Have your say: consultation on Broadfield Park slopes

Photo: Rochdale Borough Council

The Broadfield Park slopes at the back of Rochdale Town Hall

A consultation on the Broadfield Park slopes at the back of Rochdale Town Hall is running until 29 April.

Many of the trees on the slopes have been removed after work earlier this year uncovered major faults in the Georgian drainage system that runs underneath them.
 

Read more: New project to repair drainage beneath Broadfield slopes gets underwayPublished: 11 February 2022

Work to improve the drainage was set to take place as part of the wider multi-million pound restoration of the town hall, which is being funded by the council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

But when site contractors got below ground they picked up wider issues, which experts traced back to the slopes.

The age of the drains on the slopes means that leaks are a regular and growing problem, and the roots of the many self-seeded trees in the area had also caused further damage.

A number of the trees removed were also diseased, meaning that they would have needed to be removed at a future date, even if no drainage issues were present. Any trees which are removed will be replanted elsewhere within the town centre, with two planted for every one felled.

The council wants to use the opportunity to “reconnect the town, restoring the historic view from the Town Hall Square to St Chad’s church, and from Broadfield Park to the town centre” whilst creating “a space which is safe, accessible, interesting and appealing to all, whilst maintaining environmental sustainability.”

Have your say on the consultation here.