Want to see how town centre regeneration should be done? Look at Bury, says parliamentary candidate

Yorkshire Street, Rochdale Town Centre's main shopping street, has fallen behind its neighbouring competitors.

Rochdale's Labour Parliamentary candidate Simon Danczuk believes that the council's handling of plans to regenerate Rochdale town centre has led to Rochdale being overtaken by neighbouring towns.

Mr Danczuk has been critical of what he has termed 'botched regeneration plans'.

He cited a recent council report by Rochdale's special projects manager, John Percival, that he believed shows an 'honest assessment of the lack of progress that has been made'.
One sentence in Mr Percival's report to the Rochdale Town Centre Committee read: "Rochdale town centre has regional economic significance but is not managing to compete effectively with other town centres in the region."

The report continues: "Rochdale has sub-regional significance as a town centre both in economic terms and in terms of the history and heritage of the North West, however the town centre has become tired and is losing its proper place amongst competing centres."

Bury town centre is currently going through a multi-million pound town centre regeneration, while Rochdale has been forced to re-run the selection process for its town centre developer after legal difficulties came to light after the developer was originally chosen. This has put Rochdale's town centre re-development behind schedule.

Mr Danczuk said: "In Bury giant cranes dominate the skyline as large parts of the town centre are being cleared to create a rich retail, leisure and residential sector fit for the 21st century.

"Here in Rochdale we have the complete reverse. All talk and no action.

"Why is it that Bury will have a new prime town centre location and retail oasis three years before Rochdale? This puts us at a massive competitive disadvantage and means we will be playing catch-up.”

Mr Danczuk called on his Liberal Democrat opponents to give the public some short-term assurances and wanted the Rochdale Development Agency to provide clear milestones upon which they could be held accountable to a timeline of progress for Rochdale.

He said: "It’s time the Lib Dems stopped talking about a long-term 15-year vision for Rochdale.

"People are concerned about what’s happening now and they want immediate assurances that our council and MP are doing everything possible to strengthen our economy. I want to know what’s happening in the next year not what might be done in 2022.”

The Lib Dems have hit back by saying that Mr Danczuk took the comments in the Council report out of context.

Councillor Mohammad Sharif, cabinet member for regeneration on Rochdale Council, who is also a representative on the board of Rochdale Development Agency, said: “It’s a shame that Mr Danczuk has been selective about the parts that he’s quoted. Once again he is talking down the town that he says he wants the best for.

“The report talks about the town as a whole – not just the town centre east development. In fact, the report says that the eastern quadrant plans, ‘when implemented will improve Rochdale’s ability to compete with neighbouring town centres in terms of retail performance, employment prospects, image and reputation.’

“There is a need for the whole of Rochdale town centre’s future development and renaissance to be managed and steered. It is vital that this is done cohesively with full recognition of the work that is being done in the other strategies that are already in place.”
Rochdale's MP Paul Rowen added: “Five years ago under Labour’s watch, when they led the council and had an MP, there were no plans for regeneration. Now, with Rochdale under Liberal Democrat leadership, we are looking forward to bringing in millions of pounds worth of much needed regeneration for our town.

“It is very easy for Labour to criticise from the sidelines. I was particularly surprised at the Labour Parliamentary Candidate’s comments criticising Rochdale’s Development Agency. You only have to look at developments such as Kingsway Business Park and Middleton’s new arena to see they are doing an excellent job.

“I am a proud Rochdalian and I want to see this much needed development taking place for the good of our town and its people. We need a serious effort to make sure these regeneration plans are right from the off for Rochdale. What we don’t need is someone who is holding back our town by constantly criticising every effort we make.”