Garden centre grows more attractive

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 21st Sep 2006

Council records relating to the eyesore garden centre on Wilbraham Road, Chorlton have been corrected after a Lib Dem Councillor John Grant (Whalley Range) took action.

The garden centre on Wilbraham road is situated in a prominent site as you approach Chorlton centre. During the years that it was closed it came as no surprise that local residents complained that it had become an eyesore in an area with character. It also attracted kids who scaled the fence and engaged in anti-social behaviour like throwing pots and other items out onto the road.

Liberal Democrat Councillor John Grant said:

"I had been told by previous Labour councillors that the council had done everything they could. The one thing that local people kept asking for was an assurance that the owner of the business was paying a proper business tax. I was not happy with the answers I was getting so I persisted until the council acknowledged that actually they didn't have it on their record as a business - so no business tax was being charged! This was no fault of the owner."

"As a result of my action the council has now put this right. I am delighted to see the business open again and working as a proper garden centre and I wish the owner well. It is good to see it now back as a working business and not a rubbish store."

Cllr Grant concluded:

"The bad state of the wall is still something of an eyesore. This is a prominent site in Chorlton so it is important that it looks good. The repair will make that corner look so much better. At my request, the council has inspected the wall and served the owner with a notice."

End

For further information and photos please contact Cllr John Grant, the hard-working Liberal Democrat Councillor for Whalley Range.