Rochdale Interchange approval delayed

How Rochdale’s new transport interchange would look

Approval for Rochdale Transport Interchange has been delayed until the autumn as the new Conservative-Lib Dem coalition Government announced that it will review all spending decisions of the previous Labour Government made between 1 January 2010 and the General Election.

Building of a new £11.5 million interchange to replace the existing bus station was due to begin in late 2010.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “Rochdale Interchange has Programme Entry. Like all other projects it will have to wait until after the spending review. It will depend on that.”

All schemes granted Programme Entry by the previous Government will be reconsidered as part of the spending review. Until then, the Government can give no assurances on funding support for any of these schemes.

Reacting to the decision, Andy Zuntz, Executive Director at Rochdale Borough Council, said:

“The Rochdale Transport Interchange was in the approval process pipeline prior to the change of Government. It has been shown on a number of occasions to be a high priority transport scheme both locally and for Greater Manchester.

“We’re aware that all transport schemes of this nature are currently under review, but we remain confident that a proposal of the significance of the Rochdale Transport Interchange will remain a priority once the spending review is concluded in the autumn.”

The Goverment is looking to make £1.6 billion cuts in the transport sector.

Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond said in an open letter yesterday (10 June):

“The Government has made clear its most urgent priority is to tackle the UK's record budget deficit, in order to restore confidence in the economy and support the recovery. The Department for Transport will play a full part in the spending review which will be reporting in the autumn.

“Only once the Government’s spending review has been concluded will the Department for Transport be in a position to identify those major investments that can be supported.

I am therefore today taking steps to help avoid unnecessary expenditure, whilst the Government considers its transport priorities.”