After more than a year of uncertainty, or rather seemingly preparing for the inevitable, Manchester’s long-standing Church Street Markets are finally set to shut up shop for good this weekend.
A stalwart of the local community as a whole, the Church Street stalls were some of the last remaining vestiges from Manchester’s original market scene and have sat steadily on the edge of the Northern Quarter for over half a century.
Unfortunately, however, with the city centre skyline ever-changing and new developments popping up all the time, the much-loved market stalls are set to make way for a new apartment complex, with an official closure notice being handed down this week.
For the majority of the four remaining traders – Afro Caribbean Asian, McCall’s Greengrocers, McCall’s Organics and Manchester Bookbuyers – this weekend will sadly mark their final weekend in Manchester, at least on this particular corner, anyway.
Church Street Markets will close after more than 50 years on Saturday, 14 September (Credit: The Manc Group)
Although not all of the vendors were willing to talk ahead of the undoubtedly emotional final few days on Church Street, with many simply settling to call it “a shame”, we did speak with one of the longest-standing stall operators, Edward Hopkinson, owner of the much-loved Manchester Bookbuyers stall.
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While most of the cult-favourite albeit increasingly quiet traders will be vacating the promises this Saturday, Edward explained how he will be here until at least 14 September and hopefully “another two months” at least until he sells up all of his stock.
Having been here for over 54 years, he told The Manc: “At my age, I don’t have time to buy a long-playing record”, so the chances of finding a new home at least in his case look unlikely.
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Explaining that he’d be given little information beyond the building behind the market stalls being pulled down to make way for new flats, he added that Manchester City Council had been unable to find them a new location once vacating Church Street.
Speaking in an official statement, a Council spokesperson said: “Church Street has been a popular market in the heart of the Northern Quarter for some years, and we have worked with those traders in an attempt to relocate their businesses since it was first announced in 2022 that the market would eventually close after planning permission was granted for a comprehensive development by the owner of the adjacent properties to regenerate the wider site.
“Unfortunately, after extensive efforts we were unable to find an alternative market site that suited all parties, and we have since agreed a settlement with the businesses as part of the closure process. We’d like to thank the traders for their service to our city.”
Edward went on to say, simply, “What can you do? These are apartments [pointing], those are apartments, and them – as if we need any more.”
Plans to buy the plot actually began way back in 2018, with planning permission being granted in 2020 and McAleer & Rushe’s investment eventually purchasing the site alongside development firm MRP in January 2022; it’s merely been a torrid waiting game for the vendors ever since.
Writing in a recent post on social media, Caz of McCall’s Organics (who supply many local businesses like Holy Grain, Magpie Bakery and more) said: “This too shall pass. Our site is to be developed and with no suitable premises to go to, we will be closing the shutters for the final time on 14th of September…
“I’m gonna be pretty fairly busy in the lead up so if I don’t get to your messages, just know that I love ya!”
Church Street Markets was also formerly home to Dust Dogs & Dive food stall, which took the place of the original Northern Soul location in the fifth unit that has been closed for some time now.
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The Manchester foodie icons ultimately opened a new venue on nearby Tib Street back in 2019, but that expansion could have never happened without their days as one of the popular street food vendors over on Church Street.
It goes without saying that were gutted to hear of any local business closing, especially when it involves small independents like these, but Church St Markets closing is a huge loss for so many reasons – not least because of what it meant to those who have been patrons for many years and decades, even.
There has been an outpouring of love and support for the stalls following this news online and we strongly urge Mancs to pay these hard-working community assets one final visit. Thank you for everything and we wish you all the best.
Two Trafford towns are set to see dozens of new EV charging points installed imminently
Danny Jones
Two big towns on the border of Greater Manchester and Cheshire are set to see a fresh batch of electric vehicle (EV) charging points installed throughout their streets by Trafford Council very soon.
Local authorities have teamed up with engineering and infrastructure company Amey to roll out a series of new EV charging stations across Trafford, starting with Altrincham and Hale.
Dating all the way back to 2020, the collaboration with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the brand was tasked with helping improve sustainable travel across the area as the government body’s electric vehicle charging suppliers.
Steady improvements have been made across the 10 boroughs, but this particular update marks one of the biggest network upgrades that the likes of Alty and Hale have seen for some time.
Good news – we are thrilled to announce the installation of our first public EV charge points in collaboration with @TraffordCouncil.
Issuing a statement on Wednesday, 17 September, the firm – which specialises in managing, designing and maintaining complex facilities and transport infrastructure across the country – announced that they will “start the installation of EV charging points in Trafford in the coming weeks.”
It is expected that “up to 100 new public charges” will be integrated throughout the respective town centres and residential streets as the suburbs continues to push towards its sustainability goals.
As per Altrincham Today, Amey account director Anna Gornall said: “We’re excited to launch our first EV charge points in Trafford, working in partnership with Trafford Council (TC) to make electric vehicle charging more accessible to local communities.
“As the UK’s leading provider of energy transition and decarbonisation solutions, we’re well placed to use our existing expertise and resources to support TC in delivering a holistic public EV charging network for local communities.
“We’re helping residents make the switch, so everyone can plug in and power a greener Trafford.”
The country at large has various carbon-free initiatives, including the aspiration of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050; the electoral ward of Trafford itself continues to thrive in this field, having recently won environmental accolades, including 12 ‘Green Flag Awards’ this past July.
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Peter Anderson, Managing Director of Transport Infrastructure at Amey, commented: “This is a pivotal moment in Amey’s energy transition strategy. By leveraging our extensive experience in whole lifecycle asset management, strong partnerships, and innovative solutions, we can deliver value for both our clients and members of the public who will use Amey’s electric vehicle charge points.
“Working with Trafford Council, we are making electric vehicle charging more accessible to local communities and helping residents make the switch to EVs.
“Amey is well-positioned to support emerging opportunities within this landscape, and we are delighted to be working with Trafford and other local authorities to provide the public EV infrastructure needed to achieve the government’s transition to net zero.”
As for Trafford Council, Corporate Director of Place, Richard Roe, went on to add: “We are delighted to be working with Amey on this project to bring more and better charging options to the people of Trafford.
“This is an extension to the current EV charging options in the borough and is great news for committed EV owners and those who are thinking about going electric.”
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via Amey Ltd)
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Further disruption expected as more bus strikes announced across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Further disruption is expected as even more bus strikes have been announced across Greater Manchester this autumn.
It comes after the strikes set to place this month from 19 to 22 September were announced a couple of weeks back, and now a second round will take place towards the end of this month and going into early October.
In case this is the first you’re hearing of the upcoming industrial action, 2,000 workers who are employed by Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester, and First Bus Rochdale – all of which are firms among those that make up the bus part of the Bee Network – are due to walk out in a co-ordinated strike amid an ongoing pay dispute.
Unite the Union says all the firms are ‘highly profitable’ and it’s therefore ‘disappointing’ that workers are being denied a fair wage.
More strikes have been announced on the Bee Network this month / Credit: TfGM
At Stagecoach, around 1,000 drivers based across the Oldham, Stockport, and Middleton depots have rejected a pay offer of 3.5%, and 1,000 Metroline Manchester members will also do the same after turning down an ‘unsatisfactory’ below-inflation pay offer.
Workers at both Metroline and Stagecoach believe the offer doesn’t address years of low pay they’ve recieved, especially given the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Then, over at First Bus Rochdale, 110 members have rejected this year’s pay offer of 6%, as they feel this does not go far enough to address the fact they’ve had years of being paid less than their counterparts at other companies, and are still the lowest paid in the region.
Stagecoach, Metroline, and First Bus Rochdale, part of First Group PLC, are all firms which have seen a rise in profits in recent years.
2,000 drivers are set to stage strike action over two different periods / Credit: TfGM
The second round of strikes will now take place from from 30 September to 2 October.
Speaking ahead of both sets of upcoming strikes, Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “These companies are very profitable but are putting greed over their hardworking members of staff.
“Further strike action will be extremely disruptive, however this is a dispute entirely of the bus companies’ making and they could solve it easily by coming back with a better deal.
“Our members involved in the dispute have Unite’s complete support.”
Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden, added: “The strikes this week as well as the further action we have called will cause travel chaos in Greater Manchester. However, it is entirely the fault of the employers involved, who have failed to address the issue of low pay and reward their staff accordingly.
Danny Jones -
11th September 2024 
