What does The Rock mean for Rochdale?

Bury’s new shopping centre, The Rock ,opened yesterday (Friday 16 July 2010) and with it being just a bus ride away from Rochdale and home to a host of popular shops and stores, what does its opening mean for our town centre?

Rochdale Online reporter Laura Wild asked shoppers if this new shopping complex is the final nail in the coffin for Rochdale...

Paul Murphy said: “There is nothing but pound shops and charity shops in Rochdale, of course people are going to go to big shopping centres like Bury. Before it opened everyone I know went to the Trafford Centre or Manchester. Bury is that little bit closer with lots on offer.”

Carla Jones said: “I only really come to Rochdale to nip to the bank or pick up the odd thing. There is nothing here. Bury has much bigger and to be honest better shops and I think it will attract a lot of people.

"If people have money to spend they don’t come to Rochdale.”

Steph White added: “I haven’t been to Bury yet but I can’t wait – anything is better than Rochdale, just look around at all the empty shops.”

Liam Southworth said: “I live close to the town centre so I always come here but I do admit it isn’t the best place to shop.  I don’t drive so I don’t go far but I’d like to go to Bury and see what it has to offer.”

George Smith said: “I don’t think Bury means the end for Rochdale but I do think it has a long way to go before it is anything like Bury.”

June Styles said: “Rochdale is never really that busy anymore, I guess time will tell.”

Mr Collins said: “People have still got to get to Bury which costs money. I think regular Rochdale shoppers will stay true to Rochdale. Going to The Rock will just be a treat or a one off for most people.”

Rochdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Skills and Economic Recovery, Councillor Keith Swift said: "Although the Rock is a very impressive development in Bury it has taken ten years to come to fruition and I'm sure that Rochdale's town centre development,  which will be delivered in the next 3-4 years, will equal, if not surpass, the development at Bury."