Last week I met up with Cllr Michael Jones, Cabinet Member for Resources who is also responsible for the task force working on the multi-million pound project to transform Wilmslow.
Cheshire East Council (CEC) has joined forces with Wilmslow Town Council on the 'Town Vision Project' which involves ambitious plans to transform the town centre.
The project is looking at revitalising the town centre and creating a vision for the next twenty years. The first phrase will include the development of a lifestyle centre - bringing together leisure facilities, the library and potentially a theatre.
CEC and Wilmslow Town Council are currently engaging with a number of key stakeholders including Wilmslow High School, Wilmslow Cricket Club, Wilmslow Theatre Group and Wilmslow Business Group. Further meetings with stakeholders are planned for the coming weeks.
Cllr Jones told me "It is all about dialogue and I'm experienced enough to know that I need to listen.
"I don't think I have any right as a southern councillor (Cllr Jones represents Bunbury ward) and I don't want any right to tell you what you want in Wilmslow. I am only here to enable it, whatever it may be.
"We see Wilmslow and the surrounding towns as the premier area for Cheshire East. We need to broaden the lifestyle concept on offer and make it better. We also need to make the theatre better, if that is what's wanted. Rather than being a 1500 seat theatre we are possibly looking at 500 to 600 seats.
"Wilmslow is a key place for us, if we are going to put a lifestyle centre there to enhance the quality of life then it has got to be of a high quality."
Whilst the location for the new lifestyle centre has not been decided, Cllr Jones did confirm that "the proposed footprint is behind the current leisure centre".
He added "The high school very much want to be part of this. We envisage using some of their land for landscaping and probably connectivity, but we are going to more than compensate the school for any loss."
Phrase one will also include a retail opportunity, possibly a supermarket. Cllr Jones stressed that the new retail offering "will not detract from the centre".
In response to concerns from local residents regarding the green spaces in Wilmslow, Cllr Jones told wilmslow.co.uk "We want to make sure we retain as many of these as possible. That is why we are looking at building one unit, so we can minimise footprint.
"We will also be looking at all the green spaces in Wilmslow to make them more viable. We are very keen for the Jim Evison Playing Field and Carnival Fields to be upgraded for sports.
"One of our priorities will also be Wilmslow Station where we want to see an upgrade."
Colliers, who specialise in theatres and leisure, have been employed as consultants on the Town Vision Project. They have been provided with information about the financial parameters and instructed to listen. The timescale for completing this initial phrase is February/March so CEC are hoping to be in a position to move forward in the spring/summer.
Phrase two of the project will include deciding what to do with the current library building, which will remain open until the new lifestyle centre is complete.
Speaking about the library, Cllr Jones said "It works at the moment but what about the future. In the future we see libraries as being part of lifestyle."
He added "Once the lifestyle centre is complete we will look at what the old library can be used for, possibly housing, but the public are going to be heavily consulted before any decisions are made.
"I am happy to talk to as many people as I can, any group that wants to meet with me I am happy to meet with to discuss the project and listen to their views.
"One view that has been put forward is to introduce a shared space scheme like in Poynton, is that right for Wilmslow? Is pedestrianisation a good or bad thing?
"My role and the role of Cheshire East is to see the bigger picture, we're looking at what Wilmslow needs for the next 20 years. We are not trying to change anything, we're here to enhance.
"Everybody I've met so far has without fail been positive. The momentum of belief is that we can help Wilmslow to continue to be a preeminent area. I believe it is a win win situation for everybody.
"We are looking to upgrade the facilities of Wilmslow, they have to be ultimately self-funding and we think we have a model in these austere times which we can see our way to delivering."
Looking to the future Cllr Jones said "We need to know what the cricket club, theatre, business and church groups are going to say, then I am hoping to start drafting the plan, certainly by the summer."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Are the drivers of change the people of Wilmslow or outsiders(including consultants) who 'know better'? CEC spoke at one time of talking with stakeholders before having a full consultation with all the people. There appears to be no place for this in Cllr Jones' timetable.Any such consultation after the Summer would therefore be post-facto and not formative.
Cllr Jones must surely know by now that there is great satisfaction with the present focus on the Sainsbury/carpark/Library/Hoopers site.It is almost a town centre and most convenient for many people to cover their 'must-do' lists.Moving this 'centre' to a far more inaccessible place flies in the face of all we have heard about 'localism' and pushing power to the electorate.
CEC are not putting all this effort into Wilmslow for any altruistic motivation. It is being driven entirely by the desire of CEC to sell off Wilmslow's assets, saddle us with what we don't want nor where we want it and pocket the takings.
Here's a challenge for you Councillor. Come to Wilmslow, hold a Public Meting and argue your case, then call a referendum and let the people of Wilmslow decide if they want your supermarkets, the Rectory Fields under concrete, the library 1/4 mile out of Town, the retail equlibrium of the Town destroyed for all time, traffic congestion, The High School getting their hands on first use of all the new facilities, the list goes on.
Clive, a public meeting is a great idea.
Steven, thank you for the specifics... 90% public satisfaction rating is not to be ignored.
The spare retail capacity in the town is definitely worth noting. Could it be that the rents are too high? Maybe this would be worth tackling.
In Knutsford, CEC is looking for a partner to manage the civic centre and cinema so I assume the same would be the case if Wilmslow was able to get a cinema.