Rochdale in the national news - again!

Rochdale Town Centre

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Following last week's controversy during Gordon Brown's visit to Rochdale, the streets of the town, and particularly the town centre, were awash with journalists from the national media.

A number of Sunday papers ran articles about Rochdale and even the BBC has got in on the act running an article that is old news to local online readers but now getting national coverage.

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BBC Article

Traders in Rochdale have criticised the council over the pace of the town centre's regeneration.

Rochdale Council is consulting local people over a proposed £500m makeover, which will include a continental-style square and cultural quarter.

But traders claim the town centre, which has 53 empty shops, needs immediate improvements and can not wait for the planned 2020 completion date.

Rochdale Council said "regeneration has continued despite the recession".

Paul Turner-Mitchell, chairman of Rochdale Independents, a group which represents independent traders, said: "If it happens, we'll have a fantastic town centre - but the completion date is 2020.

"We're coming out of recession now and [recovery] is about the next six to 12 months and that's when we need the action.

"The problem with empty shops has increased significantly over the last 18 months.

"[There are] 53 empty shops within the town centre - That's 22.5% of all shops standing empty.

"People's perception is that there's not much here and that's damaging to trade."

The proposals include plans to improve neglected green areas and to give a facelift to the main route into Rochdale.

A "green valley" to provide a rural landscape and a "pioneer's route" to celebrate the town's heritage as the birthplace of the cooperative movement are also among the proposals.

Rochdale Council said in a statement: "Regeneration has continued despite the recession right across the borough.

"Residents have been consulted recently about a proposed retail and leisure development which would transform the town."