𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A Reform UK councillor has announced plans to transform a Manchester market town into the Britain’s answer to Dubai. Michael Felse, who was elected as the party’s first Salford councillor in a by-election last month, said he envisioned a “long-term future based on culture, art, innovation and quality jobs” for Eccles.

While the UK town best-known for producing the eponymous currant-filled cake may seem an unlikely twin to the Gulf state famous for its luxury lifestyles and towering skyscrapers, Mr Felse suggested local officials should pursue a “cultural connection” between the two regions. He said such a move would “attract millions of new investment into art and culture design” including “heritage gems, the underfunded Viaduct and water crafts centre of excellence along the Bridgewater canal”.

“Eccles as the UK’s Dubai would provide thousands of new jobs and creative opportunities for our young people,” the councillor added. His Labour colleagues on the Salford authority hit back at the plan, however, suggesting the town’s occupants “do not want to be” the next Altrincham, a larger town nearby, “and certainly not the next Dubai”.

Mr Felse’s plans to transform the Manchester town included creating “artistic tunnels” to “ease pathways to modern living” and turning the area around the Barton Aerodrome into “a centre equal to Dubai International Airport”.

Pressed on how the scheme could realistically be achieved, he said a crucial component would be a new ‘AI Academy for Arts, Culture, AI and Community Leadership’ in Salford.

“Successful graduates can expect over £100,000 a year jobs in public sector work, seen recently advertised in the press,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

The institution would “offer 6,000 student places at £9,000 a year, triggering investing £54million a year income into Barton”, he added.

Labour councillors said Mr Felse’s comments suggested he “may be unaware” of the regeneration plan already underway in the Eccles area, including plans to redesign streets and build up to 1,272 new homes.

In a statement, they said: “The master plan for Eccles town centre has been kickstarted by a £10million investment from the council and Government and has commenced with the start of phased demolition of the Eccles Mall.

“We’ve been delighted to work closely with our community, local businesses and a wide range of partners to develop an Eccles Vision that works for everyone.

“Through extensive community engagement, local people have been clear about what they want for Eccles, a town centre that is somewhere they can live, work, meet, eat and play.

“Suggestions of turning Eccles into ‘the next Dubai’ do not reflect either the reality of the plans or what the community itself has consistently asked for.”