Rochdale featured on BBC

Photo: Margaret Curry

The River Roch uncovered in the Town Centre in 1996

5 More Image(s) In Gallery

Rochdale featured on the BBC’s Inside Out North West on Monday night (5 March). 

The programme focused on Liz Kershaw returning to her home town to see how it has ‘fared in the economic downturn.’

The show’s slot about Rochdale told how McDonald’s has left the town centre, that one in ten are out of work and that Yorkshire Street has a lot of charity shops and pawn brokers.

Liz Kershaw said she was sick of Rochdale hitting the headlines and people assuming it is a dump. However, when she questioned people on the street they agreed it is "a dump" and said that they shop in Bury.

On the positive side, there was talk about the developments at Kingsway Business Park and the job creation, though Ms Kershaw lamented the lack of manufacturing jobs.

The town centre’s fledging 'Emporium' also featured on the programme.

Liz Kershaw said if she was in charge she would open up the River Roch in the town centre and create river walks on either side, have markets, a grass area and give people chance to ‘enjoy one of the finest town centres in the world.’

Council Leader, Colin Lambert, said opening up the river was exactly what the council is intending to do.