'We’re getting the Chorlton pound': Residents weigh-in on bold, multi-million pound plans to transform Stretford

Stretford is to receive a multi-million pound makeover including waterfront bars, a ‘Makers Yard’ and new homes in the hope of bringing a new lease of life to the Trafford town.

The announcement this week that much of the once-vibrant Stretford Mall building will be demolished to transform the historic King Street area and open up access to the Bridgewater Canal.

While some aspects of the shopping centre will remain, it is set to be a drastic change but one that could ‘re-connect’ the area and people of Stretford.

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The M.E.N spoke to traders and residents in the area today to get a feel for how the plans have gone down - there were those remaining optimistic about what the future could bring and others who feared the area could be about to lose ‘life-saving’ buildings.

Nigel Young runs the Reel Around The Fountain Records store inside Stretford Mall.

It’s basically a Stretford institution at this point - having been named in a song by The Smiths - and has seen renewed interest from younger customers as vinyl has a resurgence.

“I think it’s positive,” Nigel says of the plans.

“We’re up and coming. We’re getting the Chorlton pound coming in this direction."

Nigel doesn't seem too phased by the plans to demolish the majority of the mall., either.

"It’s a s*** tip," he said. “Half the units are empty and it’s the large units that are empty.

“Tesco, Woolies, TJ Hughes and Wilko all went and it was nothing to do with rent - it’s all rates and loss of footfall.”

But he says, thankfully, footfall is not something he really has to struggle with.

“I always say with record shops, it’s men of a certain age,” he explains.

“Their