Atherton: Yates Greer battling with challenging daytime footfall

Established for several decades along Market Street in Atherton, Yates Greer has long been known as a popular spot for high quality meat and pastry products.

Highlighting Yates Greer’s popular reputation across the region, the business also has units in Leigh, St Helens, Warrington, and Widnes, although it has had to adapt to numerous difficulties over the years.

In Atherton, while there is a healthy mix of bars and businesses along the high street, there has been a marked decline in daytime traffic in recent years, which has been a significant challenge for businesses like Yates Greer. 

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Inside the Market Street butchers shop (Image: Leigh Journal) With Atherton town centre much quieter than previous years, Yates Greer staff feel that the pedestrianised high street can be more of a hindrance than a help to daytime traders, who are struggling with a lack of footfall.

Concerned about the accessibility of the high street, this is something that Stuart Gerrard, Independent Network councillor for Atherton North, has raised previously and more than 1,000 people signed his petition to reopen Market Street to daytime traffic.

The suggestion is that repurposing the town centre as a ‘drive-through’ high street would increase visitors and boost trade for Atherton’s shops, particularly for those wanting a quick visit.

Apart from buses and deliveries, Market Street is closed to traffic between 10.30am and 4pm from Monday to Saturday (Image: Leigh Journal) Yates Greer manager Sandra Groves, who has worked at the business for 12 years, said: “We still have a lot of regulars who come in and support us, as well as a lot more younger people who I think have realised how good our products are.

“But things have definitely changed since covid. Although people are still coming in, they may just come in once a week and stock up rather than coming in every day, and our afternoons are much quieter.

“There is not too much variety on the high street and I think that opening the road up [to cars] would make a massive difference.

“Things have changed over the last few years so I think it would encourage people to visit Atherton more.”

Businesses like Yates Greer have noticed a drop off in footfall (Image: Leigh Journal) Speaking about the infrastructure along Market Street, Wigan Council’s assistant director for infrastructure and regulatory services, Julia Middlehurst, said: “There is substantial evidence to suggest pedestrianisation brings real benefits for towns, with positive impacts on the economy, the environment and the visitor experience.

“These benefits include improvements in air quality, increased footfall and spend, and improved social inclusion as people feel more welcome and comfortable in the public realm – particularly the elderly, people with prams and those with special needs.

“By making the area safer for all, it increases footfall and supports local businesses as people feel comfortable to spend more time in the town centres.”