Roch-Ham or Old-Dale?

Photo: Journeaux

Frank Salt

Rochdale and Oldham Councils have held talks to discuss an amalgamation of council services.

The meeting, which took took place last week at Rochdale Town Hall, was described by Rochdale Borough Council Leader, Councillor Irene Davidson as "very worthwhile", sentiments apparently shared by her opposite number in Oldham, Councillor Howard Sykes.

Not everyone is convinced a Rochdale/Oldham partnership would be a good thing, Castleton Independent candidate in the forthcoming local elections, Frank Salt, said the proposal posed a number of questions and concerns: "Will we have two of every executive?

"Will front line services be even further stretched?

"Is the council handing over running the borough to yet another agency?

"Will we see an expensive Brussels style 'go's and turn's as to which Town Hall meetings are held at?

"If the street lighting PFI debacle is anything to go by does this evaluation mean we will be more in the dark than at present?

"Will the £700,000 wage bill to the top executives of Rochdale Council be halved?

It is understood further meetings are planned.