Residents urged to give views on £100,000 art feature for Middleton town centre

Middleton residents are being encouraged to give their views on a new eye-catching focal point for Middleton Gardens.

Rochdale Development Agency has shortlisted four artists and landscape architects and their designs will go on show at Middleton Shopping Centre’s main concourse for three days from Thursday 31 July.

The landscaped artwork, being funded by Tesco, will provide a gateway between the proposed Tesco store and the town centre near Middleton Gardens. Construction is well underway on the state-of-the-art Middleton Arena sports and entertainment centre and the development of the store will start in January 2009.

Four organisations have submitted designs that incorporate lots of ideas, including street furniture, new signs, information boards, planting and seating.

Martin Ledson from Rochdale Development Agency said: “We hope that the people of Middleton turn out in force to tell us what they would like to see in this important location in the town centre. We want it to be a public space that can be enjoyed by young and old. Exciting developments are taking place in Middleton with the new Arena, Tesco store and recent improvements to the bus station and shopping centre. This will be another great attraction.”

The consultation will run from 10am to 4pm on Thursday 31 July, Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August. Representatives from Rochdale Development Agency will be there to answer questions and encourage people to fill in short questionnaires. The views will be collated and considered by Middleton Township Committee, who will make a final decision in September. The installation will begin during 2009.