Tameside Council - Improve your Boarded up Buildings in Stalybridge

Until recently I ran a local business close to the sites of these two buildings, that has recently been forced to close. Whilst I do not attribute the closure to the state of these buildings it is clear that they have both become eyesores and have a negative impact on one of the primary gateways into Stalybridge. The appearance of them on such an important route into the town centre adds to the general impression of a Town in decline.

Many residents and business owners in Stalybridge would like it to be a thriving and welcoming town, these sites are completely incompatible with that image and it is disappointing that Tameside Council have allowed them to sit empty and shuttered or boarded up for such a long time. This is particularly unacceptable given that the Deputy Leader of Tameside Council, Councillor John Taylor said of the old Casablanca site clearance “These are great times for Stalybridge. We are finally going to see the end of a building that has spoiled the town centre of for almost eight years”. “Empty buildings are not only a blight, they are a wasted asset, especially at a time when we have to work so much harder in pursuit of prosperity.”

Many local people would agree that these sites are also spoiling our town centre and are wasted assets at a time when Tameside Council is disposing of other properties and making cuts to services and raising council tax because of cuts in Government funding.