Festival plans linger as council calls for re-vote

Council finance spokesman Councillor Greg Couzens

The proposed cost of the Feel Good Festival has been described as “ludicrous” by Rochdale’s Cabinet member for Finance.

Councillor Greg Couzens told the Overview and Scrutiny Committee last night (Monday 6 April), that he could think of “100 better ways” of spending £35,000 of extra funding which has been proposed by Rochdale Township, to cover the eight-day entertainment and leisure festival this summer.

Rochdale Township previously approved the event with a vote of 13/9, but Councillor’s Pat Flynn and Barbara Todd called it in before the committee on grounds that the overall costs, now totaling at £100,000, are way too high.

It was decided last night that there was “insufficient information” to make a decision, and it matter has once again been sent back to Rochdale Township for another vote.

Chairman of Rochdale Township, Councillor William Hobhouse, has been pushing for the event to go ahead, and says he will remain “relentlessly positive”.

He told the committee: “Rochdale is a town which is dying on its feet and it is the job of the Township to do something about it.

“The Feel Good Festival will attract businesses and shoppers who would otherwise be in Bury, Oldham or Manchester.

He added: “People feel bad about Rochdale at the moment and this is a chance to reverse that”.

Councillor Pat Flynn said: “The decision to hold this extensive festival is insensitive in the extreme.

“It rubs salt in the wounds of those facing pay cuts in the pay and grading review.
Councillor Greg Couzens expressed his concerns. He said: “No-one wants regeneration in this town more than I do.

“But there has been a massive increase in spend which is ludicrous.

“This Feel Good week is also being held when all the children are at school, so I’d like to know who will be attending.

“I can think of 100 better ways to spend that money”.

Rochdale Township is due to re-assess the matter and cast another vote.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think the Feel Good Festival is good for Rochdale?
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