Don’t give up hope – says Town Centre Manager

Reporter: Kirsty Rigg
Date online: 02/12/2008

Rochdale Town Centre Management has responded to the “unsettling” news about collapsing businesses in the town.

After hearing about the news of a string of popular high street names closing down, council staff have been working hard to come up with ways of supporting businesses and salvaging a healthy shopping area.

A seminar to help businesses in relation to finance and marketing will be held on Monday 15th December from 6.30pm until 8.30pm at Rochdale Town Hall.

Town Centre Manager Debbie O’Brien said: "It is extremely disheartening news to hear about the administrators being called into such a well established store such as Woolworths, and now that Mark One has closed down too.

"These are obviously very unsettling times for businesses throughout the country and Rochdale is no exception."

She added: "The Town Centre Management team has made a pledge to do all their Christmas shopping in Rochdale town centre. Malcolm Journeaux, who is on the Board of Directors for Rochdale Town Centre Management and his wife Pauline have also done the same.

"Another way in which Town Centre Management help the local businesses is to put on events to drive footfall in the town centre, such as the real-life Reindeer Parade that is happening on Sunday at 12pm on Yorkshire Street."

TCM also help businesses to market themselves, such as joining together to produce media campaigns, and running competitions and free offers. Town Centre Management has their brand new website that features many of the businesses:

• www.rochdaletowncentre.co.uk