Change of venue for Spotland and Falinge area forums

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Falinge Park

Spotland and Falinge area forums will no longer all be held at Spotland Methodist Church.

Instead, from June, the June and September area forums will now take place inside Falinge Park at the community hub to reach more local residents, the council says.

A council spokesman confirmed: “The venue for the Spotland and Falinge area forum has been changed in an attempt to engage a wider section of the local community.”

The ward area forums have been held at the Rooley Moor Road church since 2012 with the December 2019 and March 2020 forums listed as being at the usual venue.

Chair of the forum, Phil Massey, said: "As chair of the forum, I speak to many people from Spotland and Falinge, and it was becoming increasingly apparent that anyone not living in Meanwood was completely unaware of the quarterly meeting at Spotland Methodist Church. 

"Some that had heard about it thought it was the 'Meanwood area meeting'. This is clearly not acceptable.  The forum is for all of Spotland and Falinge, and I certainly look forward to more parts of our community getting the opportunity to discuss their concerns with neighbourhood Police, the ward councillors and officers from Rochdale Borough Council.

"For the area forum to remain viable it has to be of benefit to residents from across the ward, especially as it is funded by public money. The area forums are a  great opportunity to get involved in the local community, and everyone is welcome to the meetings."

However, not everyone is thrilled by the change of location.

Local resident Mick Coats said: “The move will disadvantage those depending on poor local public transport, those without a car and with mobility issues as well as safety issues in walking through a park at night.

“Why, and why has no consultation taken place?”

Tracie Powers, director of Vintage Worx, which operates from the community hub, said: "Vintage has been asked to provide a venue in Falinge Park for only two of the forums each year, one in June and one in September. The remaining two forums each year, as we understand it, will remain at Spotland Methodist church.

"The rationale is that many members of the ward, particularly from this side of it are unable to get to the Methodist church so hopefully, the forum can benefit residents across all of the ward."

The next Spotland and Falinge area forum takes place at 7pm on Thursday 27 June in Falinge Park.