High Street Foundation chairman quits in row with council

Paul Turner-Mitchell

The chairman of Rochdale High Street Foundation, Paul Turner-Mitchell, has quit in a row with Rochdale Borough Council over what he says is a lack of support for Rochdale Town Centre.

The Rochdale High Street Foundation was only launched, in a blaze of publicity, in February with the man behind Reggae Reggae Sauce, Levi Roots, coming to Rochdale Town Hall to deliver a speech to town centre businesses.

Since the launch, Rochdale has failed twice with bids to the Portas Pilot Scheme for money to help rejuvenate the town centre.

Mr Turner-Mitchell says it was a very difficult decision. He added: "I'm passionate about Rochdale and retail but I am also a realist."

Councillor Dale Mulgrew said: "I am sad to hear that Paul has quit as chair of the High Street Foundation, it speaks volumes about present town centre policy."

Councillor Mulgrew has been a vocal critic of the Council's faltering plans to regenerate the town centre saying it is in danger of becoming an "urban waste land".

Mr Turner-Mitchell also questions the increasing belief that town centres will need to market themselves as convenient hubs for picking up products ordered online if they are to thrive into the next decade -  a recent report from research group Experian says retailers will have to cope with more people shopping online.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/73571/town-centres-must-adapt-to-online-shopping

Mr Turner-Mitchell comments: "You can't try a dress on over the Internet. You get the 'wow moment' when you pull it off the rack."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/sep/21/manchester-salford-high-street-retail-mary-portas-shops