Tameside Borough

Tameside

The Metropolitan Borough of Tameside named after the River Tame, which flows through the borough and spans the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley and Stalybridge plus Longdendale. Its western border is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the City of Manchester city centre. It borders High Peak Council in Derbyshire to the east, the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham to the north, the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport to the south. 63.5% of the borough is greenspace and The Peak District National Park is easily accessible – Tameside enables one step to be in the country and one in the city and broader urban areas of Greater Manchester.

The current borough was created in 1974 and the towns of the borough had grown through their involvement in the cotton industry, which dominated the local economy. Tameside features flat lowlands in the west and highlands in the east where the western edge of the Pennines encroaches on the borough. The Ashton, Hollinwood Branch, Huddersfield Narrow and Peak Forest Canals all run through the borough meeting at Portland Basin. Greenspace accounts for 63.5% of the Tameside’s total area. Tameside has eight designated Local Nature Reserves.

Leisure

There’s lots to do in Tameside and it is within easy reach of Manchester city centre and its vibrant nightlife. Hyde Leisure Park, offers state-of-the-art sporting facilities with a leisure pool and floodlit stadium, fitness suite and gym. There are sports centres and pools throughout the borough.

The Museum of the Manchesters, in Ashton, tells the story of the historic regiment and Tameside’s Heritage Museum, Portland Basin, covers the last 200 years’ history of the borough in a rebuilt canal warehouse. Two main art galleries house touring and local exhibitions, with each of the 15 libraries containing its own exhibition area.

The borough is endowed with a variety of countryside – three river valleys, three country parks, a fine canals network, pastoral farmland, woodland, water and high open moorland. The council’s countryside ranger service co-ordinates a wide range of activities for all.

The area is well-known for its bustling markets, variety of community events and entertainment such as Splendid Weekend and the Tameside Music Festival, and the nationally famous brass band competitions.

Transport

By road, rail and air, Tameside is ideally placed to connect with the North West, the rest of the country, Europe and the world. Road and rail networks provide fast and efficient links and Manchester International Airport is only 20 minutes drive away. There is direct access to the national motorway network via the M60 and M67, which run through the borough.

Work on an extension of the Manchester Metrolink costing £260 million began in 2008. Trams have run to Ashton and Droylsden since 2013. Ashton Bus Station was upgraded into a new transport interchange, opening in 2020. A covered concourse replaced the five island platforms, and the site will be linked to the Metrolink terminus with new waiting areas, bicycle parking, and better access to travel information and tickets. Improved pedestrian routes will take people into the town centre. The new Hyde Bus Station opened in 2007.

Tameside’s Inclusive Growth Strategy (2021-26)

Tameside has a rich history of social and economic leadership and industrial innovation. This strategy will focus on ensuring that the quality of life, health and happiness of our people is improved, by good employment, with greater security and better pay. It will benefit our businesses by improving productivity and will provide for proactive public service reform in a thriving, varied, inclusive economy.

Read or download the strategy (pdf).