The area is now a sea of shutters - but change is on the cards
It was a hive of activity with a criminal undercurrent that had a habit of spilling out above the surface. The Strangeways area was notorious for being the 'counterfeit capital of Europe' for decades.
To say police have left their mark on the area would be a big understatement. Operation Vulcan posters still adorn shutters, walls and doorways, serving as a reminder of the raids which led to 218 premises being closed. "It's a lot different," he said. "Hundreds, thousands of people were walking on the road. Now you see one or two people walking.
"We are now thinking that we may be closing," he said. "Since 1989, I never thought I would close my business." While he has concerns for trade, Mr Iqbal has welcomed the 'peace' that Operation Vulcan has brought to the Strangeways area. "It's OK now," he said. "It's OK. At the moment, no problems, it's very peaceful at the moment."
Tina Vu, of the Ocean Nails Bar which has been open for a month, added: "It's been pretty good, nothing dangerous... I feel safe here, there's nothing that's happened." But on the street, opinions about the area following Operation Vulcan are mixed. Greater Manchester Police describes its approach to Operation Vulcan as 'clear, hold, build'. It means officers will 'clear' the area of criminality and 'hold' it by making sure crime doesn't return in anticipation of the 'build' - when the area could be transformed.
On the 'clear, hold, build' strategy, Chf Con Watson added: "We're not going anywhere until Cheetham Hill is properly invested in and is allowed to grow as somewhere that is literally adjacent to the new glass-and-steel growing Manchester. And I think we're already starting to see real signs of that.
"It was where a lot of people got their clothes from - in fact a lot of people are upset it's gone. I think it was harming the so-called economy but it wasn't harming the people themselves, it was the only way they could survive." Beyond 'Counterfeit Street', the Strangeways area also has a creative nightlife scene. Hidden, The White Hotel and the Derby Brewery Arms all operate on nearby streets, bringing a creative spirit to the area.
"A large pipeline of investment, including significant affordable housing, is already being developed alongside our partners through the Great Ducie Street SRF and we will look to build on this in the years to come. There is a unique and special character to the area and the Council is aware of our responsibility to maintain and improve that.
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