19th July 2015

CHAPEL STREET COMMUNITY PROTESTS CONTINUE

Community protests on Chapel Street to `Save Mo's!' shop continued yesterday with organisers vowing to call a public meeting and make next weekend's demonstration the biggest yet.

Mo, whose convenience store of thirty years standing is up for demolition, has been priced out of a new unit at the Vimto Gardens development next to his shop, despite the scheme being supported by £11million of public money.

Full details here...

Last week, another English Cities Fund (ECf) scheme, to build an eleven storey block of Private Rental Sector flats on prime land next to Manchester city centre, was given approval by Salford Council's planning panel.

There was no mention of affordable housing or any payments to the city, via `Section 106, only total secrecy about any fees that might be paid to a thing called the Development Trust Account – a fund set up and controlled by ECf itself, with approval from Salford City Council, to, er, fund its own projects on Chapel Street (see previous Salford Star article – click here).

The ECf - an organisation incorporating Legal and General, Muse Developments and the Homes and Communities Agency, in partnership with Salford City Council – has completed the Vimto Gardens development of 97 unaffordable flats and town houses on Chapel Street, built with the support of over £11million of public money.

Underneath the properties are retail units but, so far, a local retailer has been priced out of moving into one – despite his Shalimar convenience store, due to be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the area, being almost next door to the units.

Yesterday saw the third protest by the community against ECf intransigence in its dealings with Mo, who has run Shalimar's and served the local community for over thirty years. After the last protest, negotiations began again and Mo was hoping for an improved, more affordable, rental price from the ECf – but he's heard nothing since that meeting almost two weeks ago.

In response the community is to step up its campaign with a public meeting and what organisers hope will be the largest protest yet next Saturday between 1pm and 2pm.

"We're going to hold a public meeting and make sure that everyone is there" says Sarah Millar of the Save Mo's! campaign "And next Saturday's protest will be even bigger..."

For a full background see previous Salford Star articles on Save Mo's! – click here and click here