Hello everyone- because more than 100 people have signed the Manchester City e-petition we have been invited to send a message to the council. The message below has been sent to Scrutiny@Manchester; Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester who sits on the GMPF board and Committee.services@manchester.

If you pay Council Tax to Manchester City Council please fill in the e-petition as well and encourage other 'city dwellers' to do so. We will also be at the precinct on Saturday mornings to collect signatures and received about 250 hard signatures from being at the precinct and from the effort of local shops. We also raised awareness.  

I'll send this change.org petition when the time comes so the Council can see concern from surrounding areas. I'll also continue to use this forum to provide updates. Many many thanks Michelle. 

Email sent:

In response to this petition being supported by over 154 respondents on the e-petition and substantially more on paper (not presented because the petition does not end until July 2023) please could the following action be taken on behalf of the signatories  as a matter of urgency and  without prejudice to the current tenants in Chorlton Precinct (Cross)

We request

• That Manchester Councillor Cllr Paul Andrews recommends to the  GMPF Board withdrawal of the notices to quit for all tenants in Chorlton Precinct.
• That Martins the bakery is reinstated even if it means offering an incentive for them to return to the precinct
• That GMPF board pledge that notice to quit will not be given again until planning permission for the new development has been approved.

We are making this request as a matter of urgency because if the precinct empties  the physical heart of Chorlton will be lost. The issue of the notices at this early stage, before any consultation has started, let alone there being agreement on the redevelopment creates a perception of bad faith and will also undermine confidence in the genuineness of the eventual consultation and the willingness of the councillors to act for the residents. The Precinct, as things stand will be locked up and empty by Christmas or not long after. That will be a very bad and blighting state of affairs for which the Council be held responsible.  

The precinct is an invaluable resource to all the people living in Chorlton and surrounding area. There are at least 6 over 55 residential complexes in the immediate vicinity and its closure would make ‘ independent’  residents  ‘dependent’  literally overnight. This is true for a significant minority of people living in Chorlton who do not own cars because we can get most of what we need within 15 minutes walk.

It is beyond credibility that Greater Manchester and Manchester city Councillors sitting on the GMPF board could willingly oversee the demise of a vibrant and nationally renowned town for no apparent good reason.

In due course we in Chorlton hope  to defend our community at a scrutiny meeting  however to reduce the current  level of stress and anger in the community please consider and hopefully action the requests  in points 1,2 and 3 with regards to assuring us that the precinct will remain open until a plan has been approved and a vital business supported to return as soon as possible.

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Please share this info and encourage signature.

All the best Michelle