Didsbury re-open the disused railway line which passes through Didsbury as part of the Manchester Metrolink light rail system. Under these proposals, Didsbury Station was to re-open under the name of Didsbury Central or Didsbury Village. These extension plans were rejected by the government in 2004, due to escalating costs. New plans were drawn up in 2007, with at least some of the money required for the construction of the line planned to come from the proposed Manchester Congestion Charge, which was overwhelmingly rejected by public vote in 2008. In May 2009, AGMA agreed to the provision of additional funding that
Didsbury conservation area now known as Didsbury St James, about half a mile (1 km) to the south of what is today's village centre. The old village green is now the beer garden of The Didsbury public house. The traditional independent retailers are gradually being replaced by multi-national firms, raising fears that Didsbury may lose its individual identity and become a "clone town". However, independent traders continue to thrive, especially in West Didsbury, which celebrates its independent spirit each year with the two-day Westfest festival. The 200-year-old Peacock's Funeral Parlour, one of the few pre-Victorian buildings in the village and regarded