Plans to introduce a congestion charge in Greater Manchester are under threat after another local authority voted against the scheme. Last night Bury joined Stockport and Trafford councils after councillors passed a motion objecting to the proposal. If one more of Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities join the rebels, the scheme’s only chance of progression would be in a public referendum.
Following the success of the first four Stockport Producers’ Markets, Stockport Council has given the event a regular slot on the third Friday of every month.
The original idea for the Producers’ Market came from Emma Boronat, owner of a childrenswear boutique called Bubsquash on Stockport Marketplace. The dramatic decline in the number of visitors and traders to the marketplace in recent years spurred Emma to action. She was faced with the decision of either relocating her own business or somehow generating new interest in the once-busy historic market place. Inspired by news of the market’s million pound National Lottery grant for regeneration, she approached the Market Office with a proposal to establish a regular producers’ market that would feature fresh, local produce from around the region.
Emma found enthusiastic support from many of the region’s top producers. Traders quickly signed up for the initial allocation of stalls and a waiting list was soon established. With support from Stockport Council’s Regeneration Team and the Market Office, the original idea of a small producers’ market evolved to become a showcase for the North West’s finest fresh food and produce.
The market features free samples and tastings, hot food takeaway stalls, beer tents and special limited edition souvenirs and goodies. Shoppers can look forward to a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, gourmet pies, local cheeses, breads, cakes, beers, fresh meat, chutneys, pickles, jams, preserves, fruit juices, sausages, cooked meat, fresh herbs, all produced in the North West.
Amongst the regular Producers’ Market traders are Clippys Apples, Leagram Organic Dairy, Holly Cottage Preserves, Katjas Kupcakes, HS Bourne Cheshire Cheese, Eddisbury Fruit Farm, 3 Rivers Brewery, Northern Tarts, RS Ireland, Port of Lancaster Smokehouse, Katie Cooks Pates, Jo’s Cheshire Kitchen and many more. For the December Festive Market there will also be cookery demonstrations from Phillipa James, Mulled Wine, and Robinsons Brewery.
Gregg Wallace, BBC’s Masterchef judge and ingredients expert, and author of Veg: The Greengrocers Cookbook said: ‘I am firm believer that every town deserves a local market where you can buy top quality, locally sourced, fresh produce at decent prices. I am delighted to hear that the historic market in Stockport has been given a new lease of life and is launching it’s very first small producers market. From my experience to get the very best from your cooking you need seasonally grown veg and high quality ingredients - it’s fantastic that Stockport Market is offering just this and more. Please give your support to your regional producers and visit this great new venture!’
The next market will take place between 10am and 3pm on Friday 21st December 2007 at Stockport Market and then on the 3rd Friday of every month. For further information, pick up a leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre at 30 Marketplace, or call 0161 480 7659.
Four men from Greater Manchester were arrested today on suspicion of stealing valuable Lowry paintings from a house in Cheadle Hulme in May. The paintings, estimated to be worth about £2 million, include The Viaduct, Lowry’s iconic image of Stockport Viaduct. The paintings have yet to be recovered. Anybody providing information leading to their recovery is eligible for a £70,000 reward. Call Crimestoppers for free on 0800 555 111.
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities have proposed a road pricing scheme that will see motorists charged for travelling on the busiest roads at peak times.
Under the scheme, which could be introduced by 2012, motorists would be charged £2 to enter the area enclosed by the M60, and a further £1 to enter Manchester city centre. £1 would be charged on leaving each of the zones. The charges would apply on weekdays between 7 – 9.30 am and 4 – 6.30 pm.
All the money raised would be used to fund £3 billion of improvements to the region’s public transport system. This would include new Metrolink lines to the Trafford Centre and Stockport, a dedicated bus lane between Manchester and Bolton, and improvements to bus and rail interchanges in Altrincham, Bolton, Manchester, Rochdale, and Wigan.
Britannia Hotels have made the headlines this week for the wrong reasons. Four of their hotels, including three in the North West, have been included in a list of the top ten dirtiest hotels in the UK. The survey, by users of the popular TripAdvisor site, rated the Britannia Hotel in Stockport as the dirtiest in the UK. The Britannia Country House Hotel in Didsbury was in eighth place, while the Britannia Airport Hotel Manchester was ranked tenth. None of these hotels are listed on this site.