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
Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue
Danny Jones
British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.
It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.
A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.
Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.
Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”
As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.
One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.
For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.
Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.
But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.
If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…
Heaton Park announces death of its two donkeys following ‘complex’ health and age-related issues
Emily Sergeant
Heaton Park has made the devastating announcement that two more of its beloved donkeys have sadly passed away.
“It is with great sadness that today we announce the passing of Bonnie and Josh, our beloved donkeys, following advice of a vet and The Donkey Sanctuary who visited our Animal Centre,” Heaton Park & Hall announced on its official social platforms at the end of last week.
The death of Bonnie and Josh comes after two of the park’s other donkeys, Ralph and Lenny, also sadly passed away in June and October of last year, respectively.
Both donkeys were born at Heaton Park, and had been steady companions for each other over the last three decades.
Heaton Park announces death of its two donkeys following ‘complex’ health and age-related issues / Credit: Heaton Park & Hall
Josh managed to reach 29, and Bonnie an incredible 33 years of age before passing, and considering that The Donkey Sanctuary says the average life expectancy for a donkey is just over 30, reaching this age was said to be a ‘significant achievement’ for all who cared for Bonnie and Josh.
However in their later years though, both Bonnie and Josh were living with ‘complex’ health and age-related issues.
Ultimately, these complications were what led to them passing away last week.
“They were such kind and gentle souls, and this loss will be felt deeply by all staff, past and present, alongside our visitors,” Heaton Park’s statement continued.
Heaton Park staff closed out their statement thanking everyone who has ever visited the donkeys over the past couple of decades, and particularly the Donkey Welfare Advisers at The Donkey Sanctuary who have supported them and their donkey herd, especially in recent years.
Emily Sergeant -
7th July 2021 
