Boffins have written off Tameside as one of the worst ten areas to live in the country.
After a study of data, which included crime levels, the quality of schools, performance of NHS services and the number of parks within the area, Tameside came eighth bottom, 284th place out of 291.
Oldham wasn’t much higher, following the analysis carried out by The Times newspaper, ranking at 273. Rochdale was 270. Salford was 252, Stockport 236. Bury was 225, Manchester 216, Trafford 119, Wigan 232 and lastly Bolton in 249.
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But with Tameside being singled out as within the bottom ten local authorities in the country, we at the M.E.N. wanted to show that being a great place to live is much more about numbers and data.
Green spaces
The sunrise over Werneth Low
(Image: Instagram: dro_nephoto)
There is an abundance of green spaces across the borough, to get away from the grind and enjoy some peace and tranquility. Werneth Low in Hyde is a popular spot for walkers, and it is also a wildlife haven.
On a clear day it provides stunning views of Manchester and as far away as Liverpool or even the Welsh mountains. Daisy Nook in Ashton is another green oasis for residents, with a lake, canal and woodlands.
Take a stroll up to Hartshead Pike which overlooks Ashton-under-Lyne, or to Gorse Hall which overlooks Stalybridge and borders Dukinfield. And there are about 20 parks across the borough for walks, to kick a ball around or for the little ones to run wild in play areas. And the Peak District is right on its doorstep.
The people
Pauline Town receiving a Pride of Manchester award, with Sally Lindsey and Andy Burnham
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Tameside is a place where people care about each other. Every day, acts of kindness go under the radar, with community groups and other volunteers doing their bit.
Tameside based Sandwich Angels provide free food bags to vulnerable and struggling people finding it difficult to make ends meet. Willow Wood hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne does invaluable work helping those who are suffering from terminal illnesses through the last stages of their lives.
One volunteer who has been rightly praised is Pauline Town, a pub landlady who transformed her boozer, the Station Hotel in Ashton-under-Lyne, into a hub helping those in need, giving out around 100 packed lunches a day, supporting the homeless, victims of domestic abuse, and those facing poverty.
In 2021, she received an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Things to do
Portland Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Let’s face it, we don’t always have the best weather in Greater Manchester, so indoor activities are a must. And Tameside has plenty to offer. One of the most popular attractions across the borough is Portland Basin, a free museum where visitors can learn about the history of the area and take a fascinating step back in time to a street in the 1920s.
You can also enjoy a trip on a boat along the canal. If you need some retail therapy, Ashton-under-Lyne boasts a huge Ikea, which when it was built in 2006, was the tallest store in Britain. The nearby Ashton Moss complex has a range of restaurants including a cinema and a bowling alley.
You could also catch a game of football, as Tameside has a number of different teams playing in the lower leagues of the English pyramid, including Curzon Ashton, Hyde United, Stalybridge Celtic and Ashton United. Or for the discerning drinker, why not visit Stalybridge train station’s buffet bar? The quirky landmark is one of the few remaining Victorian station buffet bars, and dates back to 1885. It is often for many the first stop on the famous ale trail, which carries on into Yorkshire.
Transport
A Metrolink tram passing through Ashton
(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)
For families and professionals alike, Tameside is well connected to other areas of Greater Manchester and the north of England. There are 13 train stations across the borough, and a hop on the Metrolink system means the rest of Greater Manchester is readily accessible.
For many motorists the M60 will be on their doorstep, while the M67 provides access to Sheffield and Yorkshire more broadly.
Famous faces
Sir Geoff Hurst
Not many boroughs can boast that three of its residents have won the football World Cup. But Tameside can, after Geoff Hurst and Jimmy Armfield, both in 1966, brought football home for England.
The third answer, a popular pub quiz question, won the World Cup with Italy in 2006. Perotta was born in Ashton in 1977 to Italian parents and spent five years there attending the old St Ann’s Primary School on Burlington Street. A statue of all three has been erected outside Curzon Ashton’s stadium. Tameside can also boast other famous names being born there who went on to shine in their professions.
Margaret Beckett, a Labour MP, became the country’s first foreign secretary. Howard Donald became a huge pop star with Take That. Amanda Barrie became a household name in Coronation Street, while Phoenix Nights star and stand-up comedian Justin Moorhouse continues to leave his audiences in hysterics.
What other things about Tameside which make it a great place to live have we missed out? Let us know in the comments.