Town centre success impresses Euro visitors

Bury welcomed 20 town centre managers from Belgium who were here to discover the secret of the town’s recent regeneration.

Many of the Belgian managers are facing similar challenges to those faced by Bury several years ago, and were keen to know how Bury has transformed itself into the third most visited shopping centre in Greater Manchester outside the city centre and the Trafford Centre.

The Bury visit was part of a UK tour organised by the Association of Town Centre Management, Belgium, which also took in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Nottingham.

Some of the delegates were already familiar with Bury having taken part in a European project in 2007 which saw partners from the UK, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany join forces to share ideas and strategies to help halt the decline of local town shopping centres.

The delegation was welcomed by Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, and Mike Owen, the council’s chief executive. They were also taken on a tour of the Mill Gate by centre manager Marie Gribben and of The Rock by deputy director Kay Richmond. They had lunch at the Fusilier Museum where they were able to talk to stakeholders from across the town centre including those from the Fusilier Museum and The Met.

Cllr Connolly said: “We were delighted to welcome the delegation to Bury, and show them the many improvements which have been made in recent years.

“Bury has many things to be proud of; from our award-winning market and two excellent shopping centres to a wide range of cultural and tourist attractions that have made us the first town centre in Greater Manchester to win Purple Flag status.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 9 September 2015.

Picture: The Belgian town centre managers are welcomed to Bury.