SALE Moor businesses and residents are coming together once again – but this time it is to fight plans to redevelop a strip of shops and homes on Norris Road.
Trafford Housing Trust has announced that it will be holding a consultation for the complete renovation of 315-365 Norris Road.
Potential scheme options may include community facilities, as well as new affordable homes and a small amount of retail.
Norris Road is home to numerous businesses and concerns have been raised about the potential permanent closure of these premises as a result of the redevelopment.
A Facebook group, ‘Save Norris Road Shops’, has been set up, amassing 1,371 members in less than a week, and 300 people have signed a petition of the same name on change.org.
Residents unhappy about the Norris Road redevelopment plans gather outside Sale Moor's Nisa
A Youtube video created as part of the campaign has been viewed 3,000 times.
If businesses are retained, there are concerns that redevelopment work will cause great disruption to those who rely on them on a daily basis.
Sale Moor Cllr Mike Freeman said: “In bringing forward plans to redevelop the area Trafford Housing Trust need to understand that the local community rely very heavily on the different shops on the precinct and Sale Moor Community Partnership Offices.
“To suggest all or any of these services will be lost during the redevelopment period is not acceptable, especially to the pensioners who can't get out far, the disabled and infirmed who rely on shopping deliveries from the Nisa Foodstore, those residents who rely on the laundrette, and those with housing enquiries or other issues dealt with at the Community Partnership Office.
“The community are determined to get this message across and rightly will be demanding assurances from THT that it will be business as usual for everyone during any redevelopment that takes place.”
Two consultation dates have been set for the proposed scheme: Wednesday February 17 from 4-8pm and Thursday February 18 from 11.30am-1.30pm.
Both events will take place at St Francis Church Centre, Budworth Road, Sale Moor.
A spokesperson for Trafford Housing Trust said: "For the past few years residents and community members have told us how much this area needs redevelopment.
“Therefore Trafford Housing Trust has been assessing how to improve the area and have agreed that a complete renovation of the site is an essential investment for the future of the local community.
“The Trust has been working hard looking at all the various redevelopment options and during this time we have had face to face discussions with shop owners, residents, leaseholders, councillors and the Sale Moor Community Partnership to ensure they are fully aware of where we are up to.
“The next stage is to start to shape the plans and so we are encouraging the local community to be part of that process and to attend the two public consultation events on Wednesday and Thursday February 17 and 18.”
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