The plan to make Manchester suburb ‘real destination’ with 'a splash of colour'

But one group of people central to the plan were unhappy last year

Plans to make a Manchester suburb a ‘real destination’ with a ‘splash of colour’ are starting to become reality.

Council chiefs have long hoped to improve east Manchester neighbourhood Gorton, and believe they hit an ‘exciting milestone’. That’s because the area’s new public square is now open.

Sitting next to Gorton Market, which opened in 2008, and the Gorton Hub, which opened three years ago, it’s hoped converting a section of Tesco car park will ‘create a new heart for the neighbourhood’.

The new square features ‘a splash of colour’ with its eye-catching furniture and play equipment, alongside a ‘flexible’ area for events and a raised terrace for outdoor market trading where visitors can sit down.

“This is an exciting milestone for Gorton and the next element of the investment plan, alongside the Gorton Hub, that is helping to create a real destination in this district centre,” said Gavin White, executive councillor for development.

“The new public space will host community events, support local businesses including Gorton Market, and create a new heart for the neighbourhood and community – ultimately supporting a strong local economy.”

Bev Craig, council leader, added the investment ‘isn’t just about accessing services easily’, like health services and shops, it’s ‘also about creating pride in our local spaces and neighbourhoods our residents want to live in’.

However, there has been disquiet among one of the key groups of people needed to make Gorton a destination — market traders.

Last year, they hit out at the council’s decision to raise service charges for stalls, caused by inflation after the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Card shop owner Ian Ashton said his rent and service charges shot up from £882 to £1,312 per month, meaning he had to fork out more than £70,000 to have a stall in Gorton Market.

"I don't think I'll survive. In my opinion, they're forcing me to make a decision that I don't want to make," he said. "To close down or relocate a viable business."

In response to the criticism, a council spokesperson said: "The council has dedicated a huge amount of resource towards the Market Service in recent years to ensure that traders are able to keep their businesses running during an incredibly difficult economic climate. We are incredibly sympathetic to any business which has struggled or is currently struggling with the current economic climate.”