The Dale Co-operative is 'officially' born

Councillor Andy Kelly, Mark Birkett (Dale Co-operative), Councillor Richard Farnell and Councillor Ashley Dearnley

It's 'official', the Dale Co-operative is now 'Dale Co-operative Ltd', having received a Certificate of Incorporation from Companies House this week.

The Dale Co-operative is the brainchild of Mark Birkett, who is on a mission to transform Rochdale town centre, using a modern co-operative movement of local people.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/97354/new-rochdale-pioneers-to-form-dale-cooperative

Mr Birkett explains that Rochdalians are now able buy into the membership of the Dale Co-operative with "complete confidence".

He said: "With their membership, they can take part in our democratic structure, vote who they want to be on our committee, and (most importantly) have a unprecedented opportunity to take part in the future success of their own town centre. We will be able to issue £100 lifetime memberships to anybody who wants to help us play our part in transforming the town centre."

The lack of high-quality independent shops, theatre, exhibition centre and cinema in Rochdale town centre are the focus of the co-operative's concern.

Mr Birkett explains: "Whilst there are some exceptions here and there, far too much of the shopping experience on Yorkshire Street and Drake Street consists of pound shops, charity shops and other generally low-value/low-quality outlets. There are no high-quality gift shops, butchers, grocers, bakeries, sweet shops, toy shops and no delicatessen. Yet the demand is there amongst Rochdale's population for these things. Unfortunately, due to the lack of choice, people go to Bury, Hebden Bridge or the Trafford Centre for all these things. We want them to stop doing that and come back to their own town instead.

"People do want to come into the town, and see it recover, but if these outlets don't exist, why would they? So we have a Catch-22. No decent shops equals no cultural activities, equals no shoppers, equals no decent shops, plus no cultural activities.

"For either £100 or ten hours of time and effort, Dale Co-operative Ltd would give a lifetime membership in the entire business. This means investors would receive a lifetime of tangible discounts in everything built - whether that be restaurants, bistros, a delicatessen, a bakery, an art-house cinema, or any other endeavour democratically decided upon."

Addressing potential backers, Mr Birkett says: "Far more importantly, your real return on investment would be a town centre you can be proud of again; a town centre offering a stunning retail and cultural experience for you today, and for your children and grandchildren tomorrow."

The leaders of the three political parties represented on Rochdale Borough Council, Council Leader Councillor Richard Farnell (Labour Group), Councillor Ashley Dearnley (Conservative Group Leader) and Councillor Andy Kelly (Lib Dem) are supporting the initiative.

Councillor Kelly is also the Arts & Culture Co-ordinator on the Dale Co-operative committee and Councillor Kieran Heakin is the committee's Political Co-ordinator.

Mr Birkett explained money raised would be used to create a "flagship venture", he said: "All the money raised with shares would go into building the first 'flagship' venture. The net profits from that would be invested in a second, then a third, and so on until the entire 'flavour' of the town centre shifted radically upwards. At that point, the 'orthodox entrepreneurs' will start to come back. They will want to build all the other high-quality outlets described above precisely because there will now be a profit in it.

"Of course, if we are to set a new standard of excellence, then creating the first 'flagship' outlet will require a good deal of money. So you might well ask what type of venue we want to build - and why. To that end, we have conducted a wide-ranging survey of Rochdale's opinions. We have been running, and will continue to run, this online survey in order to ensure our plans have a concrete base of demand to rely upon as a guide. The survey has been running for less than two weeks and already it is crystal clear that there is indeed pretty widespread support for this co-operative business model."

Mr Birkett says to open a new high-quality venue would require (very approximately) £250,000 - just 2,500 people buying a £100 share are needed to achieve that sum.

Mr Birkett expands on the co-operative's plans: "One of the plans we are considering is building a stunning new 'flagship' venue in the town centre, somewhere so amazing that it will be a 'must visit' destination for all. This venue really would set a new 'standard for excellence' for all retail and cultural outlets in the town. It would incorporate a bistro and delicatessen during the day, and become a restaurant and high-standard live entertainment venue in the evening. This venue would address both the day time and the night time economy of Rochdale centre."

You can pledge your support for the The Dale Co-operative at:

www.getyourshare.co.uk