WRITTEN IN DEMOCRATIC INK!

There’s was a rather confusing Press Release on Tameside council’s web site last week (13/5/13) re-announcing a £4.5million 'Ashton Market Square' revamp which calls for residents, town centre businesses and visitors to share their views on the plan.

 

In an obvious attempt to appear democratic, the press release goes on to say that although there are ‘no fixed plans’ for what shape the makeover will take, the council have ‘recently’ appointed global architecture, planning, engineering and technology firm, IBI Group, to develop proposals for the Market Square.

However, when one reads the IBI Group’s web site, it informs us that IBI Taylor Young has been working with the local authority for over 10 years to regenerate Ashton Town Centre!

They confirm they have recently produced a town centre prospectus promoting development opportunities to the private sector in the context of public interventions, which includes the imminent arrival of the tram providing excellent connections to Manchester.

However, it also goes on to imply that rather than wait for the views of those who, the council say, really matter most; namely the residents, town centre businesses and visitors, the team are now ‘refining’ opportunities around key sites and the public realm as part of a detailed design and development framework, which is logical when one considers the initial council announcement that the ‘refurbishment’ will cost £4.5million – a figure that must have been arrived at based on substantially quantity surveyed, detailed plans!

The web site also informs us that IBI Taylor Young is also advising Tameside College on their master- planning and property strategy for the town centre. –Yet another important fact Tameside council forgot to mention in their news statement.

It also begs the question, now that this £4.5million expenditure has been labelled ‘Ashton Market Square' makeover - the stated objective being ‘to bring more visitors to the markets and other town centre shopping areas’ - how much has been ear-marked to grant the councils wish for new council offices and Ashton College’s desire to move to ‘town centre’ accommodation?

In future it might be prudent for Tameside councils Press Office to finish council News Releases with: Close of Stable Door.