Morrisons Local could be coming to Oldham Road

Rochdale Council has received a planning application for two retail units at the former Easirent Deopt on Oldham Road with Morrisons Local being named as a potential occupier of one of the units.

Mark Robinson, Head of Planning at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The council has received a planning application for two new retail units at the former Easirent Depot land between 473 and 475 Oldham Road. Morrisons Local is named as a potential occupier of one of these units. To make people aware of the application and seek their views, the council has erected a public notice at the site to inform people in the vicinity and written to 49 addresses in the surrounding area.”

Local businesses located along Oldham Road are not pleased with the forthcoming development and think if a Morrisons Local goes ahead, small businesses in the area will be affected.

Jay Patel from Bargain Booze said: “There are major concerns regarding this development and many people have reasonable objections. Not only will it affect local businesses and take business away but it will affect many other things in the area.”

Mr Patel is also concerned about traffic building up in the area when deliveries are being made, noise pollution from outside air conditioning vents and the removal of parking spaces on Oldham Road.

“The trucks will just stop on the road for deliveries and that will cause issues with the traffic. Children could also walk out into the road because they can’t see past the trucks and that could cause issues,” added Mr Patel.

Emma King from florist Lola Ashleigh on Oldham Road said: “We’re only just really starting to hear things now and to be honest I have struggled to find anything on the council website. A customer told me that there is a planning sign on a lamppost but that is all I have heard.

“I hope the council don’t let it go ahead because it could hurt the businesses on this street. I have only been here a year and I know from talking to other businesses that it can be a struggle so for a big business like Morrsisons to come along that could hurt things further.”

Morrisons had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.