Council Leader defends Wheatsheaf decision following MP's attack

Council Leader Councillor Colin Lambert

The Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Colin Lambert, has defended the Council’s decision to submit a bid for the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre and criticised Rochdale Labour MP Simon Danczuk following his "attack" on the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Farooq Ahmed.

Rochdale Online reported last week that the Council will submit a bid for the shopping centre, which has been in administration since August.

Labour MP Simon Danczuk launched an “attack” on Councillor Ahmed; Mr Danczuk said he was “surprised” that Councillor Ahmed is prepared to spend millions on the centre.

The comments were taken by the Labour group in control of Rochdale Council as an attack – Colin Lambert said the decision wasn’t made by Councillor Ahmed alone but that it was made by himself and the members of his party and that Mr Danczuk had previously been fully briefed and raised no objections. 

Councillor Lambert said: “All of the party leaders and both MPs have been briefed and no objections were raised.”

Councillor Lambert added that it was the “right decision” to put in the bid and confirmed he is “100 per cent behind it.”

The centre, situated on Yorkshire Street, has been in administration since August and a buyer has not yet been found.

The amount of money the council has set aside for the bid has not been revealed but the bid has been confirmed.

The centre is home to 20 shops, including big names such as Argos, T J Hughes and New Look – and is also key to the regeneration of Rochdale Town Centre.

Last week, Councillor Lambert told Rochdale Online: “If the figures stack up then it will be a good investment for the authority and it will secure the future for traders in the centre.

“The business case gives a clear investment in the town centre.”