College Bank and Lower Falinge flats feature on The One Show

College Bank Flats

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College Bank and Lower Falinge hit national television on Thursday (28 September) as part of BBC’s One Show.

The short segment towards the end of the programme was introduced by DJ Andy Kershaw, who was born in Littleborough and grew up in Rochdale.

Standing high on the hills with the Seven Sisters in the distance, Mr Kershaw says that following the Grenfell Tower disaster, “there is a national assumption that people no longer want to live in high rise flats.”

Earlier this year, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) revealed controversial plans to demolish parts of College Bank and Lower Falinge, a proposal that has been met with strong reactions.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/110864/rbh-proposes-demolishing-four-of-the-seven-sisters-tower-blocks-at-college-bank

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/110951/residents-respond-to-rochdale-boroughwide-housing-demolition-plans-for-college-bank-and-lower-falinge

Mr Kershaw, who grew up in one of the College Bank flats, admitted he had not been back in 35 years and was ‘unsure of what he might find’. He recalled: “I remember these as being pretty swish and very desirable.”

He caught up with former Mayor Robin Parker – who strongly opposes Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s proposals to demolish four of the College Bank buildings – outside the Mitchell Hey tower block, who pointed out the flats have no cladding to their exterior.

Since he moved to Rochdale in 1974, Mr Parker, who was Rochdale’s Mayor between 2008 and 2009, has lived in three of the flats, Underwood, Holland Rise and Dunkirk Rise. He launched petitions (both online and off-line) to ‘Save the Seven Sisters’, which was presented at the July council meeting.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/110864/rbh-proposes-demolishing-four-of-the-seven-sisters-tower-blocks-at-college-bank

Mr Parker showed the DJ around resident Audrey’s property in the building.

Audrey declared: “I do not want to move from here, it is just heart-breaking. I can not understand why they need demolishing when they are so well built.”

As Mr Parker showed the view from the balcony, he added: “They say they have too many that can not be let, but there are people on the waiting list.”

Andy Kershaw then moved across to neighbouring estate, Lower Falinge to speak with resident Andy Littlewood, who has campaigned over six long years for improvements to be made in the area.

He commented: “My block is not down for demolition, but this is our chance for a decent future. We would be stupid to turn it down.”

Mr Kershaw pointed out that RBH declined to be interviewed, but did tell the BBC that ‘after demolition, there will be 500 more homes than what exist now and all money will be reinvested in the community’.

He continued: “RBH says the Seven Sisters cost more to maintain than they generate in rent. Renovations could cost £10m per block, an amount that would pay for 100 new homes, but for residents set to lose their homes, that is little comfort.”

Mr Parker added: “It is like a cloud hanging over us every minute of every waking day.”

RBH clarified they declined to be interviewed as they felt the timing was not right, and issued the following statement in response: “We are planning a major investment, which could regenerate both neighbourhoods with a wider mix of high-quality homes for local people, more green spaces, and easier routes into the town centre.

“Our plans are still in the very early stages so have not been finalised yet, however the currently proposals could result in 500 more homes across the regeneration area than there are currently. These would offer a broad mix of options to ensure that the housing needs and aspirations of all local people are met – now and in the future.

“We have been consulting with local people for several months to help shape the plans and ensure that the neighbourhoods meet the needs of local residents. We are currently speaking with all residents individually to discuss the proposals and what they could mean for them.

“Although some College Bank residents want to stay in a refurbished high-rise home, many have told us, as part of these visits, that they would prefer a house or to move to an RBH home in a different neighbourhood or to homes such as those in our award-winning extra care scheme.

“We understand that some people have concerns about redevelopment, but there is also a significant number of residents who are pushing for change and a wider choice of affordable, high quality homes in Rochdale Town Centre.

“Whenever we undertake projects such as this, we ensure first and foremost that our residents are looked after. Nobody would need to move until they had a home that met their needs and aspirations. Any redevelopment is expected to take up to 20 years and the phasing of this would be driven by the timescales required to support people to move.”

On 22 September, the housing provider guaranteed town centres homes for residents on both estates should the blocks be demolished.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112547/rbh-guarantees-town-centre-homes-for-residents-at-college-bank-and-lower-falinge-if-flats-are-demolished

The One Show (28 September) is available to view on BBC iPlayer until 7.30pm on 28 October.