The 'neglected' street that 'just needs love'
A high street is facing an uncertain future after years of "neglect", businesses are warning.
Edgeley, a Stockport neighbourhood close to the town centre is becoming "all takeaways and nail bars", it has been claimed.
Businesses are concerned about future footfall, especially with more commuters now using the area to park their cars before catching trains into Manchester.
Councillors are hoping for several million pounds in central government grants to upgrade the public spaces in a similar way to areas of Manchester.
Paul Sivori, who runs Sivori's cafe on Castle Street with son Alessio said: "Business is good, we have a lot of regular customers, but there's not loads of footfall here.
"There's not much reason for people to come here other than food."
Paul, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It needs different types of shops and outlets.
"It's all takeaways and nails here. A lot of people park here and go to Manchester."
Upgrades to transport facilities and the construction of new flats have created a feeling that things are on the up in nearby Stockport town centre.
The town was recently named the best place to live in the northwest by the Sunday Times but areas around the borough are still facing problems.
Places such as Adswood are marked by pockets of deprivation, while the shopping centre in Edgeley is dwindling because shoppers are deprived of parking spaces by Manchester rail commuters needing a place to park.
Barry Pearce, the owner of Edgeley Sports & Fishing, said his customers often struggled to park near his shop.
"There's a lot of parking but it's cheaper than the train station. My customers struggle to find a parking space," he said.
John Tweedie, owner of Tweedies - another shop that has been a part of Castle Street for decades - highlighted a further problem: "They need to stop turning properties into flats because by the time they're done there won't be any shops left here."
A "fundamental upgrade" is needed according to the three councillors from the Edgeley Community Association (ECA), a group which was formed to represent Edgeley neighbourhood on Stockport Council.
ECA leader Matt Wynne said Castle Street had been "neglected" for years.
"You would be surprised but the vacancy rate for units on Castle Street is quite low," he said.
"The problem is the variety of amenities - instead of greengrocers, butchers, we have a saturation of nail bars, vape shops and takeaways."
The councillor also said: "We're hoping we can get to the point like Moston and Withington district centres in Manchester are at, in receiving several million pound central government grants to upgrade the public realm."
He added the area "just needs the love and the money".
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