News
The Council is asking for your opinion on these ‘ambitious’ Gorton regeneration plans
Manchester City Council says it has “new exciting ideas” for the regeneration of Gorton, but it wants to hear the opinions of residents first.
After an initial strategy developed by the Council has highlighted potential new public spaces, homes, and employment opportunities, proposals outlining “significant investment plans” in and around Gorton District Centre have now been put out for consultation – with Council leaders keen to “gather vital feedback” from the people who live, work, and use the areas daily.
While there has been a good chunk of investment ploughed into the Gorton neighbourhood in recent years, the Council says it has intentions to ensure the District Centre is “a destination of choice” for local people.
One of the main ambitions is to make sure Gorton is well-connected to the wider area.
Three areas have been identified by the Council as “areas of great potential” – North of Garratt Way (the area around Sibley Street, to Wellington Street and Hampden Crescent), Gorton Market and surrounding area, including improved walking and cycling routes, and Garratt Way and the Gorton Hub ‘loop’.
So, what exactly are these ambitious plans then? And what could the future of Gorton actually look like?
Well, at the heart of the plans is to not only make the centre greener by improving quality green space and planting more tree, but to also create a more attractive local area that is comfortable and attractive to spend time in, according to the Council.
The regeneration plans also look to support new events and activities to attract people to visit Gorton in the evenings and weekends.
Creating “a heart of the community” in the form of a new civic square is also part of the plans.
The Council says it also wants to deliver new mixed tenures homes to match local housing demand, including affordable housing, as well as making sure the centre of Gorton more accessible by safe walking and cycling.
Overall, the Council is keen to create “a broader mix of uses” for the area that will attract different communities and age groups.
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The Gorton District Centre Consultation will end on Friday 6 January, and you can find out more about the plans and drop-in sessions here.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
Oldham police issue dispersal order following ‘repeat incidents’ of disorder in town centre
Emily Sergeant
A dispersal order has been issued in Oldham following ‘repeat incidents’ of disorder between groups of youths.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that it has implemented a Section 35 dispersal order and additional Section 60 ‘stop and search’ powers in Oldham following repeat incidents of disorder between groups of youths in the town centre.
The measures were introduced yesterday afternoon (9 December) after reports of disorder came into police, which also followed similar incidents seen earlier this and last week.
So far, five arrests have been made in connection with the incidents – two for violent disorder, and three for possession of offensive weapons.
A Section 35 dispersal order is in effect for 48 hours until 1:25pm this Thursday (11 December), and the Section 60 is in effect for an initial 24 hours until 1:25pm today.
The dispersal order allows officers to exclude a person, or people, from an area for up to 48 hours through a written notice, while the Section 60 authority grants officers extended powers to stop and search individuals within the area.
Neighbourhood officers will maintain a high-visibility presence in the area and will use these powers where necessary to ‘keep the public safe’.
“These measures are in place to prevent further disorder and ensure the safety of those living, working, and visiting Oldham town centre,” commented Inspector Amie Whitehead, who is the Neighbourhood Inspector for Oldham South & West.
“We will not tolerate antisocial behaviour and will take robust action against anyone involved.
“These powers are crucial to preventing any further offences from taking place. If you have any concerns or any information, then please speak to those officers who are there to help.”
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Anyone with any information is urged to contact police via 101 or using the LiveChat function on www.gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1619 of 09/12/25.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Trafford Centre announces opening hours for 2025/26 festive season – including Boxing Day
Emily Sergeant
Trafford Centre has published its full list of opening hours for this current festive season.
We all know that the Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry, with people flocking to the shops in their millions to snap up festive gifts for their loved ones, and it only gets busier from Boxing Day onwards too when all the sales launch, offering shoppers some unmissable deals and bargains.
And nowhere in Greater Manchester gets busier during the festive season than the Trafford Centre. After all, with more than 200 stores all under one room, it’s not hard to see why.
This year, shoppers can make the most of extended opening hours at the Trafford Centre right through to New Year’s Day – with late night shopping until 11pm on selected dates in December leading up to the big day.
Alongside being a one-stop-shop for gifts, there’s also dozens of festive events and new Christmas lights to enjoy at the Trafford Centre too, so visitors can tick everything off their list and have a great day out while they’re at it.
The shopping centre will be open from 9am – 5pm on Christmas Eve, so you can whip round and grab any last-minute presents, before it’s closed fully on Christmas Day, and then opens again bright and early at 8am on Boxing Day.
Trafford Centre Christmas Opening Hours 2025/26
- 18 and 19 December: 10am – 11pm
- 20 December: 10am – 10pm
- 21 December: 12pm – 6pm
- 22 and 23 December: 10am – 11pm
- Christmas: 9am – 5pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- 26 December: 8am – 8pm (some stores may be closed, please check with individual brands)
- 27 December: 10am – 9pm
- 28 December: 12pm – 6pm
- 29 and 30 December: 10pm – 10pm
- New Year’s Eve: 9am – 5pm
- New Year’s Day: 12pm – 6pm
It’s also worth noting, however, that not every store inside the Trafford Centre will be open on Boxing Day, so you’ll need to check with individual brands ahead of time.
For the restaurants, stores, and leisure venues that are open, you can check their specific trading hours on the Trafford Centre website here.
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When it comes to festive event, The Grotto is open until Christmas Eve for pre-bookings only, and the Christmas fairground and ice rink, Big Wheel, and Gandeys Snowstorm Firebird show are all open until 4 January (closed Christmas Day).
Featured Image – Trafford Centre (Supplied)
