Marple
Bridge
Association
Promoting the interests of people who live, work, shop, socialise, or have children at school in
Marple Bridge
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View along Town Street, from the bridge
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Since 1987 Marple Bridge has been holding a non-commercial Christmas Party known as Winter Wonderland, usually on the first Saturday in December. From humble beginnings, this has evolved over the years in to a fantastic family afternoon out, which attracts thousands of people to the village centre, whatever the weather.
The very successful ‘Bridge in Bloom’ campaign, organised and paid for by the Marple Bridge Association, puts flowers on the village centre lampposts, and in other containers and at other sites around the village including the Peace Garden. All this hard work has seen the village compete successfully in regional and national competitions, both in its own right and as part of Stockport’s winning entry in Britain in Bloom in 2005.
Marple Bridge is a very attractive, predominately stone built, village on the edge of the borough of Stockport. With its lovely stone cottages, scenic riverside walks, coffee shops, traditional and trendy pubs and other individual shops, the centre of the village is a Conservation Area.
About the Marple Bridge Association
The MBA’s main aim is to help Marple Bridge continue to be as attractive a place as possible, in which to live, trade, work, shop, eat, drink, or walk and ramble, by ensuring it continues to thrive as the centre of a vibrant local community.
About Marple Bridge
‘Bridge in Bloom’
Winter Wonderland
MBA Blog
The Marple Bridge Association Blog is where you will find more in depth news coverage of our latest events and projects.
Marple Bridge TV
Marple Bridge TV is the Marple Bridge Association’s own channel on You Tube, where you will find video clips and photo montages of recent and past events in the village, as well as media coverage of the Association’s activities.
Visit Marple Bridge
Marple Bridge is easily accessible, being just 5 ½ miles along the A626 from junction 27 of the M60, on the borders of Stockport, South Manchester, North Cheshire and the High Peak district of Derbyshire.
Contact Us
If you live, work, own a business, have children at school, or are a pub regular in Marple Bridge, you are a member of the Marple Bridge Association. This means that you are eligible to attend and take an active part in the Association’s meetings, including the election of its Committee at the AGM.
Originally formed as a traders association in 1987, in the past the MBA’s main task
has been funding the supply, erection and watering of the floral displays on the
lampposts in Town Street, and organising the village’s Christmas fair - ‘Winter Wonderland’.
In
the past 10 years many local residents have become involved meaning the MBA is now
a real community association. The MBA now believes its principal roll is to help
the village continue to be as attractive a place as possible, in which to live, trade,
work, shop, eat, drink, or walk and ramble, by ensuring it continues to thrive as
the centre of a vibrant local community.
The MBA is led by an elected Committee and has a full written Constitution.
The Marple Bridge Association - who are we?
Marple Bridge’s Royal Wedding Street Party in 2011, conceived, planned and staged by the
Marple Bridge Association, for the people of Marple Bridge
The Marple Bridge Association -
what have we done; & what we are doing now?
Many people, including many long term residents of the village, are unaware that it is the Marple Bridge Association rather than Stockport Council that is responsible for paying for and looking after all the floral displays that are such an attractive feature of the village centre throughout the year, and especially during the summer months, when even the lamp posts are festooned with beautiful blooms.
These are paid for by money collected by the Marple Bridge Association, from its various fundraising activities, the principal one being the Winter Wonderland Christmas Fair. This has been running for 25 years and usually takes place on the first Saturday in December. It is a non-commercial party which has evolved over the years into a fantastic family afternoon out, whatever the weather!
Five years ago the Marple Bridge Association converted the then semi-derelict patch of ground beside the river, at the end of the bridge, into the Marple Bridge Peace Garden. Where there was once not much more than a lot of brambles, there is now a pleasant area to sit amongst the floral displays, and admire the view along Town Street.
In 2010 the MBA commissioned and paid for the Village Sign to be erected in the Peace Garden. Painted by local artist Georgina Hargreaves, and much admired by other local community associations, some of whom are now looking to erect their own apparently, this is an attractive addition to the village landscape.
The Marple Bridge Association is particularly proud of its most recent achievement - conceiving, organising and staging one of the largest Royal Wedding Street Parties in the country. This was an absolutely magical afternoon that will not be soon forgotten. It has been suggested that a similar event be held this year to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. So, watch this space!
In the past the MBA has successfully lobbied Stockport Council for support with the problems caused by the increased amounts of rail commuters who leave their cars in the village centre all day, to the detriment of the local businesses and schools, whose customers and parents often struggled to find anywhere to park, even for only a few minutes. A new parking scheme was put in place to create more short to medium term parking.
Although it has been put on hold since the current economic crisis, the Marple Bridge Summer Ball was a fantastic evening out where much fun was had and a lot of money raised for various local causes. It is hoped to revive this highlight of the local social calendar in the future.
For more information about the MBA’s fund raising activities, please click here
View of the Marple Bridge Peace Garden, created by the MBA
MBA Meetings
MBA Meetings are relaxed and informal and held in the convivial surroundings of the Royal Scot public house. You would be made most welcome.
Next Meeting
AGM - Monday
February 20th,
at 8 pm
The Marple Bridge Association Blog
is where we post all our latest news, including press releases, minutes of our meetings
and other announcements.
Read it here.
Marple Bridge Association’s Main Activities and Achievements
Here is a list of the MBA’s principal ongoing tasks, activities, projects, and achievements.
Please click on any one for further information.
Friends of Brabyns Park
Royal Wedding Street Party
Watering for ‘Bridge in Bloom’
Marple Bridge Association’s Main Challenges
The MBA has been fortunate in the past to have secured financial support from Stockport Council for its various local endeavours.
Given that this support will not now be so forthcoming, due to the budget cuts, the MBA, like many organisations, faces challenges to do the same with less.
This is where your support is crucial. Please help us in any way you can.
| MBA Facts, Figures, Opportunities & Challenges |