By Nick Jackson
It’s a town that’s become the jewel in the crown as one of the most affluent parts of Trafford , where property prices have soared as parents vie to send their children to its high-performing grammar schools, and where people visit from miles around to experience its booming bars and restaurants. Of course, Trafford is in Greater Manchester, but ask many people frequenting Altrincham ’s thriving town centre, and they will argue the town is in Cheshire. Yet, Altrincham left Cheshire 51 years ago when Ted Heath’s then-Conservative government redrew the local government boundaries and committed what some believe was the heinous sin of lumping the ‘posh’ little market town in with ‘dirty old’ Manchester. Altrincham folk are not alone in being miffed over their status as Greater Mancunians. Many people in Bolton , Wigan , Bury , Oldham and Rochdale still regard themselves as Lancastrians, and Stockport , which is also in Greater Manchester, was once in Cheshire. To add to the confusion, Lancashire County Cricket Club’s home ground is at Old Trafford, right next to Trafford town hall in the heart of Greater Manchester. Perish the thought of it becoming ‘Greater Manchester County Cricket Club’. Opinion on the Altrincham high street is divided. Some are adamant that they are die-hard Cheshirites while others think being linked to the big city of Manchester is a much preferable option. Some don’t care. Perhaps understandably, it’s the people of more advanced years who are in the Cheshire camp. Yvonne Gladman, 75, lives in Timperley – part of Altrincham – but worked at Hale council in the early 1970s. “We should’ve stayed in Cheshire,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). “It was the biggest mistake ever, when they robbed us of our money and put us in with Greater Manchester and left us with disgraceful roads. “It’s not the same place any more. Being in Greater Manchester has damaged the town. “Altrincham was a lovely little market town but they’ve tried to make it trendy. They’ve taken down some beautiful buildings and put up crap. “And you’ve got all these idiots coming in and causing problems and it’s really annoying. I wouldn’t come into Altrincham at night.” Then we encounter three ladies enjoying coffee on a glorious summer day outside – they wouldn’t give their names. “Altrincham is in Cheshire,” one said steadfastly. “We are not Greater Mancunians. Taking us out of Cheshire was the worst thing ever.” The rise of Altrincham as a place people will visit has been helped by the success of the Stamford Quarter, which is the location of the Market House, where there are numerous independent quality food operators. Nearby, there are street stalls, one of which is operated by Dan Willis, the owner of the Chorlton Cheesemonger business. Dan, 49, said: “The old county boundaries make a difference. For example, is the cheese I’m selling a Cheshire cheese or maybe from Staffordshire? But no-one identifies with ‘Staffordshire cheese’. “I always think of Altrincham as being in Cheshire, and people who come here to buy my cheese think of themselves as being part of Cheshire.” A year ago, Dan expanded his business into Altrincham from his main shop in Chorlton, which he launched five years previously. “We’re doing really well,” he said. “There are a lot of people visiting here from outside Altrincham because of the food scene.” Juliette, 53, is buying bakery products from the stall next door when we engage. She said: “It’s a little bit confusing because Altrincham has a Warrington post code, which is in Cheshire, yet we are in Trafford, which is part of Greater Manchester. I think people think having a Cheshire post code sounds a bit posher.” “I only think about it to the extent that it’s something of a muddle. But the reality is that we are obviously intrinsically linked to the city of Manchester, so I’ve got no problem with being in Greater Manchester. “When you think of all the infrastructure that is related to Manchester – like the trams [ Metrolink ], we are so connected to the city and we are benefiting from that.” Antonia Walker, 34, is sipping coffee outside when she said: “When I’m writing my address down, I always put the Warrington post code [she lives in Timperley], and Cheshire. I never put Greater Manchester. “I don’t come into Altrincham as much as I used to, but it’s nice to sit here and people watch.” Chris Ludlow, 67, said he was brought up in Hazel Grove , part of Cheshire. Although he now lives in Timperley, he still sees himself as a ‘Cheshireite’. “It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “I live within walking distance of Wythenshawe Hospital , and I wouldn’t like to go to Trafford General if I needed treatment. “In the end, we’ve no control, but it would be nice if we had some influence over the council budget as was the case in Hazel Grove back in the day.” Mike, 54, lives in Hale and says people want to be in Cheshire because ‘they want to be identified with a nice, affluent area’. “All this demonstrates is that people don’t associate themselves with Trafford, that’s the bottom line. “If someone were to ask ‘where are you from?’ they would say ‘I’m from Cheshire’. People aspire to live in Cheshire and that’s what they want to say.” His friend Adrian Cunliffe, 51, agreed. “People want to say they live in Cheshire because it sounds better. “But in reality, a few years ago Altrincham was a s***hole. Shops were boarded up, and it was in a real state. The Market House and Stamford Quarter have given it an amazing boost, and people are coming here from all over the place. “There are even celebrities coming here regularly.” Alison, 55, puts the ‘obsession’ with Cheshire down to ‘snobbery’. “There are so many snobs around here. All they want is to be part of Cheshire. But the town is now vibrant, not because of Cheshire, but because it’s in Trafford. It’s really made a difference.” One 56-year-old woman who did not wish to be named weighed in: “It doesn’t really matter,” she said. “When I was younger, I thought it was important, but I don’t now. “I’m incredibly proud to have been born in Stoke, but I ‘escaped’ to Manchester at the age of 18. I’ve lived in Hale Barns for a long time. It’s important for some people to say they live in ‘the golden triangle’. But my message to them is ‘get real, it doesn’t matter’. “There’s so much to be proud of about being part of Greater Manchester. And there’s so much more to Manchester than people realise. We are so lucky. “Before anyone slags off Manchester, why don’t they go and have look?” Danielle, 33, agreed: “I feel like it’s more of a snobbery thing. People want to be known as coming from Cheshire, but we’re in Greater Manchester. Get over it, I say.” Steward Egan, 71, was of the same mind: “I’m happy to be part of Greater Manchester,” he said.