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Rochdale Online is throwing its weight behind the Council’s bid to re-open the River Roch in the town centre – and we are calling on you to do the same.

Opening the river is a key ingredient to change our town centre – it would see the medieval bridge exposed as a focal point and unifying feature between Drake Street, The Butts and Yorkshire Street.

The idea of opening up the River Roch on the Esplanade and at the bottom of Yorkshire Street, where it is currently covered, was given fresh hope last September after officials from The Environment Agency toured the route the river takes, looked at the condition of the river walls, the services that cross it and the drainage and the condition of the river bed.

The visit was recognised as being ‘promising’ and the Agency supported an investigation to look at re-opening the river.

Since then, the idea has received support from the Council’s Highways and Bridges teams, the Rochdale Cultural Heritage Group (ROCH), the Drake Street Traders and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Colin Lambert.

The initial stage has been to find out if it is actually possible to open up the river and the great news is that it is - it can be done.

Re-opening the river is part of the council’s regeneration scheme to create a ‘radical and romantic’ Rochdale.

The Council has already put in for a £2million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to finance a regeneration scheme from the Rochdale Town Centre Conservation Area, which includes re-opening the river. Further news on the funding is expected in April.

There are two likely options when it comes to opening up the river, they would see different lengths of the river being opened up and the more the river is open the higher the cost.

Option one, at an estimated cost of £1.8m, would involve:

• Opening up the river immediately to the south of Barclays Bank. This involves the removal of the Newgate roundabout which would significantly improve pedestrian links between Yorkshire Street and Town Hall Square
• Opening up the river across The Butts up to The Walk (approx distance of 50m)
• This was selected to avoid the diversion of British Telecom services that cross the river near The Walk
• The medieval bridge will be clearly visible from across The Butts and from Newgate

Option two, at an estimated cost of £3.8m, would involve: 

• Opening up the river immediately to the south of Barclays Bank. This involves the removal of the Newgate roundabout which would significantly improve pedestrian links between Yorkshire Street and Town Hall Square
• Opening up the river across the entire length of The Butts up to the Metrolink (approx distance of 95m)
• This also includes providing a public space that gives a terraced access from The Walk to river level
• The medieval bridge will be clearly visible from across the town centre

Rochdale Borough Council’s Head of Planning and Regulation, Peter Rowlinson, has described re-opening the river as a “wonderful project” which is “deliverable.”

The first option is the most viable at this stage, however, the Council will look to see how they can open the river to the maximum length but reduce the cost.

This ‘hybrid option’ is the same as option two but the terraced access from The Walk to river level is deleted.

The challenge now is to find the money and Mr Rowlinson said a funding package is being developed.

He said: “We are past the first stage; it can be done for reasonable value for money.

“Stage two is to get the money in place.”

If the money is in place the work could potentially start in May 2013.

He added: “There’s a package of schemes coming forward to make Rochdale town centre the best in Greater Manchester, and the best in the North West.”

Mr Rowlinson believes opening up the river will stimulate the whole area.

He said: “We are confident we have been realistic and we can deliver to our satisfaction with these practical proposals.” 

Paul Ambrose, Senior Planning Officer, Rochdale Council, added: “This ambitious project would reveal the medieval bridge and restore the centre of Old Rochdale as a focal point and unifying feature between all parts of the town centre. 

“It goes without saying that this is a fantastic and achievable opportunity for the town.” 

Rochdale Online Managing Director, Pauline Journeaux, said: “Rochdale Online is backing the bid to re-open the river and expose the medieval bridge because we believe it is what Rochdale needs.

“We believe that Rochdale can be a destination, not only for shoppers, but for tourists and historians.

“I can’t think of many other towns that have a river flowing through the middle with a magnificent building like our town hall as a backdrop, and this plan would really make Rochdale a unique place to visit – for all the right reasons.”

Do you think opening up the river in the town centre is a good idea?