A campaigner against the new ‘Silk Street’ scheme for Macclesfield town centre has made a video to rival the one produced by the developers.

As reported in the Express, Wilson Bowden has made a film outlining their vision for the town, which they showed at meetings with business leaders last week.

However, opponent John Tilley has produced his own film on a small hand-held camera and the videos will go head-to-head on video-sharing website YouTube.

See the Wilson Bowden film below ...

... and see John's film here:

In his film, John walks around Churchill Way, Hibel Road, Market Place and other spots highlighting the number of empty shops and offices with a live recorded voice-over.

He said: "I wanted to do the video because I’m really really worried that it is going to ruin the town.

"The council has looked at all the empty space and seen it as easy pickings.

"I’m not saying Macclesfield doesn’t need to change. But more than shops, offices and a cinema, what we need is a bit of culture – a theatre, an art gallery.

"I am just hoping the video will help people visualise things and spark some new ideas."

John, 47, is an award-winning garden designer and lives just off Pinfold Street in the town centre.

He recently developed an interest in filming and bought himself the Panasonic SD800 camera as a Christmas treat.

He began producing his video before the Wilson Bowden one went live, but now says he hopes the contrast between the two will bring home the official scheme’s flaws.

He said: "It would be nice if mine got more hits. But I also want people watch both.

"I just hope people take an interest and can see the difference between the two.

"You get a whole load of PR people producing a video saying ‘How can we sell this plan?’ If the plan was any good you wouldn’t have to sell it.

"I don’t want the council to railroad us into this scheme."