‘Disappointing but not surprising. It is not good news for the town’
THE TOWN’S business leaders have spoken of their disappointment at the recent collapse of the proposed cinema scheme.
Developer Ask Real Estate pulled out of plans to develop the Churchill Way complex in an announcement last week.
The firm claimed they had to make the decision because of a ‘ significant downward shift in the food and beverage sector’.
Tim Shercliff, the chair of Enterprising Macclesfield, told the Express the town now needs more investment and a clear long term plan.
He said: “It’s potentially a blow to the town that the cinema scheme isn’t going ahead, but I’m not that surprised.
“If we had a longer term vision for the town, supported by the whole community and with significantly increased investment from Cheshire East in the infrastructure and particularly the public realm, it would make developments such as the cinema more likely as it would increase confidence in the town.
“We need to re-double our efforts to get this whole community approach in place, and the business community, through the Macclesfield for Business Steering Group, remains ready to play its part.”
Mike Rance, chair of community business group Make it Macclesfield, said it was bad news but it’s not the end.
He said: “It is disappointing but not surprising. It is not good news for the town.
“HS2 represents an opportunity and we will be standing up to be counted as that could be a catalyst for the opportunity for new investment. I think a lot of that will be around regeneration projects.
He added: “We have been at this for 10 years now and we had it with Debenhams a few years ago and that failed to start and now we have a similar outcome with this.
“Now we have got to regroup and come back again.”
Sue Bowden, chief executive at North Chesh- ire Chamber of Commerce told the Express they will continue to support future plans to regenerate the town centre.
She said: “It is deeply disappointing for the business community in North Cheshire, particularly Macclesfield, and along with David Rutley MP and other key stakeholders, we will be looking to support and get involved in any initiatives that arise as we have done in the past with the five year Vision, Strategy and Action Plan for the revitalisation of Macclesfield.”
But Jeff Coghlan, founder of the Macclesfield-based gaming design firm Matmi, said: “I think that building the town’s dreams on a cinema com- plex is ridiculous. We have so much more to offer than a multiplex.
“I think a leisure complex that incorporated a theatre, cinema. art, space, gig venue and maybe a couple of cinema screens would be more beneficial. The same building could offer office space (which is lacking in Macclesfield) for start ups etc. Multiplex cinemas don’t really improve and area, in fact quite often they do the opposite. They do not employ many staff and any profits made leave the area.
“Young creatives want affordable housing, office space and transport and a infrastructure that creates networking opportunities.”