Stretford Town Centre Forum | Launch Event (July 2023)

1. Agenda

2. Notes on discussion of future plans

1. Do you support this initiative to set up a regular forum of local businesses and community organisation? ALL YES (6) Wide agreement that a forum would be useful and positive, but need to be clear about purpose and how it differs from other existing groups / forums (eg Stretford Community Collective).

Discussions about funding and the need for the Forum to generate income – how would this be done and why is funding needed? Stretford Public Hall has received some funding to cover room hire and organisation of initial meetings.

2. Would you be willing to continue to attend regular if meetings were every two months? Is this time convenient or would it be helpful to alternate times of sessions?

Need to consider different time requirements of business community e.g. businesses looking for shorter meetings / time pressured

General agreement that 5pm was a good time, particularly for local businesses

3. What areas/topics would you like to discuss at these meetings?
• Improvements to Stretford Community
• Meadows estate/deprived – residents feel forgotten
• Funding for improvement – major partners
• Network/collaborating
• Potential for future
• Collective information/events
• Diversity/ethnicity

Good to have Bruntwood / town centre redevelopment updates & presentations – this is an effective way of drawing people in to attend meetings

Public communication about recent redevelopments (eg Kingsway works) has been poor. If Bruntwood / developers use the Forum to provide updates in future, local businesses and organisations are better able to communicate plans to the public.
4. We already have secured initial commitment from Trafford Council and Bruntwood to join the forum but do you think other organisations/stakeholders should be involved?

Need wider consultation about which organisations and community groups are involved. Not all community groups invited to the first meeting so need to make sure further outreach is done before another meeting. Meeting attendees to be invited to suggested groups they think should attend in future.

1. Kellogg’s and other companies
2. Faith groups
3. Youth groups & schools
4. Landlords of post office -> Natwest
5. Barton Road (eg Brewchimp)
6. Moss Road
7. NCSE
5. Do you think we should formalise a geographic boundary within which the forum should focus on?
• Loose limits to the maps
• Self-defining on appropriateness
• No hard boundaries
• Need to decide whether this is the Stretford Town Forum or the Stretford Town Centre Forum – ‘town centre’ might exclude groups in Gorse Hill etc; whereas Stretford Town forum is more inclusive of ‘Greater Stretford’
6. Do you support the proposal for the forum to get involved with organising town centre events and activities? What kind of event and activities could we focus on?
• Themed events throughout the year
• Celebrating / community / differences achievements
• Legacy
7. What do we need community space for?
• Dry + warm
• Free hang out

Discussions about community space and why it is needed in the town centre. Agreed that Stretford is already lucky to have a number of local venues providing community space (eg St Matthews; Vic Park; SPH).

This is different from having community space on the high street / town centre, which allows community groups to offer services / deliver activities in areas with high footfall. Example of the school uniform swap shop – this was very effective when it was in the town centre, because people picked up items when passing. Might not have worked as well in a community venue.

The example of Stanley Square in Sale was mentioned where the multi-use community space Hiya has been created for the community to use: https://hiyaforhire.com/

1. Would you be willing to get more involved in helping run this forum or know others that might be interested?
• Mags Branney agreed to provide ad-hoc support. Emma Finn (SPH) also keen to support.
• Need more information before people can commit
• Ask Bruntwood to provide more expert help
• Barton Arcade

3. List of Attendees

1. Councillor Stephan Adshead, Stretford Ward
2. Mark Bamford, Trafford Council
3. Mags Branney, Stretford in Bloom
4. Simon Borkin, FOSPH
5. Alan Boyd, Living Streets
6. Kate Burgess, St. Matthews Church
7. Anne Clayson, Friends of Victoria Park
8. Elizabeth Dotun, Rehoboth
9. Jonathan Fingland, Walk Ride Stretford
10. Emma Finn, FOSPH
11. Sarah Gregory, Friends of Victoria Park
12. George Grzesiak, Uplift
13. Verity Hollinshead, Trafford Council
14. Conor Leydon, The LK Group
15. Kate McGeevor, FOSPH
16. Bryony Moore, Stitched Up!
17. Mital Morar, Stretford Food Hall
18. Paul Mortimer, Soul Juice
19. Haylea Osborne, Placemaker Events
20. Shelly Quinton-Hulme, Friends of Victoria Park
21. Jo Sandwith, Stretford Canteen
22. Matthew Swarbrick, Bakehouse32
23. Jennie Wadsworth, Stretford Scouts
24. Andrea George, Bruntwood (virtual)
25. James Tootle, Bruntwood (virtual)
26. Bethany Adam, Bruntwood (virtual)
27. Amanda Lyons, Bruntwood (virtual)
28. Gareth Wilkins, Bruntwood (virtual)