Macclesfield MP hopefuls address how they would revitalise the high street as general election looms
By Jamie Griffiths
1st Jul 2024 | General Election 2024
It is the general election on Thursday July 4. Macclesfield voters will choose between seven candidates, or spoil their ballot.
Over the past few weeks, we have asked every candidate for their thoughts on key issues, from tips to libraries.
Today, Macclesfield Nub News has asked each candidate on how their campaign will address revitalising the high street.
Our high streets are a hot topic, with empty town centre shops to controversial out of town retail parks being commonly brought up in the comments of Macclesfield Nub News Facebook posts.
So here's what the seven Macclesfield candidates have to say on how they would help the high street.
Their answers are listed in alphabetical order by surname.
Stephen Broadhurst (Reform Party)
The first Reform UK candidate to stand in Macclesfield, Stephen Broadhurst, believes a lot can be done to revitalise the high street.
"Our poor high street! It is truly in a desperate situation; a sad and rapid decline of which, if this isn't addressed immediately, is surely bordering on its demise", he said.
"Neither the Labour-ran Cheshire East Council or potential government will save it from what is, essentially, becoming a ghost town.
"Couple this with imposed, extortionate and ever-increasing parking charges it almost seems that they actually want this to happen!?
"Rather ironic then, when Roca goes and he will, here will lie another empty shop, just like Labours promises which will end up in the big bin, it will soon have a, (to add to the already growing and sad number of), 'To Let' sign hanging from it."
"Either way, Reform advocates in its critical contract. Within its first 100 days, it will free over 1.2 million Small and Medium Sized Businesses from Corporation Tax and abolish Business Rates for high street-based SMEs. This will be offset with an online Delivery Tax at 4% for large, multinational, enterprises to create a fairer playing field for our high streets."
"Reform also recognises that Britain's self-employed often work longer hours and take more risks. Many have no pension and receive no sick pay. Reform will lift the VAT Threshold to £150,000 and free up small entrepreneurs from red tape. It will also cut these entrepreneurs' tax to 5%."
"Our once proud high street is clearly dying before our eyes. We need to encourage creative individuals to take a leap of faith, to open their shops and confidently be able to sell their goods and services to a healthy footfall, all without the worry of red tape and unfair tax burdens on them."
"I will support the abolishment of parking charges to encourage shoppers and visitors alike as, after all, these charges are only there to fill the massive hole in The Labour ran Cheshire East budget. There is no other reason for these charges to be there."
"We need to do all that we can to save our high street and make it as vibrant as it wants to be. Vote for Reform and you will certainly get Reform, through me, someone who actually lives here and cares about both our daytime and night time economy."
"I am saddened to see high streets across the constituency, and in particular in Macclesfield town centre struggling and declining. I want to encourage growth in our high streets because that creates local jobs and fosters thriving centres to our communities", he said.
"High streets and local development are largely funded by the Local Authority and the fix begins with tackling the funding crisis facing all local authorities. This must include multi-year financial settlements so that Cheshire East Council can properly plan and budget."
"The Liberal Democrats would give local authorities the power to restore bus routes and add new ones where needed, especially in rural areas."
"A town centre can only thrive if there is quick and easy public transport links. I would also fight to have free parking in Local Authority car parks at certain hours. This scheme was successful in other areas of Cheshire when tested and I believe it could breathe life back into Macclesfield town centre."
"The Liberal Democrats will also ensure housing development is planned and approved on the basis that it will complement and be served by our current high streets and have good transport links."
"Nationally the Liberal Democrats will also abolish unfair Business Rates and replace them with a Commercial Landowner Levy to help our high streets, which will give small and medium size businesses long overdue help."
Dickie Fletcher (Social Democratic Party)
The Social Democratic Party candidate, Dickie Fletcher, had this to say about revitalising the high street.
He said: "Like so many towns around the country, Macclesfield's central shopping areas have suffered a significant decline in footfall over the last decade or so. There have been some good initiatives, like Shop Local, to try and boost trade and encourage shoppers and other people in to town. But little has so far made a significant difference."
"The SDP believe these town centre areas are vital for the well-being of communities. Local businesses need support and help from Government with the transformation of shopping habits online. Therefore, we would levy a tax of 2% on all online purchases and the proceeds of this would be allocated to civic improvement in town centres across the UK. We are also proposing an SME Corporation Tax cut to 15%, which will be a significant boost to those independent retailers in town centres."
"The other major factor in holding back footfall on the High Street is the cost and accessibility of transport. The SDP opposes any new low-emission zones, which penalise car use. But we would increase funding for Bus services at the same time, to encourage more people into using public transport. I believe these policies will help to revitalise Macclesfield's high street."
Amanda Iremonger (Green Party)
The Green Party candidate, Amanda Iremonger, had this to say.
"In the Green Party, we offer real hope of real change, and that includes changes in our town centres. It won't surprise you when I say that Green MPs will champion reintroducing nature into our urban environments, with street planting of native trees, hedgehog holes in all new fencing, swift bricks and bee corridors. Because nature matters, for our individual health and well-being as well as that of the planet", she said.
"And we take a broad approach. We want to see a fairer, more equal society, which will inevitably bring benefits to us here in Macclesfield, and to the town centre."
"We intend to lift the poorest, most vulnerable of us, out of poverty straight away, through an immediate uplift in benefits, and indirectly through help for renters, warm home schemes and the switch to cheaper greener energy, giving you money in your pocket to spend on our high streets."
"We will revitalise planning policies so that change can happen smoothly and quickly; with a shift to brownfield regeneration, rather than building on areas such as Danes Moss. We want to see decision-making locally, by people like you and me who know what is needed here, not in Westminster. Our town and city centres can once again be vibrant and alive."
"For too long our police forces have been under-resourced, and not focused on key areas such as protecting women and girls. Have you ever felt unsafe out and about in Macclesfield? Reducing crime takes all in society, not just the police, a more fair and equal society will start this, together with help for those with health issues (including mental health and addiction), education, opportunities and facilities such as youth hubs."
"But I want to be clear, unlike the other parties, change will cost money. We must fund our local councils so that these local improvements can take place. It's not just Conservative Austerity which closes places like our libraries and the tip which can be exciting and vibrant too. Any party which is not honestly saying how they will fund change, either can't achieve it, won't achieve it or will achieve it at a cost they don't want us to know about."
"I hope you will Vote Green on Thursday, for real hope of real change."
Tim Roca (Labour)
Tim Roca is the Labour candidate.
"We need somebody to bang the drum for Macc town and its villages," he said.
"We have seen the town centre decline year-on-year, Mill Street in particular really, really sad.
"We need to bring retail back, we need to bring shops back and that means being on the side of small businesses.
"The government have talked for years and years about reforming business rates, making it cheaper to operate on the high street but they have done absolutely nothing.
"Labour is committed to reforming business rates, making it fairer for businesses so it is easier for them to operate on the high street, there's less red tape. As an MP, my plan is to bang the drum for investment that the town centre needs."
"I think part of it is working with the Councils to improve the public realm and events are happening. But I think that actually high streets across the country are dying, and it is going to take radical action to improve that situation. And one of those is business rates. It is an old fashioned, antiquated tax devised before e-commerce. We have shops on the high street that pay more taxes than the internet giants. And that simply can't be right.
"We want to encourage independent retailing, I think it can be a thriving town again. We have got some brilliant businesses but we want to see more of them. Let's rebalance business rates away from space, the old system, and make the big internet companies pay a little bit more so people can invest in the town centre."
David Rutley (Conservatives)
David Rutley is the Conservative candidate. "We are already seeing government money coming into Macclesfield town centre with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, that is going to provide funding for Macclesfield Indoor Market," he said.
"But look, there's a lot more to do. The town centre needs more focus, and more investment. And Cheshire East Council have not taken that investment forward.
"Whether we are working with Cheshire East Council as Conservative then or Labour-Independent run now, it has always been a real, real challenge to get any traction. over 14 years, the only thing that has happened is the refurbishment of Castle Street at £1.3 million, that's £100,000 a year compared to being what is spent in Crewe.
"Commitments were made to me that there would be extra funding for public realm about five years ago, £5 million, that was put on as an addendum on the ballot sheet which was removed last year.
"So what I'm trying to do is work with local businesses. We are looking at all sorts of initiatives like a business improvement district.
"The way forward now is to look at the town centre as a mixed use place, encourage more people to live in and work in the town centre. We've seen that with The Crossings at Peaks and Plains [in Macclesfield town centre]. We are seeing it in Poynton and Wilmslow, and in this next parliament, that is going to be a huge opportunity.
"There is a huge amount that needs to be done. We need to bring people together, round the table again and deliver for the town centre. It needs to become a more distinctive destination.
"It is a big undone, it is a task I really want to take forward, if I am fortunate to be elected."
Christopher Wellavize (Independent)
The only independent candidate standing in the Macclesfield constituency, Christopher Wellavize, had this to say.
"In an ideal world Macclesfield would be a bustling 21st century market town full of a huge range of independent food shops, cafes, craft and repair shops where goods are recycled, repurposed and mended, together with the services that we have already have such as hairdressers and beauticians plus workshops where goods are made and places of worship where people call in each day for prayer and meditation. We would also have a thriving on street market every week," he said.
"We have witnessed the seeds of this grow but not become strong enough and be knocked back by the fleeing of the corporates to online, out of town sites or out of business."
"So, for the above vision to happen let's imagine the closure of the large Tesco, Sainsbury and Barracks Mill stores and no business rates for new food businesses in the town centre. We would have free car parking for at least four hours in the town centre car parks but would charge £2.00 per hour at Lyme Green and £4.00 at Barracks Mill, Tesco's and Sainsburys to help persuade them to shut up shop."
"We would allow low emission vehicles through Mill Street with a strictly enforced 10mph speed limit using cameras and street furniture and parking bays for disabled drivers and for collecting goods. We would plant trees to make the street the greenest in England and flowers by the town council to make it the most beautiful.
"We would seed a hundred new businesses in year 1 of the plan in an enterprise zone for under 30's free rents and rates for year 1 and reduced for the first five years of trade. We would help them with set up advise and encourage cooperatives."
"There is so much for us to do, so let's get on with it".
Macclesfield will vote for who they want to be their next MP on July 4 from 7am to 10pm.
Macclesfield Nub News will be providing a liveblog of the count throughout the night on our homepage.
It is the first time ever that seven candidates are on the ballot paper in Macclesfield.
The candidates are: Stephen Broadhurst (Reform UK), Neil Christian (Liberal Democrats), Dickie Fletcher (Social Democratic Party), Amanda Iremonger (Green Party), Tim Roca (Labour Party), David Rutley (Conservatives), Christopher Wellavize (Independent).
To read more general election stories in Macclesfield, please click HERE.
See Also: Macclesfield Nub News Readers' Poll on who they want to be next MP
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