Businesses grill the council

Photo: Laura Wild

The Chief Executive of the Council, Roger Ellis, Cabinet Member for Skills and Economic Recovery, Councillor Keith Swift and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Irene Davidson,

Business men and women from across the borough were given the chance to ask the council their burning questions at a special breakfast meeting held this morning (Wednesday 7 July 2010).

Almost 50 business people attended the meeting at the Broadfield Park Hotel, where they directed questions to the Chief Executive of the Council, Roger Ellis, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Irene Davidson, Cabinet Member for Skills and Economic Recovery, Councillor Keith Swift and the Executive Director of the council, Andy Zuntz.

There was one common theme that ran through the whole meeting - the state of Rochdale town centre.

Those at the meeting argued that shoppers don’t come to Rochdale because there isn’t anything to spend their money on, the shops aren’t good enough and there is little to offer.

The council panel explained that try as they might they are having difficulty with the owners of properties on Yorkshire Street and Drake Street. Most shop units are privately owned and the council have been unsuccessful in communicating with the owners.

The plans for the future were welcomed by those at the meeting but suggestions were made that something needs to be done in the short term.

Local actor Colin Meredith compared Rochdale with Bury and said the opening of Bury’s new shopping centre, The Rock, will be the place where Rochdale shoppers will go.

Mr Meredith currently produces a quarterly magazine called ‘Rochdale Style’ he added that it was more likely to be ‘Bury Style’ because there will be more shops and advertising coming from there.

Chief Executive of the Council Roger Ellis was quick to announce that the plans for Bury didn’t happen over night and that, in fact, they took 25 years to put in place.

Irene Davidson explained that as much as the council would like things to happen overnight it isn’t possible.

One of the biggest empty units within the town centre is that of Littlewoods in the Exchange Shopping Centre, however, as the store is still paying rent on the empty unit nothing can be done to get it filled.

The council explained the initiatives they have in place to keep the town centre alive and ensure its redevelopment. One such move they have made is to keep the new council offices in the town centre, rather than move the staff and the buildings to Kingsway because according to Roger Ellis that would ‘mean death for Rochdale.’

Councillor Keith Swift added that another council initiative to get people into the borough was the free after three parking scheme; he added that plans were in the pipeline to introduce free car parking on Saturday.

However, members of the audience reiterated that regardless of the free parking there are no good shops on offer in Rochdale.

Concerns were also raised about tourism in the borough, and suggestions were put forward to boost tourism, one business man commented, “This is a dying town and it ought not to be.”

Councillor Keith Swift explained that there are tourism plans in place including the Feel Good Festival which should bring people to the town.

Andy Zuntz was quick to welcome the suggestion and asked that people with ideas should let the council know.

The tourism question was followed by a question from John Kay of Molesworth Bright Clegg Solicitors and a director of Rochdale Online, he explained that Littleborough is a wonderful place and a great tourist attraction but getting to the area was difficult and  voiced a concern of many in the borough relating to the ‘speed trap’ on Albert Royds Street, Mr Kay suggested the road become a 40mph speed limit.

Suggestions were made to do something with the town hall to increase visits to Rochdale. With most of the council staff being relocated to the new building there would be an opportunity to do something different there.

A Co-operative museum was one of the suggestions, a hotel was another.

Chief Executive Roger Ellis explained this is something the council are keen to do; he added that the year of co-operation in 2012 is a ‘real opportunity for Rochdale.’

Towards the end of the meeting, a point was made suggesting that there had been no focus about what the council were doing to attract businesses to Rochdale and make it an ideal place to relocate.

Andy Zuntz explained what steps are in place, including training packages ready for new employers and to ensure that the skills are in place, as well as making companies aware of funding opportunities.

At the end of the meeting, Chief Executive of the Council, Roger Ellis said: “the purpose of these meetings is to have continuous dialogue with local people, this is not a one off thing, this is the second meeting of this kind and we will build on it.

“It is a chance for us to let local businesses know what we are doing a chance for them to raise concerns to us then we can act on things.”

Mr Ellis added: “We were aware of lots of the concerns raised today but we are keen to hear people’s suggestions and to help local businesses.”

Rochdale Online incorrectly published that plans were in place for free parking in Rochdale town centre on a Saturday. Plans have not be finalised for this scheme and are only a proposal at this stage.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.