{"id":453383,"date":"2025-09-26T18:15:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T18:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/453383\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T18:15:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T18:15:23","slug":"we-spoke-to-42-people-in-the-19-greater-manchester-areas-getting-20m-each-this-is-how-theyd-spend-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/453383\/","title":{"rendered":"We spoke to 42 people in the 19 Greater Manchester areas getting \u00a320m each – this is how they’d spend it"},"content":{"rendered":"

The government’s new initiative gives \u00a320m over 10 years to 19 areas in Greater Manchester – and voters decide how to spend it<\/p>\n

18:40, 26 Sep 2025Updated 19:08, 26 Sep 2025<\/p>\n

(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

In late August, groups of men were climbing ladders and attaching Union Jacks and St George\u2019s crosses to street furniture across Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n

\u2018Operation Raise The Colours\u2019 was a simple act of DIY patriotism, its proponents claimed, but critics pointed out some flags came from far-right groups like Britain First and believed they were put up to intimidate asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

Authorities largely let the flags be, promising only to remove those which posed a safety hazard. But the government has now responded, saying it is backing \u2018true patriots\u2019 with billions of pounds.<\/p>\n

The new \u2018Pride in Place\u2019 programme will give 339 areas \u00a320m over a decade to improve neighbourhoods \u2014 and let locals decide how to spend their money.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline \u2013 powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now,\u201d said Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday night (September 25).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it\u2019s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best \u2013 the people with real skin in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Greater Manchester has 19 lucky areas, covering nine boroughs. And now the city\u2019s \u00a3380m richer, the Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to 42 voters in every neighbourhood to see how they would spend the cash.<\/p>\n

A huge range of everyday issues were mentioned, from new public toilets in Wythenshawe<\/strong>, increased litter-picking in Gorton<\/strong>, and additional benches in Pendleton<\/strong>. But what people most want are places they can connect with others.<\/p>\n

The top ideas were for a greater variety of shops so locals can bump into each other and new facilities for young people to socialise in.<\/p>\n

Lucinda Short, 33, wants something for crafty kids in Wythenshawe(Image: LDRS)\u201cTurn it into somewhere like Greece or Spain\u201d<\/p>\n

The last point was the wish of mum-of-two Lucinda Short, from Baguley but a frequent Wythenshawe <\/strong>visitor. She\u2019s crafty, proudly displaying a phone case she\u2019s decorated herself with charms, and had just bought another.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt needs more for the youth like youth groups and maybe a cinema,\u201d the 33-year-old said of the town.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just need places. Parents can take kids to do arts and crafts, there\u2019s loads in Stockport<\/a> or the city Centre, but there\u2019s not much in the area for kids or the older youth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to go online to buy craft stuff now. I just want to sit down with a nice drink and make a nice phone case.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a similar complaint at the other end of Greater Manchester. In Wigan<\/a>\u2019s Platt Bridge<\/strong>, Sophie Lowe, 28, said: \u201cThere\u2019s not a lot for mums and babies here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to go to Newton-le-Willows to be with other mums and toddlers, but there\u2019s a waiting list because it\u2019s oversubscribed.<\/p>\n

Sophie\u2019s friend Shaunah Marsh, also 28, agreed: \u201cThere\u2019s not enough for babies. It\u2019s my first time here at the community centre and I will definitely be back. But the money should be spent on facilities like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Not too far away, near Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors\u2019 home of The Brick Community Stadium which locals lament for causing parking chaos, a similar idea came from Marsh Green<\/strong> dog-walker Louise Birtwistle, 45.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cMy two children are older now, but they need to get rid of the sand in the play area here because there\u2019s glass in it. It should be replaced with a safer surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a five-a-side football pitch here, but we could also do with some non-football games areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Louise Birtwistle wants play park improvements(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Another Green, this time Salford<\/a>\u2019s Peel Green<\/strong>, is where Chris Kenyon, 53, made the most ambitious suggestion yet: \u201cTurn it into somewhere like Greece or Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n

As \u00a320m doesn\u2019t buy you the power to re-direct the sun, he added: \u201cWe need more for the kids and for the community, there’s a park around the corner but otherwise there’s not much for kids to do around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graham Leigh, has lived in Breightmet all his life(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Graham Leigh, 60, has lived in Breightmet <\/strong>all his life. He\u2019s seen \u2018a lot of housing development here over the years, some for the better and some for the worse\u2019. But he\u2019s not seen many new parks.<\/p>\n

He explained: “I’ve noticed the number of green spaces for children and families get less and less and the homes are built and we will lose more, with Dome park going to housing.<\/p>\n

“I’d like to see some of the money spent on nice, safe, open spaces for the kids and the next generation to enjoy.”<\/p>\n

In Hattersley<\/strong>, Dave Stanbury said youngsters can be a nuisance around the drive-thru McDonald\u2019s and near the \u2018big Tesco<\/a>\u2019 next the M67 roundabout.<\/p>\n

Dave Stanbury, from Hattersley(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

He feels a better community centre, rather than just the library that sits inside the Hattersley Hub is desperately needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe some traffic calming measures for boy racers on scooters would be good,\u201d the 67-year-old said. \u201cThere is a lot of vandalism and antisocial behaviour around here. They need a proper community centre where kids can go. They\u2019ve just got nothing to do here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Up in Alt<\/strong>, a tiny Oldham<\/a> suburb tucked between Holts and Lees<\/a>, locals know the value of having something for children to do.<\/p>\n

“This summer there was a fun fair, there needs to be more of that,\u201d said 37-year-old Lisa. “I think there should be more to do for the younger kids. There’s lots for teenagers and kids over the age of eight. But there’s not much for the little ones, especially in the school holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don’t talk to each other anymore, the whole place is different\u201d<\/p>\n

But Lisa\u2019s wish wasn\u2019t just for her own children \u2014 she wanted improved shops and cafes locally.<\/p>\n

Radcliffe<\/strong> is a sizeable town with some major high street names, but it\u2019s lacking smaller stores, Dawn Ashton<\/a> said: “I’d like to see the money spent in making the town attractive for independent, smaller shops.<\/p>\n

“The town has supermarkets but is crying out for a choice for shoppers. It would be great to make it more attractive.<\/p>\n

“I’d like to see places selling fresh fruit and veg, a shoe shop, maybe a place selling children’s clothes.”<\/p>\n

Dawn Ashton, from Radcliffe(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Ata Urrehman, 46, from Monsall<\/strong>, is a dad to smiley two-year-old Abdulahad. Although he thinks his area\u2019s on-the-up, he said shops are \u2018quite far away\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe nearest ones are just cornershops,\u201d he went on. \u201cAnd there’s not really things like cafes or places for families to go together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ata Urrehman, 46, from Monsall, is a dad to two-year-old Abdulahad(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Clayton Vale<\/strong> needs a similar drive, according to 38-year-old John, out walking his sausage dog Stan on Lingfield Green.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we get cheap local shops instead of franchises where the cost is through the roof, the money will help,\u201d he said. \u201cShops that we need instead of phone and vape shops – green grocers, butchers, that kind of thing. There’s a row of shops down the road, but they’re all barbers and takeaways and off licenses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the plans, communities will \u2018gain new powers to seize boarded-up shops, block nuisance businesses\u2019, which is a positive sign for some.<\/p>\n

John, a sausage dog owner in Clayton(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Pendleton<\/strong> was once defined by its shops, as home of Salford Shopping City. But the concrete structures are now defined by emptiness, Scott White said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere used to be more businesses around too, butchers, convenience stores, hairdressers, but it’s lost a lot of them,\u201d said the 57-year-old.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe community feel you used to get around here is gone. I do see quite a bit of deprivation in Pendleton, there’s a lot of people with health problems, and there’s probably more social housing than other places.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the best example of losing local shops costing a community its connection came in Brinnington<\/strong>, where every the LDRS spoke to said the same thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe used to have every type of shop you could need, there were two butchers, a cafe, and loads more,\u201d explained Warren Hughes, 89. \u201cBut it’s all changed now. People don’t talk to each other anymore, the whole place is different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Warren Huges, in Brinnginton(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

\u201cNew spaces for shops and businesses would help,\u201d explained 61-year-old Pete Nicolson, a delivery driver. \u201cAny thriving business would benefit an area, like cafes or anything really, not vaping shops or betting shops, we don’t need any of those.\u201d<\/p>\n

And one woman, age 49, who asked to stay anonymous said she wants to leave \u2018Brinny\u2019 \u2014 because its heart has gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had butchers and bakers but it’s gone now, the heart is gone from Brinnington,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou used to go to the shops and meet people, see your friends. Now you just get what you need and go home. It’s lost the community and taken the heart away.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there was anything I would want this money to be spent on, it’s that, trying to bring the heart back to Brinnington.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe this cash can change things, but it\u2019s up to the community to do it properly\u201d<\/p>\n

Although most welcomed the money, a sizeable minority of voters were unsure it can actually turn their neighbourhoods around.<\/p>\n

Dinah Banks, in Hurstead<\/strong>, is one of those: \u201cI think people just get on with their own lives. Why bother, look at it, it\u2019s got no life at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don\u2019t bother here. So the money could be wasted because they won\u2019t get what we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dinah Banks, 75(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Zoe Jones, a SEND teacher in Harpurhey<\/strong>, also fears it\u2019s a flash-in-the-pan: \u201cThe problem is they can’t just throw money at it and call it a day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s what they did with the Harpurhey<\/a> Together Parade – I was one of the puppeteers. It was a lovely day, but now what? They think they can just give us a one-off thing to shut us up, but what we need is ongoing investment. So I’ll be interested to see what they do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ken Whittle, 90(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

One man who has seen the evolution of his area, for good and bad, is Smallbridge\u2019s <\/strong>Ken Whittle. And he knows that it\u2019s on everyday folk to become the \u2018true patriots\u2019 the Prime Minister mentioned and have their say.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very skeptical about this… People here are used to getting nothing,\u201d the 90-year-old mused.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe this cash can change things, but it\u2019s up to the community to do it properly.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The government’s new initiative gives \u00a320m over 10 years to 19 areas in Greater Manchester – and voters…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":453384,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[279,748,1285,393,4884,2465,1286,285,1170,1290,1288,1026,16,15,1287],"class_list":{"0":"post-453383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-bolton","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-bury","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-manchester","14":"tag-oldham","15":"tag-politics","16":"tag-rochdale","17":"tag-salford","18":"tag-stockport","19":"tag-tameside","20":"tag-uk","21":"tag-united-kingdom","22":"tag-wigan"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115271968079094741","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=453383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453383\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/453384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=453383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=453383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=453383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}