The huge town centre plan dividing opinion in one Greater Manchester neighbourhood

It’s a £50m scheme to redevelop a town centre and rebuild a community - but will it be worth the money? That’s the question that divides opinion in Stretford, as the Local Democracy Reporting Service found out when we visited the town.

The five-year plan to transform Stetford Mall and Stretford town centre is already underway - as motorists using the A56 and surrounding roads will testify.

Included in the huge scheme are new waterfront bars and restaurants along the Bridgewater Canal, with much of the existing Mall building set to be demolished.

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Aldi, the shops on King Street - which will be opened up to the elements - and the multi-storey car park will remain. Even families are divided.

Mary Conroy, 76, and her son-in-law Jonathan Smith, 55, don't see eye to eye on the issue.

“It’s all being done for the youngsters,” said Stretfordian Mary. “Older people are being neglected. We don’t want to go to bars and restaurants. We want decent shops with lots of choice.”

But Jonathan said: “I think it’s a good idea. Okay, it’s going to be mainly bars and restaurants at first, but they have to start somewhere. It will bring people in.”

Meanwhile, two women - who ask not to be named - enjoying a coffee are upbeat about the scheme. “It’s quite annoying at the moment, because of the the disruption on the roads,” one said. “But the plans, from what I’ve seen look lovely with lots of green space.”

Her friend added: “Hopefully, there will be more shops to choose from, but also places you can have a pasty or a coffee. We know a lot of older people who live in Stretford don’t want to have to go elsewhere to do their shopping, which would be