Macclesfield: Cheshire East Council affirms commitment to town centre following Rutley Chestergate visit
By Nub News Reporter
17th Apr 2023 | Local News
There has been public interest in celebrating Chestergate in Macclesfield.
Both Macclesfield's long-serving MP David Rutley, and Cheshire East Council, have responded to the news that Chestergate is almost fully occupied in Macclesfield.
Additionally, most of these are independent businesses, which is a stark comparison to Mill Street.
Earlier in the month, the Conservative MP affirmed that "regenerating Macclesfield town centre continues to be a key priority" in a statement to Macclesfield Nub News.
This was after he met with a trio of independent traders on Chestergate. The 62-year-old saw first-hand the positive work they have been doing to help boost the local economy.
On Chestergate's west side, David Rutley met with Laura Mayall, owner of BOHOTEL.
BOHOTEL is Macclefield's first boutique hotel.
The hotel offers seven unique rooms, which have been in high demand since they opened, with a variety of clients, visiting the Peak District or visiting family and friends.
Suburban Green, located inside BOHOTEL, also tagged along for the meeting. Co-owned by Martin Lowe and Cal Gregg-Williams, which offers high end casual dining to both hotel guests and the public.
Both Laura, Martin and Cal have worked together to support each other's businesses, while also helping to raise the profile of west side of Chestergate.
Since The Picturedrome opened in 2019, businesses of a similar ilk like Suburban Green and BOHOTEL have sprung up.
At the meeting, David was also joined by Richard Slater, owner of Henbury Travel, which has recently relocated further down Chestergate onto the pedestrianised section. Since the move, the popular business has seen an increase in customers booking holidays to a number of exciting locations such as Canada and South Africa.
The work Richard and his team have been doing has been recognised and Henbury Travel has been named as Best Northwest & North Wales Small Travel Agent of the year.
In 2019, a survey found that Chestergate is a priority location within the Town Centre. Since then, ten businesses have either relocated to Chestergate or started there and with 107 available premises, 100 of these are now occupied by thriving independent businesses, including Henbury Travel, Suburban Green and BOHOTEL.
A statement from Mr Rutley's team added: "David is pressing Cheshire East Council to take more urgent action for the town centre, with the M&S store on Mill Street closed and the new retail development on the Barracks Mill site having opened. David had also worked with Cheshire East Council to submit a Levelling Up Fund bid to improve the public realm in Market Place and Chestergate.
"Unfortunately, this bid was not successful, and it is now more important than ever that more innovative plans are discussed, particularly following Cheshire East Council's decision to withdraw an addendum setting out its ambition to invest £5m in the town centre."
Macclesfield's MP of 12 years added himself: "It is great to see independent businesses thriving and helping boost Chestergate and our local town centre."
"It is clear there is potential for mixed-use development, blending retail, leisure, commercial and residential uses in Macclesfield's unique town centre.
"I will continue to work with local businesses and voluntary organisations to help improve our town centre."
Responding to Mr Rutley's comments, Peter Skates, Cheshire East Council's director of growth and enterprise, said: "Cheshire East Council is committed to supporting the vitality and viability of Macclesfield town centre.
"It is really positive that Chestergate has seen recent investment from many independent retailers, restauranteurs, cafés and bars, adding further dimensions to an already unique and diverse town centre.
"Wherever it can, the council drives forward projects to support the town centre, and in recent years has substantially enhanced the public realm on Castle Street, created a pocket park at the bus station and commissioned eye-catching murals on Mill Street, Sunderland Street and at the train station.
"Working collaboratively with Macclesfield Town Council, it has also seen the delivery of an al fresco seating area on upper Market Place and secured finance for improved public toilet facilities to be delivered later this year.
"The council would like to do more, as set out in the Strategic Regeneration Framework for the town centre, but larger scale town centre regeneration projects require significant funds.
"While several bids for central government funding have been submitted, the borough of Cheshire East has been classified centrally as falling within the lowest priority area for Levelling Up Fund money.
"Without central funding the scope for large scale regeneration projects is currently limited by the many demands on local budgets.
"The council will of course continue to look for opportunities for funding to support town centre projects and to work collaboratively to bring forward projects where resources can be identified. In the meantime, I would encourage every local resident to visit the town centre and support their local town centre businesses."
Other new places opening on Chestergate in recent months include B&V Trading, Wood Fire Smoke pizza and Violet Salons.
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