Plans for a new Rochdale co-operative

The Dale Co-operative

Mark Birkett is on a mission to bring an innovative retail experience to Rochdale - using a modern co-operative movement of local people.

Speaking to Rochdale Online, he said: “My thought for some time has been to revamp/revitalise Rochdale’s finest export, the co-operation movement, and regenerate the town using that model, rather than the orthodox business model.

“It is down, ultimately, to the people of Rochdale to say this is our town and no one will fix it other than us. The government won’t do it, the orthodox business entrepreneur won’t do it by themselves, but we collectively can.

“I have always felt that 'we' is better than 'I' and that people working together to achieve something is better. There is a lot of talent in Rochdale and all we are talking about is harnessing that talent and energy into positive elbow grease to get something tangible done.”

The first step to setting these plans in motion is a meeting of people interested in the movement. The meeting will be held on Saturday 1 August at St Mary in the Baum and Mr Birkett hopes to sign up people interested, elect a steering committee and agree on a working formula.

Mr Birkett said: “Initially it is about making one model work really well. Now on 1 August, hopefully we will get some consensus on what the initial goal will be. I envisage some sort of retail or cultural outlet that will be totally funded by a new co-operative fund that we build and would be staffed by local people only, because one of the things I would like to see is more proper jobs happening in Rochdale. In the longer term, once the first model works, there is no real reason another one could not open next door. I would like to see Yorkshire Street transformed from pound shop mentality back into what people would call a vibrant retail experience.

“I want to persuade everyone who attends to sign up morally to support the idea and from there, help to spread the word right across the 200,000 people who live across the borough and generate a grass roots movement to regain control over our town centre.

“This will be a co-operative structure that is 100% democratic, so one member equals one vote.

"At the meeting I hope to reach an agreement on a structure to set in place and to elect a steering committee that will be responsible for raising awareness and funds, examining ideas and putting forward real proposals, but in the end, if we don’t get awareness raised, nothing will happen.”

People who want to get involved will be asked to pledge either £100 towards the plans or 10 hours of time.

“This is not just about retail and great shops. The entire purpose of the town centre, and Rochdale is not the only one struggling, with the advancement of modern technology has had an impact on where we buy books and records, but people in Rochdale are still here and they still shop, it is just that they don’t do it here.

“My argument is, rebuild it and they will come,” added Mr Birkett.

Mr Birkett believes that to go ahead with the plans, hundreds of thousands of pounds would need to be raised.

He said: “It is an arbitrary sum £100, but to raise the sort of money that I know we would need to get something really good off of the ground, I feel it is a realistic sum. To open an orthodox business on Yorkshire Street, you have to cover rent, rates and utilities, buy in stock and pay staff. Now, I wouldn’t like to put an exact figure on that because it depends on entirely what people do, but I would very much like to see the amount of money we raise go into the hundreds of thousands, that is what I am hoping for. If Rochdale Council wanted to help or local entrepreneurs wanted to help, or someone wanted to make a charitable donation, then everyone would be welcome.”

All money would be overseen by an elected committee and Mr Birkett has been in contact with local solicitors to oversee the process.

The Rochdale Town Centre East development is in the pipeline and Mr Birkett isn’t against any other plans to revitalise the town centre, but thinks that there is not much point, if people don’t come.

He said: “I am not in arguments with any other initiative to get Rochdale improved, but it is clear that the new things that have come, that are great things, would be meaningless if people don’t come back in and someone has to break the vicious cycle and this is the only way to do it.

“The financial risk would be shared so widely that it is not prohibitive to anyone individual.”

Realistically, Mr Birkett thinks things can be completed within five years.

He said: “Initially we could have something in 12 months but realistically getting the critical mass we need to start the real transformation of Rochdale may take five years or even longer, but if we set the goal of fixing Rochdale by 2020, the at least we have aimed at something.”

To get involved with the movement visit:

https://www.facebook.com/dalecooperative