The Greater Manchester town that's 'lost its heart' leaving residents with just fond childhood memories

It used to be the centrepiece of towns not just in Greater Manchester - but up and down the land. The classic market had friendly traders selling just about everything.  

A few days ago, Manchester World took a deep dive into the issues in Ashton. Shop closures, anti-social behaviour and a lack of investment mean the area feels to many like the poor relation in Greater Manchester. 

These issues are felt keenly among the town’s market traders. As one heartbreakingly told us - “sometimes I don’t make any sales. It makes me want to cry. It’s very bad.”

There are hopes fresh investment and regeneration - including £20million of Levelling Up money - can change this, but the next steps remain to be seen. 

In short, we were blown away by the reaction to the piece and wanted to reflect some of your views below. Many lamented the ‘good old days’ while others pointed out that the problems seen in the town are a familiar story for many people across Greater Manchester.

What you said about Ashton Town Centre

This is just a selection of the hundreds of comments taken from our Facebook page.

Kathleen Tompkins: This is so depressing. I haven’t been able to go back there for many years now. It really did used to be a great market but I am going back a long time and there has been a slow decline it seems.

Paula Hutchins: So many childhood memories on this market.. born in 64… Mum used to leave us on the “ding a lings “ 😆while they all went & shopped Aunties Grandma, it was a family affair ! Still go to Ashton but it’s very sad to see the market now

Kit Harrison: Ashton is a strange place and they've never got it right in fifty years. Fix the pavement, by all means, but stop there. Mossley have got the right idea, cultivate a positive identity, pride in heritage and play to its strengths. Stalybridge could be buzzing, I don't doubt it has the human resources, it just needs public enthusiasm to lift off again.

David Ames: It feels like many tamesiders are becoming institutionalised....our towns looking so empty should not be the new normal! We are in a highly populated catchment area and we need to use this as an advantage... it makes me sad looking at our towns look so sorry for themselves.

Janet Sefton: I was born 1960 and loved Ashton , the rides we went on as children on the market, and the sat matinees, mum and family shopping in m/s, proper sat afternoon, now I live in audenshaw and am scared to go to Ashton, we need more affluent shops to bring in better people who will spend money and become the majority rather than the minority, prettying things up making it look nice, does not solve the problems!!! Rant over

David Dumoriay: The hardest market to get a permanent pitch on 30 years ago booming

Kevin Flynn: This is ok but when the council treble parking charges when people are struggling to pay thier ridiculous council bill. All that does is drive people away to big supermarkets where it is free. That is why people stay away. Try bringing down prices and make people feel wanted.

Cavan J Slate: Every town in Tameside is the same. Lack of investment across the Borough

Deb Sellars: It's scruffy, not a nice experience to visit there any more , run down , awful plastic hoarding signs covering all the once nice old shops, the only good thing is the indoor market hall, feel sorry for the hard working stall holders , some lovely fresh food stalls

Joe Warnertattoo: People moan about the council and yes they are partly to blame but what about all the people that shop with large chains and supermarkets? Maybe if they shopped with small independent business we would see some improvement and encouragement to trade here

Lisa Marie Bintley: Ashton lost its heart when the old market hall burned down. The new one is nice but there wasn’t room for all the wonderful stalls after that. It’s not Ashtons fault. It’s a pure lack of decent high street shops. Next is great but can’t pull footfall on its own.

Graham Hutson: How many on here complaining about the demise of the markets shop online or at the major supermarkets or at The Trafford Centre?

Mark Taylor: The footfall has also changed, in these times most 2 parent families, both parents work, where 25 years ago it was mainly 1 parent and the other shopped making the centres busier, online shopping, Amazon and the likes have taken sales away. Labour Council hasn’t spent wisely in the time they have been in power, there are lots of factors.

What has Tameside Council said? 

Tameside Council said that car park fees were “reviewed as part of a wider improvement plan to modernise payment methods and ensure tariffs support town centres.” 

When approached by Manchester World for the original piece they also addressed the future of stall holders and rent increases in a lengthy statement.