Ashton cash injection sparks friction at latest town hall meeting

An announcement for yet another cash injection in Ashton sparked friction at the latest town hall meeting in Tameside.

Council leader Eleanor Wills celebrated the recent funding boost of £41m for both Ashton and Hattersley last night in Dukinfield Town Hall. But Ashton’s recent investment success has stirred up anger within other towns across the borough – particularly in Droylsden.

Husband and wife councillors for Droylsden West, Ann and Barrie Holland have long been calling for cash to rejuvenate their town, so the latest funding announcement appeared to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Barrie Holland said: “Congratulations, Ashton has now got £30m in the last 12 years for the town centre. I just wonder, when is some of this money going to filter down to my town Droylsden.

“We’ve got a masterplan, but all it is is a glossy document, it doesn’t identify any finance for the town at all. If you want a haircut in Droylsden, get off the tram and come as we have seven barbers within 150 yards.

“There are 20 hot food takeaways. There is no bank, no building society – there isn’t even an ATM that works. 

“The piesta le resistance in the town centre is the Concord Suite – a rotting ruin. Plus, 75 per cent of all the shops in the precinct are boarded up – it has the appearance of a warzone.”

Councillor Barrie Holland, pictured at a council meeting in Dukinfield Town Hall. Credit: Tameside Council

Coun Eleanor Wills’ response highlighted the masterplan designed for Droylsden, which the council plans to use in order to attract funding. The council leader added how the Droylsden Marina development site is being brought forward.

Early proposals for the Droylsden Library and adjacent Lock Keepers site include 160 new affordable homes; a pocket park; community hub; and pedestrian-friendly streets.

Coun Wills added: “We are positioning Droylsden, we are positioning every one of our towns, to shine a light on the investment opportunities for this local authority and we will continue to do that.

“In regards to the concord suite, we are currently working through futureproofing the Concord Suite at Droylsden and what that offer will be. There are lots of partners involved in that conversation. 

“But we still have to balance our budget and ensure things are built into a capital programme.”

As the meeting on December 2 continued, it became clear the council leader’s response wasn’t good enough for the two independent councillors. The pair both quit the Labour party in recent months, bringing the number of independent councillors in Tameside up to 10.

Coun Ann Holland later painted a picture of her recent drive through Stalybridge at 11.30pm at night, which she described as ‘beautiful’. Making a comparison to coming back to Droylsden, something she regaled as ‘a nightmare’. 

Councillor Ann Holland, pictured at a council meeting in Dukinfield Town Hall. Credit: Tameside council

The former Labour stalwart went on to list all the other towns in Tameside getting huge cash injections: Ashton, Denton, Hyde and Hattersley – but ‘nothing for Droylsden’.

Coun Holland told the council meeting: “We get a lot of people in Droylsden talking about the town centre. There has been no money and no action.
“I am sick and tired of pleading for money and hearing about money for selective towns. We are sick and tired of being the underdogs.”

Tameside council bosses have actioned the Droylsden masterplan, which has been designed to rectify the issues of disconnected neighbourhoods, underutilised spaces, poor quality public realms and no clear gateways.

Key sections of the plan include junction and road improvements to the A662; the Hollinwood Canal Park; revitalised public squares; and a redeveloped Concord Suite. 

After hours of debate, the meeting swiftly closed after the council leader announced Ann and Barrie Holland would be removed from their roles as deputy chairs of the West Strategic Neighbourhood Forum and Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel, respectively.