Plans to transform Ashton market square have been welcomed by a sergeant who oversees neighbourhood policing in the town centre.

Tameside Council has unveiled £10.8 million plans for the public space in the centre of the town, with new images showing a new 'canopy structure' that would replace the existing outside stalls.

The square has been plagued by anti-social behaviour incidents, which negatively affect the way residents view the outside market area.

It led to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) being introduced last October by the council and Greater Manchester Police, to prohibit certain activities linked to anti-social behaviour.

Sergeant Rob Froggatt recently attended a meeting about the new plans and is working with the council in a bid to ensure the rejuvenated space won't become an anti-social behaviour hotspot.

"The plans look absolutely fantastic and I think the renovation is much needed for Ashton," he told Tameside Radio.

"I'm very happy with the plans which have been presented so far. I do think we've got little bits of work to do with members of the council to ensure that we don't end up with an anti-social behaviour hotspot area, but we are in discussions around this and things that can be put into place to ensure this doesn't happen.

"Myself and our partners from the council and planning have been working really well together. I think it will be an absolutely brilliant thing for the town. We just want to make sure that, as well as looking nice, we want it to stay nice and make sure we don't create any sort of ASB hotspot as we've seen in the past."

Sergeant Rob Froggatt in the Tameside Radio studio 

The use of the PSPO followed numerous complaints by residents and businesses about anti-social behaviour to the local authority, MP Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

The order covers an area stretching from the M60 ring road in the west, across to the boundary of the Memorial Gardens on the A670 in the east.

Officers are able to hand out a £100 fixed penalty notice, and people also face a fine of up to £1,000 following a court summons.

Sergeant Froggatt, who played a key role in the PSPO's introduction, has said it has been going "absolutely brilliantly" and has made a difference.

"I think we've had 91 people so far on our list who have been moved on with the PSPO powers," he added.

"We've had 10 PSPO tickets given for all ranges of anti-social behaviour, urinating in public and drinking alcohol.

"Even those who have been given warnings don't seem to have quite got the message and sadly it's going to cost them money from their pockets."

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