New public square brightens up gateway into town centre

Father Ben with Alan Webster from the Impact Partnership and Janet Brooks of Rochdale Development Agency welcome the newlook public square at Townhead.

A new public square that can now be enjoyed as people walk into Rochdale town centre has been created in the historic part of Townhead.

The scheme near St James’s Place and Yorkshire Street improves one of the gateways into the town centre.

The redeveloped square has new natural sandstone pavements, Yorkstone paving with benches, trees, litter bins and street lighting and the fences of the listed St Mary’s and St James Ukrainian Catholic Church have also been spruced up.

The work has been welcomed by priest Father Ben of the nearby church who says it has greatly improved the area for passers-by and visitors to the church. He said: “The area outside the church looks so much better now; the regeneration work has made a fantastic improvement. It helps the church stand out and makes the whole area much more welcoming.”

Controversial traffic works were carried out in the area last year, leaving the pocket of unused land where Halifax Road used to join John Street.

The work was funded by the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder and delivered by Rochdale Development Agency.

Alastair Graham, from the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder, said: “The new square is a big improvement, providing safer and more attractive access between the town centre and the East Central Rochdale regeneration area where money is being invested in new housing and refurbishments to existing properties.”

Janet Brooks of Rochdale Development Agency said: “Investing in gateways that link our town centre with other regeneration areas is important in improving the perceptions of residents and visitors to the borough.”