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Traders warn of chaos

24/12/2002

TOWN centre traders have warned that a multi-million pound scheme for the transformation of the heart of Middleton - including a giant new superstore - could bring traffic gridlock and disrupt bus services.

While generally welcoming the plan to build an 85,000 square foot Tesco superstore on the site of the present civic centre complex, they are not too sure about the way the proposed 560-space car park adjoining it will be managed.

The traders had been invited by council officers to a briefing session following the signing of the development agreement by Tesco and the council.

A number said that the car park shouldn't be used just for Tesco customers but also for the benefit of the town and its other shops and stores. They also warned that if an attempt was made for parking charges it would stop shoppers coming into town as they would be attracted to neighbouring towns such as Bury or Oldham where parking was free.

Dave Davison, assistant director of strategic planning, said they were in the process of negotiating with Tesco a management agreement covering the car park arrangements.

"We have always said, and Tesco has agreed, that the car park should benefit the town centre as a whole and not just be for supermarket customers," he said.

"One problem is that if parking is free, how do you stop people parking all day or overnight. But charging for parking is right at the bottom of our agenda."

He said one solution might be to limit parking to a period of two or three hours.

Traders also expressed their fears that the development will add to the existing traffic congestion in the town.

The new store will be built across Park Road, which is currently the main route through the town for all bus services, meaning that an alternative circulatory system for buses will have to be found.

At the same time it is also proposed to downgrade Assheton Way, which will lie between the new civic complex and the new superstore, from dual to single carriageway.

The traders pointed out that the Assheton Way was already a traffic blackspot, grid-locked during most evening rush hours and this could only get worse when traffic to and from the new supermarket was added.

Mr Davison said traffic assessment studies were already under way and they were hopeful that a solution could be found to prevent any increased traffic congestion.

There were also a number of possible alternative routes for buses including Limetrees Road/Factory Street behind the Middleton Shopping Centre, and also Assheton Way.

"We are determined that this will be a facility that will attract more people to the town centre and we are looking for quality in design, something different, to ensure this," he said.

Questions were also asked about what was going to happen to the market, which would disappear to make way for the new car park.

Mr Davison said the options for this were being discussed.

While its relocation as a traditional market was probably not a viable option they were looking into the idea of specialised markets, such as a farmers market.