RESIDENTS of a ghost town have been left devastated by the decline of their once-thriving high street.
Locals of Ashton, Greater Manchester, have seen the community economy collapse and anti-social behaviour on the rise.
Market trader Muhammad Naseer has seen custom dry up as other shops shut their doors long ago.
He told Manchester World: "Sometimes I don’t make any sales. It makes me want to cry. It’s very bad."
Another local claimed to have counted 33 shops closing down since the pandemic ripped the heart out of the bustling town centre.
They added: "I used to love this town."
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Outside of the market, the town is saturated with charity shops, betting shops and discount outlets.
Most major high street names, including M&S and Next have either closed down or relocated to the retail parks out of town.
And the decline has led to a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour.
One grocery stall holder, named Sam, said he has had three people collapse from drug-related seizures in front of him in the past year.
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He said: "There are some really bad characters here regularly, showing a very bad example to the youth, which is our future.
"There are not a lot of people who look at it like that. I just want to see more businesses coming here, making it easier for businesses to come, to trade.
"By the look of it, it’s not happening."
However, there is some hope on the horizon, as a £20 million Levelling Up grant has allowed the council to get underway on redeveloping the market square.
A spokesperson for Tameside Council said: "Ashton Market Square is undergoing an exciting regeneration to create a high-quality public square and a feature canopy which will contain new trading kiosks and support a wide variety markets and other event activities.
"Existing tenants have been kept fully aware of the plans and have been extensively engaged throughout the process.
"At the appropriate time, all will have the opportunity to formally express their interest in one of the new kiosks, before the opportunity is presented to the wider public.
"Only traders that currently occupy one of the existing fixed kiosks will have to reapply."
They added that the council will review parking charges and the rent paid by stall holders, with both likely to increase.
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