New Altrincham style five year plan for “desirable” Sale to be announced soon

[dropcap type ‘”circles”]Sale town centre is soon to get a new strategic five year plan similar to the one which is at the centre of the successful transformation of  Altrincham, we can exclusively reveal.

Trafford Borough council is currently working on the strategy which includes updating the current Sale Improvement Plan.  They are also preparing to commission a “Public Realm and Movemement Strategy”  which they see as a key step in in transforming the area.

The news comes in the week of unprecedented good publicity for the town when Sale’s best kept secret was outed as the town and the M33 postcode was declared the fourth most desirable place to live in England.  For once arch rivals Hale and Altrincham  did not get a mention and were not in the top ten places.

The feeling in the town was almost jubilant as the realisation hit residents that not only do people like Sale, they actually want to live here!

If the reaction on our site and our Facebook page was anything to go by, that fourth place was a confidence booster for Sale.  So far we have had over 17,000 views – and rising –  to our Facebook page and thousands more to the Sale  Today site itself. Here is a taster:

Alison Mccance I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else

Like · Reply · Message · Yesterday at 1:23pm

Janice Silcock I have to agree, I love it ?

Like · Reply · Message · 23 hrs

Altrincham HQ Altrincham is crying now …. LOL 😉

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 22 hrs

Lynne Stewart lol wakey wakey……..it was only a couple of months ago Altrincham was the place to live n best schools….now it’s full of the people they want residing their……lets put sale on the Des-res list …… We love Sale because we live here…but really! The country must be in a worse state than we thought!?

Like · Reply · Message · 21 hrs

Patsy Robinson Always knew it.

Like · Reply · Message · 21 hrs

Neelie Nodnoc I love Sale. Feet firmly on the ground, no delusions of grandeur ever and really friendly people. We have parks and “countryside ” on our doorstep, a canal and river Mersey, walks galore and even our own micro climate! Love it.

Like · Reply · Message · 5 · 19 hrs

Sale Today Totally agree – Sale is very lucky with its Parks and the volunteers who actually make them special. And we’ve noticed since we started Sale Today just how many people are in community groups or do events etc for charity.

Like · Reply · Commented on by Hyperlocal Today · 14 hrs

Nick Heathcote Romy Richardson,see not that bad is it ?

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 19 hrs

Peter Waterson I love Sale and the people- I started my career there 30 years ago, I lived there for 5 years, and I have a great business there too. ?

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 18 hrs

Mary Macleod I was born here, went to school here, got married (not here) but live here still. Sometimes wished I’d moved somewhere else, guess I’m a stick in the mud, cos I’m still here.

Like · Reply · Message · 17 hrs

Anne Byrne Blimey!

Like · Reply · Message · 15 hrs

Tracy Dique I couldn’t believe Altrincham as in Hale, Bowdon didn’t even make it onto the list.

Like · Reply · Message · 14 hrs

However some comments made to use suggested that Sale has been overshadowed by its neighbours, particularly Altrincham, which has ungergone a massive transformation in recent times, with new shops opening there, and the Market Hall and restaurant success, fast turning Altrincham into the foodie capital of the north, if not the country outside London.

Yesterday Council leader Councillor Sean Anstee, added his support to Sale saying:  “As a council we are committed to ensuring our towns provide the best possible environments and opportunities for local people, businesses and visitors alike.

“Sale, with its thriving town centre, nationally renowned Waterside Arts Centre, attractive green spaces and the canal meandering through it, demonstrates admirably all that is great about Trafford. It is fantastic to see its desirability acknowledged nationally. To take fourth place and be the only Greater Manchester postcode to make this latest list, shows just what a great northern town it is.”

They said: “The Council’s Town Centres Team is currently developing its strategic plan and updating the current Sale Improvement Plan. Focusing on the next five years, it will help the Council and its partners regenerate the area, improve its attractiveness, boost its prosperity and ensure it remains a vibrant, safe area where people want to visit.

“With The Waterside Arts Centre at its heart, a number of new potential development sites being considered and the continuing drop in retail vacancy rates, the future focus will be on the quality and mix of the retail offer and improvements to the A56 corridor route running across the Borough.

“Trafford Council is preparing to commission a Public Realm and Movement Strategy for Sale town centre, a key step in delivering the Improvement Plan. This will guide future investment in public space and will focus on improving the linkages between the main areas and attractions in the town centre and providing a better environment for pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists.”

Today the council said there had been a 28% rise in footfall of people visiting Altrincham last year, and that, they said was was largely due to the public realm scheme.  And like Altrincham they want businesses to band together to attract investment inwards themselves.

“Key to the efforts is the continuing discussion with the owners of The Square Shopping Centre and their plans for residential, retail and commercial use on the site, ” the spokesperson said.

They also highlighted the  Trafford Council Town Centre Loan scheme which can be applied for for new businesses. “The Home Design Centre is a new business which has opened on Ashfield Road in Sale. Run by Chris and Chloe Maxwell, it builds on Chris’ expertise as a Joiner. It also links to their successful building company of many years; registered with The Guild of Master Craftsmen, ” the spokesperson said. 

“A Trafford Council Town Centre Loan was used start the business.  ‘Chloe said, “If it wasn’t for the loan scheme we would not have been able to launch this showroom in Sale Town Centre. This loan scheme, along with savings, supported us with all the high initial costs of launching the showroom and supporting the business during its launch stage. I found the scheme to be really simple, helpful and supportive and would recommend anyone launching a new business to enquire.’”

So what do you think? We want to hear from other successful businesses which have set up in Sale, not just those who have used the council loan scheme, but all businesses who have moved into the area to tell us why the M33 postcode is desirable to them.