Exploring the River Roch underground

Underground - the River Roch in Rochdale Town Centre

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Your reporter was given the opportunity to go underground and explore the River Roch yesterday (Tuesday 10 December), before the project to open it up to the general public gets under way.

As part of Rochdale’s regeneration, the River Roch will be opened up in the town centre with project lead John Percival saying: “It should be a six to nine month project starting just after April 2014 with hopes of it being completed by early 2015.”

Together with the Environment Agency, Rochdale Council is planning to re-open the river to reveal historic bridges as well as restoring the rivers natural habitat. “By opening up the river it will allow us to bring nature back to the river including plants and creatures,” added John.

Councillor Colin Lambert was also given the opportunity to explore the river and said: “The last time we saw any of this was back in 1994 so it has certainly brought back a lot of memories and now our dream is coming to reality by re-opening the river.”

Plans to re-open the river include re-opening sections on Yorkshire Street and The Butts. The plan is to open three parts of the river as well as revealing the historic bridge that dates back to medieval time.

Councillor Lambert added: “It is like Dr Who’s tardis. We will be bringing all of this history to a 21st century Rochdale.”

Rochdale Council and The Environment Agency have committed funding to the project with Heritage Lottery Funding providing extra money to help develop the project. Once completed Rochdale town centre will be the only town in Greater Manchester to benefit from an open river running through it. John Percival said: “I think this will be really good for Rochdale.”

Councillor Lambert added: “Once the river is open again, I think it will be something to be proud of. We have a beautiful Town Hall which is our crown jewels so this will really add to that.”

Plans to cover the river first emerged in 1903 when it was reported that Borough surveyors had submitted proposals for the cover up between The Butts, The North Bank and The South Parade. By 1904 the first stages of the cover up were complete but the entirety of the cover up was only completed in 1923.

Earlier this year the council, in partnership with in partnership with English Heritage and the Royal Institute of British Architects, launched a design competition asking for architects to draw up plans for the area around the proposed reopened river - the Rochdale Riviera.

The winning design has now been chosen and is expected to be announced shortly.