The range of new projects, decided on by the Ashton Neighbourhood Board and given approval by the Government, will begin from summer 2026, focusing on what matters most to residents including making the town centre safer, improving public spaces, supporting local groups, and creating more opportunities for local people.
The first schemes include nighttime security teams,improvements to local green spaces and further investment into Ashton Market
The board is chaired by Phill Brown and includes a mix of business, education, and community representatives as well as councillors.
With £20 million earmarked for Ashton over the next decade, the £3million funding is being released from part of a £41 million Government investment across Tameside. The funding includes a boroughwide pot and recent addition of £20 million pound for Hattersley.
The programme aims to strengthen community pride and puts the community central to deciding how the funding will be spent. Earlier this year, some initial Pride in Place funding was used to support a programme of events in the town centre, led by Ashton Town Team. These included events like Amazing Ashton, Heritage Day, and Small Business Saturday, which have brought people together and helped support local businesses.
The Spring Family Festival three-day event was also part funded by the Pride in Place funding and attracted hundreds of visitors to the town.
The first projects include:
- a new evening security team to help tackle anti-social behaviour and make people feel safer in the town centre
- improvements to local greenspaces and parks, including King George V Park, Oxford Park, and Waterloo Park
- £750,000 investment in Ashton Market Hall, creating a lively space for food, events, culture, and local businesses
- funding for community groups and organisations to support local activities and services
- a youth-led art project to improve subways and make them feel safer
- a new Adult Support Hub offering advice, support, and opportunities for residents
- a programme of events and activities to keep bringing life into the town centre and supporting the transformation of the Market Square
- a sports and leisure grants scheme to improve facilities and help more people get active in a way that works for them
- investment in skills and training at Tameside College
- a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style fund to help local people start new businesses
Phill Brown MBE, Chair of the Ashton Neighbourhood Board, said: “These projects show what Pride in Place is all about, investing in what people have told us really matters to them.
“Earlier this year, we announced funding to support an events programme from the Ashton Town Team, and these showed that Ashton can be busy, welcoming, and full of life. These next projects build on that by making lasting improvements, from safer streets to better community spaces and more opportunities for local people. This is just the beginning, we will keep talking to local people, but we will start to see real changes very soon.”
