{"id":223133,"date":"2023-10-08T10:58:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T10:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allworldreport.com\/?p=223133"},"modified":"2023-10-08T10:58:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T10:58:12","slug":"our-once-thriving-high-street-is-now-a-ghost-town-after-33-shops-closed-it-makes-me-want-to-cry-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allworldreport.com\/lifestyle\/our-once-thriving-high-street-is-now-a-ghost-town-after-33-shops-closed-it-makes-me-want-to-cry-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Our once-thriving high street is now a ghost town after 33 shops closed \u2013 it makes me want to cry | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
RESIDENTS of a ghost town have been left devastated by the decline of their once-thriving high street.<\/p>\n
Locals of Ashton, Greater Manchester, have seen the community economy collapse and anti-social behaviour on the rise.<\/p>\n
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Market trader Muhammad Naseer has seen custom dry up as other shops shut their doors long ago.<\/p>\n
He told Manchester World: "Sometimes I don\u2019t make any sales. It makes me want to cry. It\u2019s very bad."<\/p>\n
Another local claimed to have counted 33 shops closing down since the pandemic ripped the heart out of the bustling town centre.<\/p>\n
They added: "I used to love this town."<\/p>\n
Outside of the market, the town is saturated with charity shops, betting shops and discount outlets.<\/p>\n Most major high street names, including M&S and Next have either closed down or relocated to the retail parks out of town.<\/p>\n And the decline has led to a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n One grocery stall holder, named Sam, said he has had three people collapse from drug-related seizures in front of him in the past year.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n He said: "There are some really bad characters here regularly, showing a very bad example to the youth, which is our future.<\/p>\n "There are not a lot of people who look at it like that. I just want to see more businesses coming here, making it easier for businesses to come, to trade. <\/p>\n "By the look of it, it\u2019s not happening."<\/p>\n However, there is some hope on the horizon, as a \u00a320 million Levelling Up grant has allowed the council to get underway on redeveloping the market square.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Tameside Council said: "Ashton Market Square is undergoing an exciting regeneration to create a high-quality public square and a feature canopy which will contain new trading kiosks and support a wide variety markets and other event activities.<\/p>\n "Existing tenants have been kept fully aware of the plans and have been extensively engaged throughout the process. <\/p>\n "At the appropriate time, all will have the opportunity to formally express their interest in one of the new kiosks, before the opportunity is presented to the wider public. <\/p>\n "Only traders that currently occupy one of the existing fixed kiosks will have to reapply."<\/p>\n They added that the council will review parking charges and the rent paid by stall holders, with both likely to increase.<\/p>\n<\/picture>IN FOR A PENNY <\/span><\/p>\n
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