Trying to take the Vegas out of Stalybridge

THE TAMESIDE TOWN THAT’S KEEN TO REINVENT ITSELF

THE days of ‘Staly Vegas’ may be over – but residents believe there is plenty of potential in the picturesque Tameside town.

Stalybridge is in line for a bit of a revamp – a project which sounds more like a facelift than all-out regeneration.

Three years ago, it was named as Tameside’s location for the Town Centre Challenge, a project launched by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to encourage regeneration in areas which need a boost.

Last February, Tameside council was awarded £1,275,000 from the government’s Historic High Streets Fund, and the cash is set to be used to improve the town’s high street.

That could be exactly what Stalybridge needs, according to residents the Manchester Evening News spoke to in the town centre.

Barbara Flaherty and Teresa Caven moved to Stalybridge from Manchester five-years-ago to be nearer to the countryside.

Barbara, 55, said: “It’s a nice place, but it could be a lovely place. It needs a bit more attention paid to it.

“It could look a lot more attractive than it is. It’s a nice little town and as a commuter town it’s perfect.”

Stalybridge famously gained the nickname ‘Staly Vegas’ after a host of bars and restaurants opened their doors in the town centre around 20 years ago – but many of those have since closed.

Teresa, 62, thinks the town needs to try and shake off the tag. She said: “I think that actually ruined the town when it got the name ‘Staly Vegas,’ from what people told me. So many people came in, on Market Street every second shop is a takeaway.

“If they had decent restaurants here then people would go into Manchester less and spend their money in the town.”