The re-development of Mocha Parade has been dragging on for years and years, with no-one knowing what the hell is happening.
It was eight years ago that the then Leader of Salford Council, John Merry, first promised that there would be a "comprehensive re-development" of Mocha, with plans to knock down Broughton swimming baths and open a new recreation centre on the site, "anchored by a small supermarket". That never happened.
In 2012, with residents living above the shops all but gone, and their affordable flats tinned up, there was still uncertainty, the Council telling the Salford Star that there were "no imminent plans" (see here). Meanwhile, shop keepers complained that they were being `kept in the dark'. And that's the way it's been ever since.
In 2014, Salford Council produced a report on Lower Broughton Mocha Parade, by which time there were only 13 shops still trading, out of 23 units... "The intention" the report stated "is to develop new shops on the site probably including a small supermarket, another reasonably sized store and a number of small shops to cater for those of the current businesses that wish to remain on site."
The Council produced "design and layout options to encompass new stores and to retain existing traders where possible" but these were never made public. Now, two years later, more traders have left – the chippy's gone, the butcher's gone, Mocha Wines is going, and the newsagent is still hanging on for a move to a new unit incorporating a post office, for which he has been hanging on for months and months.
Meanwhile, there's not a public word from the Council about what is going on and traders are still pretty much in the dark, apart from timed offers of payments by Urban Vision to, basically, bugger off.
"It's now been four years and each time you're thinking `It's this year' but then they say it will be another twelve to eighteen months, it's just dragging on way too much" said one trader who didn't want to be identified.
"Now I don't think we're going to be offered shops at all because they've not mentioned it once" the trader added "They're on about the Aldi, they're on about a health centre but no-one's mentioned shops. I've been told that Aldi don't want any shops, and I've got a feeling that's why the butcher and the chip shop have decided to go."
Indeed, the plans for Mocha, the Star understands, do include an Aldi store and a new health centre – although there are no NHS budgets in the public domain that include a new health centre, and a spokesperson for Aldi would only say "We are always considering new locations for stores in areas across the UK, including in Salford. When we have confirmed a location for a new store we will update the local community."
Local Broughton councillor, John Merry, did provide a statement to the Salford Star...
"We would like to thank the businesses of Mocha Parade for their patience as we work on plans to create a bright future and better shopping experience for all" he said "We are in advanced stages of negotiation to remodel the centre, with the ultimate aim of giving the people of Lower Broughton what they deserve.
"Contact has been made and maintained over many months and years with all existing traders and we will help them stay and relocate to a new shop if they wish" he added "However if they do not wish to stay we will offer them financial compensation. The interests of traders and local people is our main priority as we look to create a proper shopping experience with fresh jobs and opportunities for local people."
This statement is totally contradicted, however, by threatening correspondence seen by the Salford Star from the Council's property joint venture company Urban Vision...
"The Council are looking to provide traders, who are considered to be potentially most at risk from the development of an Aldi foodstore (and potentially other national retailers) with as many options as possible during this difficult time" it states
"...As you are aware there are no guarantees of a new shop unit as all new tenancies will be subject to a robust business plan appraisal process, only business that can demonstrate strong financial viability will be considered for a new unit. It is also likely that the landlord of the new centre will not be the Council..."
It's almost impossible for any shop on Mocha Parade to prove `strong financial viability', when the centre has been run down for years and the community, for the most part, kicked out.
"People from the new houses come on Mocha more out of desperation than anything" said one trader "They tell you that the look of the place is degrading, it's not something they want to come onto, it's more out of necessity. When their friends and family come, it's not something they want to show them... `This is our shopping area'...It does bring the area down. Something has to be done."
Unfortunately, it looks like the shops that have traded through the re-development, the Boxing Day flood and the total deliberate run-down of Mocha Parade will be kicked out if they don't fit with what Aldi, or some other supermarket, wants.
As Urban Vision stated, "there are no guarantees of a new shop unit" and "It is also likely that the landlord of the new centre will not be the Council..."
That's scant reward for traders, who have served the local community for years. Meanwhile, Salford Council is busy spending whatever Section 106 money it's got from local developments on prettying up the local parks, rather than sorting Mocha Parade, which is the elephant in the Lower Broughton regeneration room.
See also previous Salford Star article – Salford Council Neglect of Mocha Parade – click here
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