FACEBOOK COMMENTS

MACCLESFIELD residents have their say on town centre future (Express, August 8) Stewart MortonCollings: The high street as we know it is gone, and it’s not coming back. Macc simply can’t pull in large retail outlets (I doubt any town centre can these days), which means it’s going to have to be small independent businesses that take up that space. For this to happen there needs to be support and mentoring for these businesses to make a good go of it. Business rate relief and rent support as well. Foster a quality independent culture and we could be well on our way to a blossoming town centre like Hebden Bridge or Leek (which is currently being courted by the Great British High Street campaign). A place where people actually want to move to, and spend their money in the town, rather than online or at the large chain supermarkets. Jane Ramsey: I would love to see a university (or satellite location of a large university) in Macclesfield. Students support commerce, and it would also be a job creator. Emily Kate Rocca: We need the big retailers to attract the shoppers who will also then shop at the local shops. No one wants to come shopping in Macc because there’s nothing here to attract the people that don’t live here. Can’t see TK Max surviving if there’s no other big retailers to attract the spenders. People would rather go to Stockport or Handforth Dean where there’s more variety. Martin Smith: Macclesfield needs a USP that is not going to be influenced negatively by a shift in trends, which is currently affecting retail and the way we consume technology. A better model for leisure would incorporate unique “experiences” which cannot be replicated, impacted by tech or copied and sold on. Macclesfield could be viewed the “Western Gate” to the Peak District - as Sheffield is the Eastern entry point. We should build on that for a start and I congratulate Macclesfield Town Council on their direction of travel with the current ‘See Macclesfield’ approach. I am fully behind a public/resident driven approach to the regeneration of Macclesfield - give the people of this town what they want. We should be looking at a development that provides a live performance venue that hosts Music (the number of big name acts that Macclesfield has hosted is very impressive when you look at it), Theatre, Comedy, business symposiums. And we also need to further invest in a Technology Hub! as the old borough of Macclesfield already has a strong track record in that field. John Lawrenson: This old chestnut again! Im all for heritage and charm but diversification and amalgamation of big retail and useful quirky shops is the only way Macclesfield will have a real future, combined with weekend events such as the Treacle Market. Its not rocket science!

DEDICATED nurse Karen Clayton receives royal award (Express, August 8) Amanda Cooke: Thoroughly deserved. Congratulations Karen and many thanks for all your help and support for my mum Julie Cooke. Louise Benson: Really pleased for her. She was fabulous with all of us when my dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Lynn Bates: Well deserved. A brilliant and dedicated nurse xx Lorraine Creech: So well deserved. Proud to have worked with her xx