Western Approach

This is the new western approach to Ashton along Lord Sheldon Way. This new route leaves the A635 from Manchester at The Snipe Inn and crosses Ashton Moss, connecting with Wellington Road close to the town centre.

There is plenty of green in the middle of the road but it is blue and yellow that rather catch the eye, with Manchester's IKEA store being located here.

To the right of IKEA can be seen the Tameside Council offices, the modern New Charter offices and the spire of Albion Church.

The wide grass reservation along the centre of Lord Sheldon Way will, in a few years' time, become the route of the Metrolink tram into Ashton.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Stalybridge Saturday: Waterloo Road

Think of Waterloo Road School these days and many people will think of the BBC drama series about a fictional school in Rochdale where the most unlikely series of events constantly occur. (But then, a programme that accurately depicted life in a real school would be too dull!)

However, this rather grand building in Stalybridge was once Waterloo Road Girls' Secondary School, until it was replaced by Copley High School.

The building has seen constant use since the schoolgirls moved out. For many years it housed Tameside's Teachers' Centre as well as council offices. More recently part of it has become Stalybridge Police Station.

Microsoft's bird's-eye views have only just been extended to include Stalybridge so, if you click the link below, you may be tempted to use it to explore Stalybridge a bit more!

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Too Late!

This is a photo of Fleet Street, in Ashton, which shows the Royal Mail sorting office on the left and the rather unlovely office block behind, which now calls itself Oakglade House.

As I was taking the photo, I noticed the couple on the left trying the door of the sorting office, only to find it locked. You know what it's like - you are waiting in for a parcel, but you just nip out to get a pint of milk or something for 5 minutes and that's when the postman arrives and pushes a card through your door!

As many of you who have gone to the sorting office to pick up such a parcel will know, Ashton's office is only open until 12 noon. Needless to say, it was gone twelve and the door was firmly locked!

Ashton Benefits

Strangely enough, Ashton benefits from the high prices of life in London!

For a while now, the London Borough of Islington has had its housing benefits administration office at Portland Basin in Ashton. (In the photo, the car park was empty as it was Easter Sunday, when it had snowed!)

Now the housing officials are to be joined by Islington's parking administrators. This may seem to be a bizarre course of action but it would seem to make financial sense for Islington. They apparently have difficulty recruiting office staff in London. It seems existing staff will be invited to make the move north. (It doesn't always snow this far north, folks!) Any vacancies remaining will be easier to fill in Ashton because the cost of living and housing costs are lower.

GMB trade union officials claim Islington Council really wants to move the jobs in order to sell off their present prime office space.

Read more about it in this Islington Tribune report.

But Londoners won't have to come to Ashton to claim their housing benefits or pay their parking fines - only the administrative work will be done here!