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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Business
Sophie Halle-Richards

The streets a mile from the airport where people are priced out of holidays

Standing in Wythenshawe's civic centre it's hard not to notice the sound of low-flying planes as they take off from nearby Manchester Airport. Holidaymakers pack out aircrafts as they jet off to sunny destinations in time for the summer holidays.

Just one mile away, shoppers in the town centre flock to B&M and Wilko in search of a good bargain, or meet for a coffee at the packed-out Costa branch which backs on to the busy shopping street.

Despite living less than a ten-minute drive away from the country's third busiest airport, many residents here won't use it this summer, as the soaring cost of living has made holidays abroad unaffordable.

READ MORE: Disabled man left in debt with gas company with just pot noodles to eat

With the average holiday abroad for a family of four hard to come by for less than £2,000, families in Wythenshawe say the soaring cost of food, utilities and petrol have priced them out of foreign trips - with many opting to holiday in the UK if at all.

Michaela Martinovska, 24, moved to Wythenshawe from the Czech Republic around five years ago. She has taken her 15-month-old daughter back to visit her family once since she was born, but said she won't be able to go away this year.

Michaela Martinovska and Daughter Skyla (Manchester Evening News)

"I went back home to see my family a few months ago but I am heavily pregnant with my second child now so won't be able to. Plus it would be difficult now with the cost of living," she said.

"Everything has got more expensive especially with one young child and another baby on the way so we will probably just go away somewhere in this country.

"It's difficult when you've got young children and you don't get paid too much. I've already had to get rid of my car this year because of the cost of petrol and car insurance as I'm under 25 years old which made it really expensive."

Mike used to volunteer in one of the food stalls in Wythenshawe Indoor Market until it was permanently closed by Manchester Council last year - leaving many stall holders without a job.

He said he used to get most of his meals for free in exchange for working there, but now is having to fork out around £60 a week for the bare essentials to survive.

Wythenshawe resident Mike said he can't even think about holidaying abroad this year (Manchester Evening News)

"I can't even think about going abroad," he said. "I can't afford it. I've just got the first half of my cost of living payment but it's barely touched the side. It's the electricity for me. I'm on a meter and once it's gone it's gone.

"When I used to work at the market I would get my food for free which would save me quite a lot of money a week. Now food shopping is so expensive."

Some residents have holidays to look forward to that were booked before the coronavirus pandemic and had to be scheduled, but say they'd be weary about booking another trip abroad in the current climate.

Joan Critchley, 70, said: "I'm going away in November to New York to stay with a friend but that was booked before the pandemic. I'm really looking forward to it but I'm not sure I'd go away again next year.

Joan Critchley (Manchester Evening News)

"You really have to watch what you're doing now with the cost of living. I boil one kettle in the morning and keep it in a flask so I only have to boil it once and I try to use the air fryer to cook my food as it uses less energy.

Another woman said she has a holiday to Cyprus which she booked before the pandemic but wouldn't book another one due to queues at Manchester Airport and the cost of holidays.

"We've heard some horror stories about the airport and with the cost of living you are just aware of how expensive everything is at the moment," she said.

A 20-year-old woman added: "I'm going away with my boyfriend to Tenerife in September as we were meant to go in 2020 but couldn't because of covid. I'm lucky because I live with my mum so I can afford to go away, but the cost of living is a joke."

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