25th November 2025

Marple is about to welcome a £20 million Community Hub — a modern pool, library, NHS clinic, and community spaces. On paper, it’s a victory for local amenities. In reality, it’s a striking example of how politics and wealth can influence where government money goes.

The Movers and Shakers

At the centre of this project are Stockport Council’s top figures:

  • Cllr Mark Hunter, then Leader of Stockport Council, celebrated the grant as a “game-changer.”
  • Cllr Colin MacAlister, Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration, was the loudest champion of the Hub, ensuring it remained a top priority.
  • Cllr Helen Foster-Grime and Cllr Mark Roberts, Deputy Leader, also backed the project publicly at the groundbreaking.

This is a council with influence, experience, and a keen sense of which areas are politically “safe” to invest in.

How the Decision Was Made

The Hub was funded by Levelling Up money, intended to address underinvestment and deprivation. Yet Marple is affluent, well-connected, and politically organized. It has excellent schools, high property values, strong community groups, and regular train and bus services. Approval came at Cabinet level, with no public roll-call vote, showing that local political momentum — not economic need — drove the decision.

Politics Over Poverty

Meanwhile, other areas in Stockport and Greater Manchester face chronic underinvestment: poorer schools, limited leisure facilities, fewer health resources — yet they don’t enjoy the political leverage of Marple. Many of those communities don’t vote Lib Dem, and they lack councillors with the visibility and lobbying power to secure high-profile projects.

The Hub is undeniably a win for Marple residents. But it’s also a reminder that Levelling Up money doesn’t always reach the places that need it most. Wealth, engagement, and political influence matter more than deprivation in practice.

The Bottom Line

Marple gets its shiny new £20 million Hub. Other communities — genuinely struggling — remain in line for promises that may never materialize. The project shows how local leadership, political savvy, and voter influence can outweigh real economic need when deciding where government funds go.

Levelling Up, in this instance, appears less about levelling and more about shoring up support where it’s already strong.