ALTRINCHAM TOWN HALL
LATEST NEWS
Update 6/3/23
On 13th March Trafford B C Executive Committee will discuss starting an Open tender Process for those organisations wishing to run the Town Hall.
In the meantime, A&BCS is going to apply for a Government Company Start Up Grant to help with the financing of our Tender.
We await the outcome of both processes with interest.
Further to the Council Meeting on 25th January, we must report that we were totally unhappy with the response given by Trafford. We were pleased to receive support from both the Conservatives and Green Party who both spoke at the meeting. We are therefore continuing our campaign and gathering support from other areas.
At a Civic Society Committee Meeting yesterday the 17th January, a lengthy discussion took place about the unfair treatment we have experienced regarding the submission of our Expression of Interest and the subsequent Online Petition started just before Christmas. Although the petition was due to continue until June, Trafford are now wanting to remove it and discuss it at their forthcoming meeting on 25th January. They have also advised that they could only confirm that 43 of the entries were living in Trafford, which Trevor said was simply ridiculous and must be a glitch in their computer system. Trevor has been offered the opportunity to Speak at the full Council meeting on 25th January 2023 which he will attend and present our case and queries.
Due to the enormous amount of hard work by the Civic Society, Trafford Borough Council has reinstated the Asset of Community Value (ACV) Status to the Town Hall, which will help to secure its future for community use.
Last month Trafford Borough Council were looking for ‘Expressions of Interest’ for the possible leasing of Altrincham Town Hall, as their current limited budget will not support the running costs. We now await the outcome and look forward to working with them to secure the future of the Town Hall.
In a response to the above, Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society have submitted an Expression of Interest.
We know the hospitality sector in the town better than most and will be seeking to set up a partnership with other organisations which will preserve the historic council chamber and save the part of Altrincham Town Hall that remains for community use for many years.
We would welcome suggestions for where else the community groups can meet in a town without resources. Please use the form on the contact us page of this website or email us directly at [email protected]
FRIENDS OF CARRINGTON MOSS – UPDATE
Guys, I am sure you will all be aware that the Places for Everyone documents have now been submitted to the Secretary of State (Places For Everyone – Greater Manchester Combined Authority (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)).
Manchester Airport Future Airspace Project
We have all shared the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. With international travel severely restricted and passenger numbers down over 99% in the initial phase of the lockdown, this has been a testing year for MAG Manchester Airport, our colleagues, our communities, and the wider aviation industry. Like many other airports, in the UK, the Future Airspace project at Manchester Airport was effectively paused in 2020.
The Government has made it clear that the need for investment to upgrade and modernise the network to address existing constraints, reduce delays for travellers and reduce environmental impacts remains unchanged. We have now restarted the Manchester Airport Future Airspace project and expect that we will deliver our next phase of engagement later in 2021.
Reminder of how far we have come
The airspace process that we, and other airports are following, was introduced in 2017 (and was last amended in March 2021) and is set out in a document called CAP1616 that is published online. On page 18 of CAP1616 the seven-stage, 14 step, process is defined as below:
Manchester Airport issued a ‘Statement of Need’ to the CAA, Step 1A of Stage 1 ‘Define’, in March 2019; the CAA approved, and the change process was started. As part of Step 1B, we produced an information pack on the ‘Design Principles’ and promoted it widely through the community and industry. We also met with elected representatives, held Focus Groups, and provided opportunities to discuss the process, face-to-face, at outreach sessions in August, September, and October 2019. At all sessions and meetings, we encouraged those who were interested to feedback through an online survey on suggested Design Principles.
We evaluated the feedback from Focus Groups and insights from members of the public to produce a set of draft Design Principles that were tested with a further set of Focus Groups. We carefully considered the comments and feedback and produced a set of nine proposed Design Principles. These were sent to the CAA in a report for evaluation. The CAA reviewed our report and proposed Design Principles, and they gave their approval for Manchester Airport to move to Stage 2 of the CAP1616 process. It was at this point that the Manchester Airport Future Airspace project was paused.
Our next steps
We have now started Stage 2 and appointed airspace designers to develop flight path options. Stage 2, like Stage 1, is not a consultation, but we are keen to provide an opportunity for the community and industry to input into the process and help us to ‘Develop and Assess’. Later in 2021 and again in early 2022 we plan to test the first outputs from our airspace designers with the stakeholders we engaged with during Step 1B of Stage 1. We will seek feedback to ensure that we have developed the envelopes with the Design Principles in mind. We will do this by testing the comprehension of the rationale for designs, and the design envelopes, with our stakeholders.
You can keep up to date on the Manchester Airport Future Airspace project through the CAA portal or the page on our own website: www.manchesterairport.co.uk/futureairspace.
Best wishes
Jonathan Challis
Future Airspace Consultation Manager (MAN)
MAG, Olympic House, Manchester, M90 1QX
t: 08000 967 967
e:[email protected]
TFGM have launched a brand new website dedicated to all things active travel, to help you with everything from getting started, sharing inspiration to change the way you travel and finding out the latest Bee Network route updates in your area.
You can explore your neighbourhood on the ‘Where you live’ page. Get a personalised map of landmarks in your neighbourhood that you can reach by walking 15 minutes. Make walking and cycling part of your daily routine. It’s the easiest, most fun and reliable way to get around for everyday journeys.
CLICK ON THIS LINK activetravel.tfgm.com/where-you-live
Active Neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester
Harrie Larrington-Spencer & Dr Graeme Sherriff, Healthy Active Cities, University of Salford
Watch the YouTube video about Graeme and Harrie’s findings from their jointly funded research (TfGM and University of Salford, HEIF) on the implementation of Active Neighbourhoods in the region, with a focus on case studies in Salford, Manchester, Bury and Stockport. The research takes a qualitative approach to understanding lived experiences of Active Neighbourhoods amongst residents and potential residents in order to develop more nuanced understandings than are produced on social media or through news reporting. Using walkalongs, their research found that primary mode of transport for local journeys was an important factor in perceptions of Active Neighbourhoods, with those who walk less likely to perceive benefits in their implementation compared to residents who both walk and cycle. Those who walk considered the benefits of
Active Neighbourhoods to be limited if pavement conditions were not improved – which remains important even if motor vehicle traffic on the roads is reduced. Whilst social media and news reporting commonly divides people who walk and cycle, in reality everyone who participated in the research, irrespective of whether they cycled or not, wanted improved pedestrian conditions.
https://youtu.be/W1DyKUv9YmA
Strategy for the future of Community Town Centres
NALC The National Association of Local Councils has produced a report on the Strategy for the future of Community Town Centres.
The report can be read by clicking on the link below:
Future of Community Town Centres
Note: There is a short summary from page five on the conclusions of the report, before continuing to the main detailed report.
Why not try our Altrincham Heritage Crossword.
For the Crossword CLICK HERE
For the Answers CLICK HERE
Voluntary Sector North West
We are pleased to announce that the Society is now a member of the Voluntary Sector North West Organisation (VSNW)
VSNW is a membership organisation that connects to the region’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector through infrastructure organisations, equalities networks and large regional and national providers.
Through local infrastructure organisations and equalities networks they look to support grassroots community organisations that constitute the vast majority of the 30,000 plus groups working in the North West.
Core to their work is their partners and members. They have a membership of over 80 full members and 40 associates who support and engage with VSNW and their mission.
VSNW facilitate key partnerships working in the sub-regions wherever and whenever they can. This includes VS6 operating across Liverpool City Region, the emerging Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE health and wellbeing Leadership group and the Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group.
REGENT ROAD ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG
As the planned open day for the Regent Road Archaeological Dig cannot take place,
click on the link below to see the footings of Chapel Street & associated area.
TACKLING AIR POLLUTION
The A56 passing North-South through our town has a very poor record for air quality. Air pollution has been linked to a range of serious health problems. The Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan aims to tackle nitrogen oxide emissions from the most polluting vehicles.
The GM Clean Air Plan seeks to upgrade the region’s buses, HGVs. Taxis, and van fleets. There will be an expected £116 million behind the upgrade.
More information can be found at cleanairgm.com.
If you have any comments or suggestions about any of the above, please get in touch via the
CONTACT US page, we would be pleased to hear from you. Or contact your local councillor directly and copy us in.
Last updated 6/3/2023 Refresh pages regularly to see up to date content
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