Radcliffe: People share thoughts on plans ahead of local elections

Two years ago in Radcliffe, there was a seismic shift at the "all out" elections, with voters re-writing the electoral map by electing several Radcliffe First party representatives in the town.

Radcliffe town centre is undergoing major redevelopment with building work on a £40m civic hub and leisure centre planned underway and improvements to the market planned.

The site of the £40m Radcliffe Hub has been cleared ahead of building work (Image: LDRS)

Radcliffe is undergoing major transformation (Image: LDRS)

Also under construction is a long-awaited and much delayed new high school for the town. Other issues pertinent to the area include green belt development and the upkeep of roads and pavements.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Radcliffe town to ask shoppers and business owners what their priorities were when choosing who to vote for.

On one of the first sunny afternoons of spring it is safe to say that construction contractors outnumber shoppers in Radcliffe town centre.

The former central piazza and a huge area stretching to the town’s market hall is a boarded off building site with the area being prepared for the town’s new civic hub with the noise from construction machinery providing a background hum.

Footfall in the area is sparse to non-existent with the main area of activity the odd customer at the Post Office.

Speaking to business owners on nearby Blackburn Street, there is a sense of desperation about the current lack of trade.

Ron Makin, 53, has run flower shop Floral Design for the past year.

He said: “I’m weeks – if not days – from going out of business and am throwing fresh stock away as there’s nobody coming into town.

"Look at it, people are staying away while all the work goes on.

“It’s all very well having a big new building, but what about in the meantime?

"It will take from 2023 to 2025 before it opens. I had a woman call me earlier she wanted to buy some flowers, but couldn’t park because the contractors had taken up the parking spaces.

“As for the elections, I live 100 metres away from here and I’ve not had a single candidate from any party knock on my door, not even a leaflet.”

Florist Ron Makin said he was not hopeful that his business would survive as shoppers had been driven away by major development work in the town centre

Jane Dundavan, 57, has owned and run Radcliffe Flooring for 32 years.

She said "trade has never been as bad".

She added: “The traders around here look after each other speak daily and we’re all saying the same thing – that the number of shoppers has fallen drastically in the last year. We’ll be surprised if the charity shops can stay open.

“The shops directly affected by the redevelopment got compensated or relocated, but the work has directly had a knock-on effect for many businesses elsewhere and we’ve had nothing.

“There’s been long periods of road closures outside our businesses for gas and other utilities and we got nothing, not even adequate notice.

"A few years ago, there were four a five bank branches here, a reason people came out into town. Now there’s not a single one.

“Some of us have invested decades of our lives as well as our money into these businesses and we feel let down."

Gwen Agg runs the Little Card Shop next door to Jane’s business.

She said: “It’s 3.30pm and I’ve taken around £5 in sales today. You just have to look outside to see how quiet it is.”

Gwen said she would be supporting Radcliffe First in Thursday’s elections "as at least they come from the town".

Jane Dundavan and Gwen Agg both run businesses on Blackburn Street

One of the shoppers who had ventured into town was Viv Latchford, 61, another Radcliffe First supporter.

She said: “Radcliffe used to have everything you wanted for shopping. There was no need to go to Bury but all that’s changed.

“I think part of it is a change in the type of people living here.

“There’s more shared houses, HMOs and single bed flats rather than families moving to the town.

“I’ve heard talk of a banking hub here, I think that would boost the town centre.

With Viv, was Diane Hall, 59, who has lived in the town all her life.

She said: “The town needs a boost, something to get people in.

“I’m not fussy, I’m not talking an M&S food hall, I’d be happy with a B&M store.”

A note of positivity came from Natalie Jones, 33.

She said: “I think the new building will be great.

“I will use the new swimming pool and gym and so will my family. I see it as really good for Radcliffe."

Jo Lee, 83, had come into Radcliffe to use the Post Office.

“I’ve always voted the same way, that being Conservative,” she said.

“But it’s not looking good at the moment is it?”