Press Releases

October 26 2009

New Beswick shopping parade completed

Work is complete on a new temporary parade of shops in Beswick, which includes the Beswick supermarket and the post office and chemist, which have been relocated just yards away from their former location.

This will allow for demolition of the existing units which will make room for further construction of the new East Manchester Academy, ready for opening in September 2010.

The new parade faces onto Windcroft Close, opposite the police station. The new look shops have sliding doors and there is an access ramp for disabled shoppers as well as a set of steps up from the dedicated car park.

A new pathway and grassed area is to be created off Grey Mare Lane to allow better access and additional car parking spaces introduced for shoppers.

Eddie Smith, chief executive of New East Manchester said: "Our priority is to keep these essential services open and easily accessible for local people while the work on the district centre continues. We've come up with this temporary solution which means these shops remain in the same location which avoids any inconvenience for the community. The new outlets offer disabled access and allow residents to continue to do their local shopping all in one place."

Chris Varnava, owner of the Beswick supermarket said: "This new parade of shops look really good and it's a great temporary solution until the new units are built on Grey Mare Lane. Feedback from customers is that they really like the new arrangement. I have a new range of products including freshly baked bread, pastries and sausage rolls and they're proving very popular."

The long-term plan is for the shops to be permanently located in new purpose-built units fronting Grey Mare Lane once other building work is complete.

For further information on New East Manchester visit www.neweastmanchester.com.

Ends

For further information contact Roz Hughes at New East Manchester on 0161 223 1155, ext 2167.