'All we see is shut down shops...it feels dead'

Town's traders and shoppers have their say ahead of regeneration plan

- DECLAN CAREY

THERE'S nothing to come here for any more," says Vicki Warren, a 44-year-old who works at the community cafe in Eccles Shopping Centre.

Based in the heart of the town, the shops and market in Eccles used to be where locals came together for a bit of shopping or a bite to eat.

But on a sunny Friday afternoon in October, Ms Warren points to rows of empty shops, closed ahead of demolition work set to begin at one section of the shopping centre in November.

Eccles Market, which is also closed, falls within phase one of the plans, and will be demolished along with the main site.

Salford City Council bought the site for £4 million in December 2022 with a plan for major regeneration, after residents said the shopping complex had become "downtrodden" and "left behind." The Labour-controlled council plans to breathe new life in the town by turning Eccles Shopping Centre into a place where people want to go to spend their time and money.

That means fewer shops, more green and public spaces, and more leisure choices, the council says, in hope of creating a 'more vibrant' town.

Town hall bosses overseeing the change say it will transform Eccles, creating new homes and spaces for businesses.

However, locals told the Manchester Evening News that they have been left in the dark about what the future will look like.

Change won't happen overnight, the council says, but despite talk of a new future for Eccles, there remains no masterplan for the work, and a developer to bring the vision to life has not yet been appointed.

Residents look around and see their shopping centre half empty, wondering when they will start to see improvements happening.

"As shops have closed such as Home Bargains, the footfall has gone," Ms Warren added.