Bury Market could be set for £40 million regeneration under new plans
Bury Market could become a "large, state-of-the-art, carbon neutral and multifunctional events space" that supports market stalls, pop-up trading, live performances, and community events.
Greater Manchester’s famous Bury Market could become home to a “state-of-the-art” events space as part of ambitious new £40 million plans.
Bury Council confirmed yesterday that it has officially submitted two bids totalling £40 million to the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund – which was announced in the spring Budget – for vital regeneration works.
If successful, the money will be used to accelerate the “transformative regeneration programme” that’s already being delivered in the borough – including the creation of a new civic hub in the centre of Radcliffe.
Under the new proposals, the Bury Market could become what Council leaders have dubbed a “flexi hall” – a large, carbon neutral and multifunctional events space that can support market stalls, ‘pop-up’ trading, live performances, and community events.
The development will also include a café, areas dedicated to office functions and delivering workshops, and co-working/small business start-up space.
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Images of the new flexi hall for Bury Market and the Community Hub in Radcliffe, proposed as part of our £40 million bid to the Government's Levelling Up fund. pic.twitter.com/6x3lGzNRPE
Without aiming to lose or alienate existing customers, Bury Council said it hopes the flexi hall will be used to “complement [Bury Market’s] offer and expand the diversity of groups who use it.”
The flexi hall will be used to support:
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Wellbeing Programmes – Especially targeted at older people and the key groups already using the market to support independent living, healthy eating, and living well.
Enterprise Programmes – Linked to students and graduates of Bury College, and focusing on digital skills and businesses.
Pop-Up Trading – The flexi hall can provide much needed space to support food and drink festivals and seasonal events, such as Christmas markets.
Cultural Performances
Speaking on the launch of the two bids, Leader of Bury Council Eamonn O’Brien said: “Response, recovery and regeneration are the over-riding priorities for the council, and with these bids we are stepping up our ambitions to create the largest regeneration in a generation for the people of our borough.
“We are forging our own plans to bounce back post-COVID and create prosperity and opportunities for all sections of the community.
“We hope the government will match our ambitions on this.”
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A new civic hub would also be built in the centre of Radcliffe under the new proposals / Credit: Bury Council
Mr O’Brien continued: “The bid will support our aims to… create a multi-purpose flexi-hall adjacent to Bury Market to make the whole area even more attractive to shoppers and visitors.”
“We look forward to hearing some good news from the government,” he concluded.
Feedback on the bids is expected in the autumn.
Featured Image – Bury Council
Bury
The family-run farm in Bury where you can walk adorable alpacas in the countryside
Emily Sergeant
Tucked away in the Greater Manchester countryside, less than 10 minutes from Bury town centre, you’ll find a herd of loveable alpacas.
Based in the Walshaw area of Bury, just a nine-minute drive from the town’s centre, the family-owned Meadowcroft Farm is run by couple Deb and Deano, who have turned their land into a home dedicated to letting alpacas live their best life – and this includes regular visits from the Greater Manchester public keen to learn all about them.
If you’re looking to swap the hustle and bustle of city life for rolling hills and views as far as the eye can see, then Meadowcroft Farm’s already-popular alpaca walking experience offers just the reset you need.
Oh, and you can make friends with alpacas and other adorable animals too, while you’re at it.
This is Meadowcroft Farm Alpacas / Credit: The Manc Group
The interactive experience starts off with a talk from Deb about everything they do at Meadowcroft Farm, and then you’ll get introduced to each of their 12 fluffy alpacas.
As alpacas are pack animals, this means you need to have at least three living together at one time by law in the UK.
Then each person gets paired up with an alpaca for the walk – with The Manc Group team members, Aimee and Emily, getting to look after the farm’s two new babies, Woody and Buzz.
Once everyone is paired with their alpaca, it’s then time to go for a short walk around the landscape of the farm, with some really gorgeous views to take in along the way.
At this family-run farm in Bury, you can walk a herd of adorable alpacas in the countryside / Credit: The Manc Group
While you’re walking around the flat, grassy route (the walk is suitable for most people, but it’s advised that you dress in correct clothing for the weather and surroundings), Deb takes the time to check in with all the walkers, even stopping to take pictures of everyone with their alpacas before heading back to the farm to feed them.
After working up an appetite, you’ll then get to feed the alpacas, alongside the other animals Meadowcroft takes care of – including baby goats, polish chickens, and rabbits.
Bury primary school teaching assistant jailed after pleading guilty to child sex offences
Emily Sergeant
A teaching assistant from Bury has been sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences against a ‘vulnerable’ young boy.
Terri Cook, of Masefield Avenue in Radcliffe, appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court last week, where she was sentenced after pleading guilty to eight charges of sexual offences.
The sentencing came after officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) began in ‘intense’ investigation into Cook back in September of last year after a member of the public reported seeing her out with a young boy.
The subsequent investigation showed that she had been grooming and manipulating the young boy into engaging in a sexual relationship with her.
Police found numerous messages on Cook’s phone where she had been inciting sexual communications with the boy and holding indecent images of him, and she was also found to have been buying him expensive items, like jewellery and clothing, for a period of more than nine months.
During a powerful statement read out in court, the young boy was described as being ‘extremely kind and caring’, with his mum adding: “Despite experiencing traumatic events earlier in his life, he continued to be positive and compassionate. He smiled every day and made us all laugh.”
Cook was sentenced four-and-a-half years in prison for eight charges of sexual offences.
Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Adam Stanfield, from GMP’s Bury CPIU, said: “This case was a horrific example of calculated abuse of power, and Cook targeted a vulnerable child who put his trust in her.
“Grooming is a form of manipulation that can leave lasting emotional and psychological damage, and our priority remains protecting young people and supporting victims as they recover.
“This sentencing also emphasises our unwavering commitment to protecting male victims. They can be victims too and I urge anyone who believes they may have been through anything similar to please report to us.”
Emily Sergeant -
7th July 2021 
