Stretford town centre and Trafford Council are inviting the local community to name a brand new public square that is set to open in the heart of Stretford next year. Connecting the newly restored King Street and Pinnington Lane, the new public square will play a key part in the transformation of the area.
The new public space will be a new focal point for Stretford featuring greenery and seating areas. The square is designed to be enjoyed by the whole community - a space to meet, rest, play and host events.
Stretford town centre and Trafford Council are inviting residents to put their imprint on the Square by putting forward their suggestions for its name. All the entries will be condensed into a shortlist and the public will then vote on their favourite. The naming will officially kick off at the May Stretford Socials event on 4th May when the community are invited to come along and submit their ideas. There’ll be an opportunity to talk to the Stretford town centre team, get creative and post entries into the voting box. The voting box will remain in situ in the Mall after the Stretford Socials until Sunday 19th May. During this time residents will also be able to submit their ideas via the Stretford town centre website.
Residents are asked to use inspiration from three themes that represent Stretford when coming up with the names:
Heritage - celebrating the fascinating history embedded into Stretford’s identity
Culture - showcasing the rich and vibrant cultural tapestry that defines the essence of the town and its residents
Community - reflecting the strong sense of unity among Stretford’s residents, making the town a welcoming place to live, work, and socialise.
The naming of the Square campaign will officially launch online on Monday 29th April and in person at the next Stretford Socials event on Saturday 4th May from 12-4pm.
Entries will be submitted either via a web form or in person at the postbox located in the SQ in Stretford town centre. Entrants will be asked for their name, age, contact details and a small anecdote behind their suggested name. Submissions will close on Sunday 19th May.
After submissions are closed, the Stretford town centre team will decide on three entries to go to the public vote that best represent the area and fit into the three areas of inspiration.
The three finalists will then be presented to the public, who will make the final decision. Votes will be cast in person with a town centre polling station, or online via a google form and social media polls. There will also be a special edition of the Stretford Socials on Saturday 1st June for the community to get their votes in. The public vote will officially close on Sunday 16th June.
The unveiling ceremony will take place at The StretFest on 6th July where the winner of the and name of the new public square will be announced.
James Tootle, Head of Retail and Leisure at Bruntwood, said:
“The new public square will be at the heart of Stretford town centre and who better to name it than the local community. It will provide a new hub for the town centre, a space for everybody in the Stretford community and our vision is that it will inspire even more great collaborations and play an important role in the area.
“We want to hear from as many people as possible so please do come and see us at the Stretford socials and submit your ideas, or do so via the postbox in the Mall, or online. We can’t wait to hear ideas from the community and to work together to take another step towards a better town centre.”
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said:
“The public square will be an exciting and vibrant addition to the new-look Stretford town centre. We’re delighted to be teaming up with Bruntwood to launch the competition to name the new square. We would encourage as many people as possible to take part – good luck!”
The winner of Stretford town centre’s ‘Name the Square’ project has been announced as Lloyd Square - in tribute to local politician and Stretfordian Sir Tony Lloyd. The official unveiling ceremony took place on Saturday 6th July, led by Councillor Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council and Sir Tony Lloyd’s widow, Cllr Judith Lloyd, was also in attendance to commemorate the occasion.
Our favourite new Stretford restaurant and cafe, Bakehouse32, is opening its doors on Wednesday 10th July in a brand new location in Stretford town centre. Stretford’s newest eatery, located right in the heart of the town centre, will initially open for daytime service only from Wednesday through ‘til Sunday.
After receiving over 400 entries, the Stretford town centre team have announced the three shortlisted entries for the ‘Naming the Square’ competition.