Withington News
Council's Controversial Car Park Plan Faces Fierce Local Backlash
Residents pack public meeting as councillors push ahead with Withington village centre redevelopment despite overwhelming opposition from traders and community groups.
The proposed demolition of the Copson Street car park to make way for a mixed-use development has sparked one of the most heated planning rows Withington has seen in years. More than 200 residents attended a public meeting at the Old Moat Community Centre last month, with the overwhelming majority speaking against the scheme.
Traders on Wilmslow Road and Copson Street say the loss of parking will devastate footfall. "This is the lifeblood of our high street," said one business owner who has traded in Withington for over twenty years. "Take away the parking and you take away the customers." The council argues the development will bring new homes and commercial space.
Community groups have launched a petition that has gathered more than 1,400 signatures. Ward councillors are divided. The planning application is expected to go before the council's planning committee before the end of the year. Withington News will continue to follow this story closely.
Full story: withington.news/council-car-park
The Man Who Keeps Withington Flowing
For nearly thirty years, Jo has called Withington home. Since 2022, he has been keeping its homes and businesses running — one pipe, one boiler, one emergency at a time.
Jo is short for Joseph — a proper British nickname, he is quick to point out. He has lived in Withington for almost thirty years, and when the Covid crisis upended the world, he made a decision that would change his working life entirely.
Full feature — Page 2 · Jo's Plumbing: +44 7815 511904
A History of Withington: 2,000 Years in 24 Chapters
From Roman roads to Covid lockdowns — the full story of one of south Manchester's most distinctive neighbourhoods.
Long before Withington had a name, the land was shaped by glacial meltwater, leaving behind the flat, well-drained soils that would later attract farmers and settlers. The Romans built a road through the area connecting their fort at Mamucium — modern Manchester — southward through what is now Didsbury and beyond. Traces of this route survive in the alignment of Wilmslow Road, one of the oldest thoroughfares in south Manchester.
Chapter I — Page 3 · withington.news/history
Investigation
Do You Feel Safe in Withington?
Residents speak out on crime, antisocial behaviour, and the state of community safety on Wilmslow Road.
Business
Independent Shops Fight Back Against Rising Rents
A coalition of Withington traders calls on the council to act as three long-standing businesses announce closures.
Opinion
Why Withington Deserves Better Than Managed Decline
Our high street is hollowing out, our green spaces are under threat, and our voices go unheard at the town hall.