Next regen step must be transport and buildings
IT’S a very exciting time for Stockport.
The old town is being restored, houses are being built, there’s a new transport interchange on the way as well as the possibility of a new hospital in the town centre.
Stockport is a happening place, but all this hasn’t happened by accident.
The ongoing transformation of Stockport is primarily thanks to a Labour Council that has taken action, following years of neglect from previous administrations.
This council is committed to regeneration, something that is no more apparent than in the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation.
The Corporation is a partnership between the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Homes England and the Council, and is doing fantastic work tackling housing need and much more.
It’s in the process of implementing a £1billion programme, one that I’m very excited to see come to fruition.
I’m determined that this vital work is spread across to outlying districts in Stockport.
The recent transformation of the mills in Reddish shows that proper urban regeneration works, and that’s why the next steps must be improving transport and public buildings. That’s why I’ve submitted bids to the ‘Restoring Your Railway’ fund for a passenger service through Reddish South and Denton, to link Stockport with both the rail line into Manchester Victoria and the Metrolink into Piccadilly at Ashton Moss.
I’ve also bid for the Government’s ‘Levelling up fund’ and I hope to receive the financial support necessary to regenerate the beautiful Reddish Baths, Fire Station and Library buildings and transform them into a state-of-theart library, community leisure and business start-up base.
This regeneration, like the transformation of the mills, would ensure that the buildings are fit for the future whilst also preserving the external features and history.
We are relying on the Government for this funding and if the Government agrees to work with Stockport Council and I, it will transform our community for generations to come.
For regeneration to be effective, it must be holistic and widereaching. Improving the centre of a town is meaningless if outlying areas do not also see benefits.The Government likes to talk the talk on levelling-up, now it’s time for it to show that it’s serious about it.
I sincerely hope they realise the importance of these bids and help local councillors and I build a Stockport for the future.