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Current manager Paul Appleby outside the famous Middleton Gardens chippy
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End of an era
Mark Hesford6/ 3/2008
THE chips are down as yet another of the town’s best known names is set to disappear.
For years the name Thompson has been synonymous with fish and chip lovers, but on 5 April the shop will serve its last portion.
Thompson's Express Fish and Chips shop and the Upsy Daisy Nursery Products are being forced out of their premises on Middleton Gardens after receiving compulsory purchase orders from the council as part of the town centre's redevelopment.
Manager, Paul Appleby, 33, said: "The council kept changing their mind about when we had to go, giving us an extra month, then another extra month and so on.
"But I can’t keep living like that, I’ve got a baby on the way.
"We’re all gutted about the closure. The shop’s been here since I was a kid.
"We’ve decided to close for good at 3pm on Saturday 5 April. It will be the end of an era, so come and get your chips while you can."
The legendary Tommy Thompson opened his first shop in the 1950s on Manchester Old Road. Ironically he was forced to close when his chippy had to make way for the Arndale Centre. In 1972 he took over premises previosuly occupied by Megert's the bakers.
James Holdsworth, owner of Upsy Daisy has also taken the decision to close as he does not want to be the only remaining business left on the block
Mr Holdsworth, 47, said: "We want to trade for as long as we can, the problem is we don’t want to be in this block on our own because we’ll be a target for vandalism.
"Originally we were told we were going to be out for February, so we geared up for that, but it’s been dragging on for months. The council were very vague about when we were to leave.
"They were supposed to find us somewhere to relocate, but they have so far failed to do that. We have tried to find somewhere ourselves, but haven’t had success, so we may have to close down in mid April.
"I’m miffed about it, but what can you do? We can’t complain against the might of Tesco, we’re such a little fish in a big pond."
According to the town centre masterplan, Middleton Gardens is set to be the new home for Middleton market, with the long awaited Tesco store being built in place of the existing leisure centre on Suffield Street, which itself is moving to the former Hippodrome nightclub site.
John Taylor, of Rochdale Development Agency, said: "The two properties are the last remaining properties in the block that are still occupied. Thompsons Chip Shop was purchased by the Council back in December 2004 and has been leased back to the owner since acquisition. The current lease is due to expire on 18 April 2008 when vacant possession of the property will be required.
"Terms have also been reached with the owners of Upsy Daisy to obtain vacant possession of 29 Middleton Gardens by mid April 2008.
"Once the properties are vacated it is proposed to demolish the whole block and make the site safe until Tesco are in a position to commence construction work on the superstore in early 2009."
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
I remember moving to Middleton in 1972 and it was a great town.
Lots of little shops, great community!
Now they are knocking down more small businesses to make way for the faceless giant, who will rid the town of it's last remaining remnants of culture!
What next, a Starbucks to replace St Leonards Parish Church?
Sad day indeed............
6/03/2008 at 10:07
Got an opinion you want to share?Should less emphasis be placed on the results of tests and more emphasis on general education for children?
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