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Fears over ‘clone town’ Didsbury

FOR years Didsbury Village has basked in its reputation as an old-fashioned community of shops – but it appears that could now change forever.

Civic leaders are predicting a flood of national retailers into the village following news that yet another major chain is on its way.

Last Wednesday United Co-op won its appeal to build a three-story retail unit on the site of the former Peacock’s Funeral Parlour on Wilmslow Road.

The 200-year-old building, one of the last remaining pre-Victorian cottages in the village, was demolished in the summer, much to the dismay of local residents.

Last week it was confirmed that pharmaceutical giant Boots was on its way, with the existing Boots store on the corner of Wilmslow Road seemingly on its way out.

Speculation is rife that coffee chain Starbucks will take up the empty site should Boots vacate their current location.

The American coffee shop is known to prefer corner sites and the Wilmslow Road shop could be seen as the ideal location.

Fears

Traders and Didsbury residents fear the arrival of new High Street chains will lead to a snowball effect where one shop leads to another. They are particularly miffed that the glass-fronted retail unit will stand next to the old police station, which dates back to the 19th century and is grade-listed.

Steve Parle, of Didsbury Civic Society, spearheaded the campaign to save the old Peacock’s building.

He said: "This is going to ruin the village atmosphere. The new retail building I’m sure will be appalling, and it’s clearly over-development."

He added: "Didsbury village is already changing – a new Boots or Starbucks will be the next link in the chain."

Since the arrival of Marks and Spencer’s Simply Food outlet next to the old Peacock’s site last year, some traders have been complaining about a loss in profits. They will be doubly concerned now another chain looks to be on its way. When United Co-op first applied for permission to build the retail unit right in front of houses on Davenfield Grove and Crossway, a storm of protests broke out and the bid was turned down. United Co-op was told to scale down its plans before re-submitting the application.

Last week an independent Government inspector gave United Co-op the green light after a series of site visits.

A United Co-op spokesman confirmed the group had reached an agreement with Boots.

Work is expected to start on the site in late spring 2006, with Boots likely to start trading at the new premises a year later.

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