Cheetham Street businesses speak out about antisocial behaviour

Date published: 08 December 2016

Business owners on Cheetham Street have spoken out about the antisocial behaviour they have witnessed outside the Spread Eagle pub since it has ceased trading.

Michaela Fletcher, who owns the Sun Love Tanning Studio, said: “I’m absolutely sick of it. It seems like everyone is passing the buck about it. People in the Council are going on about rejuvenating the town centre but they’re doing nothing about this antisocial behaviour preventing people from coming into Rochdale. Sometimes it feels like you’re shouting at a brick wall about things.

“I do think if something were done about the antisocial behaviour, more people would come into Rochdale. I know people who have been harassed in the streets by palm readers and beggars and they don’t want to risk shopping here in case they get pick-pocketed. It’s a real shame because the town has a lot of history and there’s lots of countryside nearby; and it’s a shame that it’s got such a bad name and that we’ve lost a lot of the nightlife.

“People need to sort out this behaviour before spending money on rejuvenating the centre because no one is coming to see it.

“I’ve been told people are squatting in the Spread Eagle because they’re homeless. A lot of places that supported the homeless have now shut and there is just nothing there now: there used to be a lot and this is what we should be spending money on, not opening a river.

“I’ve never been in a town centre with so many people on the streets. Shoplifters are moved on, why are the beggars harassing people not? It’s gradually got worse since places like the Salvation Army closed; places like the Spread Eagle used to do a bed and breakfast for the homeless.

“I’ve seen people loitering outside before they go to quieter areas out of view behind the other shops to take their drugs. I see a lot of them begging, then go at half four back to their flats in Falinge.”

Michaela added: “This behaviour is affecting our businesses. They congregate outside in summer and it puts customers off. It does affect us; I had to switch off all the electrics yesterday to get people out and it makes you think what if they don’t come back because of it all?

“There’s loads of rubbish outside the back of the Spread Eagle and needles. We’ve lost customers because we can’t risk them getting into our car park with things like that around, or the risk of having their cars broken into. I’d like to see something done with the building. Just secure it or something.

“No one speaks to us at the businesses. We’ve all been complaining for a long time and you don’t even see this in Salford or Oldham. People like that are moved on in Bury and Bolton, so why not here?”

The owner of Posh Nailz Academy, who did not wish to be named, said: "The funding needs to be going into providing somewhere for the homeless people to go, not increasing the allowances for councillors. They need places to go, especially when it's cold like this."

Craig West and Andrew Mills, who run the Snack Times Café, said: “We’re concerned in case there’s been any adverse effects from the smoke. If the power goes out, that leaves us out of business and the mess is unsightly.

“With two fires in just three days, it could be unsafe. We’ve noticed a big drop in trade today. There’s been a marked increase in antisocial behaviour since the building has been empty.

“We’ve seen people drinking outside first thing and no-one seems to do anything.”

The landlord of the properties adjacent to the Spread Eagle- including Sun Love and Snack Times Café, said: “The business owners are to be commended for their efforts because they’ve battled so many odds where they are.”

Mark O’Brien, of TNS Developments, who own the Spread Eagle, said: “It’s a bit disappointing because it is a nice building. We’re hoping to put the planning permission in for retail units and apartments but we had to wait and submit a number of reports, including a noise survey.

“We’re hoping that will be processed quite quickly and then we can start work. I’ve had to physically eject people from the property before when I’ve been to the site, and we do barricade it afterwards.

“I think when we begin work and there’s a presence in the area, it will discourage these people from getting in and ultimately the work will enhance the area. I think it’s because it’s empty that it attracts undesirable attention from the homeless and drug users; we’ve found needles inside and outside before.”

Mark Foxley, of Town Centre Management, said: “We have visited businesses and share the concerns of neighbours to the old Spread Eagle public house. We encourage the landlord of the empty property to take more responsibility and keep it secure.”

Mark Widdup, Rochdale Borough Council Director of Neighbourhoods, said: “We are working with the police to ensure that the town centre is a safe and welcoming place for shoppers and businesses. There are a number of initiatives currently being discussed and GMP’s town centre team recently launched its Christmas crackdown to target criminal activity and antisocial behaviour. The leader of the council also recently wrote to police chiefs to ask them to make this work a priority. Creating a town centre that we can all be proud of is a council priority and we are committed to making it happen, as our ambitious regeneration plans demonstrate.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said that a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson, but was later released without charge.