New Chief Exec tours Kirkholt

The Strand, Kirkholt

Rochdale Council's new chief executive, Jim Taylor, has been shown around some of the key regeneration sites of the Kirkholt estate by local Kirkholt councillor, Dale Mulgrew.

The new Rochdale chief executive had invited all councillors to meet with him as part of his approach to settling into the new job.

Cllr Mulgrew accepted Mr Taylor's invitation, but thought it would be more appropriate for the meeting to be held away from the Town Hall and within Kirkholt in order to give the chief executive a visual appreciation of some of the needs of the estate.

The meeting also involved former councillor Pat Colclough, as she has represented the area for the last four years and is still actively involved in several local community groups.

Cllr Mulgrew and Pat Colclough met Mr Taylor at the Kirkholt Drop In Centre on The Strand where they held a discussion around the need for the Strand shopping area to be the major priority for any regeneration activity within the estate.

Cllr Mulgrew and Pat Colclough then escorted Mr Taylor to the new build sites of Waterloo Road, Curzon/Cumberland Road and Hartley Lane. Mr Taylor was also shown the Hill Top School site and Balderstone Park and its library.

Cllr Mulgrew commented: "I was pleased the new council chief exec could spend so much time touring the Kirkholt estate and talking about the key regeneration projects for the area.

"This was a constructive visit and I was able to really press home the message that the revival of the central Strand shopping area is pivotal to the wider regeneration aims of the estate.

"Mr Taylor was very interested to learn about the area throughout his visit. He was also positive when he explained the current work he is doing within Greater Manchester to secure some funding to support the delivery of the Kirkholt gateway project."