A depressing report today from Experian, which suggests that Walkden town centre is one of the places worst-hit by the current recession.
Walkden town centre has suffered considerable decline over the last few years, and the number of empty shops has steadily increased. Obviously the current recession has exacerbated this, but traders have also complained about the inflexibility of the ownership of the Ellesmere Centre – not helped by the Council’s decision to flog the Market Hall and Pembroke Halls to them back when Labour last found themselves in financial crisis.
Incidentally, as I’ve pointed out before, Labour promised to reinvest that money in Walkden town centre and it has never materialised – we’re still waiting for the money.
The new Tesco development is now well underway. Many people are rightly wary of Tesco, but sadly there wasn’t a huge queue of firms waiting to invest in Walkden. I hope that the new Tesco – and particularly the extra parking spaces – will provide a boost to those smaller and independent traders who have stuck out the difficult times, and encourage new firms to invest and set up in Walkden.
Locally, the Council needs to do much better. The millions received from the Pembroke Halls sale went into a typical Labour black hole and show no sign of returning. There is a “Salford West” development strategy but Walkden town centre does not even feature on the radar (although they are doing some useful work elsewhere).
Nationally, we need to be doing much more to support businesses and independent traders. Conservative proposals include:
- Get credit flowing and save jobs with a £50 billion National Loan Guarantee Scheme.
- Help small businesses with cash flow by delaying VAT bills for six months.
- Get companies hiring again through reducing employment costs for small businesses by cutting National Insurance, and through a tax break for new jobs.
Like many local residents, I have my fingers crossed that the new Tesco has the desired effect. Regardless, I know that a Conservative Government and Conservative-led Council would be much more proactive in supporting town centres like Walkden (and Eccles and Swinton) and the businesses that inhabit them.
With regard to both Walkden and elsewhere Tesco and others are part of the problem. I can’t see how they can solve Walkden’s problem. The 15 month gap in provision after decanting to Kwiksave will just amplify the problems that local traders have. With a 50% increase in size when it returns I suspect that the competition from Tesco will kill off any that survive.
I’m sorry but I don’t see any grounds for optimism. That is one of the reasons why I objected to the planning application.
I used to spend a great deal of time in Walkden, over the years.
Bowling, Cinema, Shops,Banks, Market etc. I even used to work on Sharp Street. But I don’t go there anymore!
For my second marriage I rented the whole of the Pembroke Halls complex for a day, and filled the place. What a party that was!
I was very sad when the halls were knocked down. I had no idea why at the time.
Then, when they started on the Tesco store I was gobsmacked.
I was in that store on the day it opened as the Scan Superstore, as a provider of office equipment. I thought it was awesome. In one sense it seems like only yesterday but in another it seems an awfully long time ago.
Along with the roofing over of the square and main shopping street, it all seemed to hold so much promise, but…. like I said, I just don’t go there anymore.
Still, I’ll always have the photos.
SY.
I’m sorry to see that Tesco is being portrayed as the big bad wolf. I would think that over the past 30 years that Tesco has been resident in Walkden there is more on the plus side than the negative as far as bringing footfall into the Ellesmere. The problems with the centre lay squarely at the feet of the owner with high rents forcing small business’ out and their pie in the sky projects. I have spoken with people, including your predecessors and Barbara Keeley over this, and I believe the councils hands are tied over the matter. To blame the council over this is particularly disingenuous, as it wasn’t them that pulled down the old indoor market to build more empty space, it isn’t them who control the rental.
Other than this article, which appears to be just to gain political points, what have you and the other 2 conservative councillors done since being elected to sort out the problems? I have to say I don’t see you camped out in the Ellesmere, and that you appear to be noticeable by your absence.
You are right in so far as the Council has very little power to do anything over privately-owned retail space. However it was of course my (Labour) predecessors who signed over the Pembroke Halls and the Market Hall in the first place.
Perhaps more importantly, it stated very clearly that the money recouped (some £2.5 million if I recall correctly) would be spent on improving the centre of Walkden. Of course instead it went down a typical Salford Labour black hole, never to be seen again. The people of Walkden want their money back.
I really hope that the current plans for the Ellesmere Centre and Tesco transform the town centre… but I will believe it when it happens. We have heard the promises before…
When will work commence and be completed?
June – likely to be late summer 2010.
I returned to Walkden in April of this year. Since then I have managed to obtain a tree preservation order for the old walkden library gardens, thanks to Salford Planning Dept. Just in time it seems! Now I have heard that a footpath leading into Walkden from Ashtonfield Drive is not going to be replaced and also that the green space and paths around the “Boatshed” pond and the pond itself are going to be demolished in favour of more parking spaces. I can’t find anyone who knows the answer to people’s questions about this much loved public amenity. Does anyone know who to ask?
Sharon