recently Stockport are starting to flourish.
We need more initiatives from Cheshire East, not just an upgrade to one street but a comprehensive solution to the declining footfall in the Town Centre, it is hoped these three initiatives will be taken seriously by the Council as a number of retailers and businesses in the town are represented within Macclesfield Means Business.”
Pictured in the photo are members from the Macclesfield Means Business Steering Group: Paul McLeman from Orbit Developments; Nick Bianchi from Arighi Bianchi; Tim Mears from Axon IT; Chris Bentley from Harts Limited; Justine Clowes from SAS Daniels; Jon Butler from Big Brand Ideas; Kay Stevenson from Orbit Developments; David Johnson from John Douglas Menswear; Alison Barlow from Fourth; Justine Gore from Peaks & Plains Housing Trust and Tim Hine from NatWest Bank.