ROCHDALE’S prospective Labour parliamentary candidate has called for plans for the £250M town centre redevelopment to be put on hold.
Simon Danczuk says the decision could be reviewed in 12 months, when the council would be in a clearer position to determine whether the current problems in the economy were improving.
In the meantime, the council could look at improving support for existing retailers and traders and attacting more small business start-ups.
In reports to the town centre committee, which met on 9 February, feedback from developers and retailers was detailed.
A summary – seen by the Observer – shows that some of those surveyed felt the present timing to be ‘a bit ambitious’ and ‘not good now’.
At the other end of the spectrum the feeling was ‘now was as good a time as any’.
In a report on the proposed Rochdale transport interchange, which is set to replace the existing bus station, it is revealed that GMPTE wants the council to underwrite £250,000 of the design costs and that the sum has provisionally been allocated from the town centre capital programme.
It was suggested the developer chosen for the town centre redevelopment could be asked to pay a contribution towards the tendering costs of the two other developers shortlisted.
But Mr Danczuk remains critical of the process.
He said: "I think it’s a huge gamble choosing a developer now when there is little interest due to economic downturn.
"If we can’t fill empty shops now it doesn’t bode well. There’s the potential to be left with empty, derelict land."
He added: "We should be working to regenerate the town centre and establish an outdoor market to complement the indoor market. Go to traders in other towns and offer them a free market stall for up to three days a week so they can set up in Rochdale, then after six months offer reduced rents. Rents should be cut to the indoor market traders. Also, there is a very low level of small business start-ups in Rochdale and we should be encouraging them.
"We should also draw up a full list of activities –such as the medieval market which was held a few weeks ago – and attract people into town. We need a new approach. Instead of surging ahead with the redevelopment, we need to step back and take stock."
Roger Ellis, chief executive of Rochdale Council, said: "We appreciate that market conditions are difficult for developers at the moment, which is why we held an open day to get their feedback.
"One suggestion
was that the selected developer makes a financial contribution which helps pay some of the tendering costs of the other two shortlisted developers.
"However, no decisions have been made yet."
Mr Ellis said the developer selection process would go back to committee at the end of the month.
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Peter Rochdale, Rochdale (04/03/2009 at 12:48)
I'm sure Bury's Centre will be fantastic when it is finished so lets go shopping there. leave Rochdale to be inhabited by the Chav, Scum Low Life so prevelant in the Town Centre. Will the last person to leave, please switch off the lights.
The Evangelist33, Rochdale (04/03/2009 at 18:32)
The Chef, Spotland (05/03/2009 at 12:20)
I agree that when you look over the border at the Building project in full swing in Bury town centre one has a feeling of envy.
The money has been well spent and indeed when it is finished it should look truly wonderful.
The forward thinking planners in Bury can obviously see something that will be very profitable for them and the community as a whole.
Rochdale too could have that potential if perhaps the council looked upon lowering business rates on property to encourage traders back into the centre.
When the Wheatsheaf centre was built we were promised high street outlets such as Next,River Island,Littlewoods,Debenhams I could go on and on. What happened ? We got some shops opening only to find that they were gone not long after! Was this because the pounds signs lit up in the finance dept's eyes?. Even big companies cannot afford to pay high rates in small towns! they will go elsewhere such as the Trafford centre or similar because they can help those that run these outlets with more trade visiting without paying through the nose for it!
It is a case of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours !
The Chef, Spotland (05/03/2009 at 13:05)
So with that in mind, and with a wee bit of artistic licence, May I respectfully request that,almost, in the words of the late President J.F Kennedy
"Ask not of what your commuity can do for you, But ask of what you can do for your Community"
Charles de Mar, Lower Fold, Rochdale (09/03/2009 at 09:30)
The Chef, Spotland (09/03/2009 at 15:26)
Sir I think you should put your travel arrangements to Parliament on hold. You will not get my vote!! As I suspect that of many others!
We have seen the way the Labour Party has happily thrown money at the greedy banks....and are allowing idiotic decision makers,substantial bonuses for failure! In the real world sir, you mess up in your job, you get the sack!
When it comes down to projects that may help boost a flagging community, Labour are less than ready with the handouts. 250 million isn't that much compared to what has already been doled out to the big banks.
Paul-Rowen-held-accountable (11/03/2009 at 10:51)
A.Carter (11/03/2009 at 18:26)
So lets get the politics out of the way first. I voted for Paul Rowen. Most of my family were Lib Dem voters. I say were because some would now be turning in their graves about Cyril Smith's comments and attitude towards TBA and asbestos workers .
Sorry Mr Danczyk but I would not vote Labour on principle.
Now, lets get to the FACTS about the town centre regeneration farce.
The Rochdale Development Agency have missed the boat. In the opinion of many they are not fit for purpose and should be closed down. Kingsway Business Park is nowhere near to schedule and the business is simply not coming in.
Tens of millions of pounds have been wasted on RDA wages and consultancy fees.
Metrolink for Rochdale town centre is not feasible. Financially or as any part of a rational, sustainable travel plan.
Now lets get to the nuts and bolts of what is going very wrong in Rochdale Town Centre.
The following are VERIFIABLE facts, not opinion.
The GMPTE are seriously concerned about the feasibility of the proposed transport interchange. They want Rochdale Council to further subsidise the project - in case it all falls through, A subsidy of OUR money.
The real issues here are the knock-on consequences for several white elephant projects that could total over a quarter of a billion pounds. Money could eventually come from Rochdale taxpayers in increased rates, higher shop prices, car parking and other stealth charges.
its a expensive and fragile house of cards-
Existing RMBC and GMPTE needs to be disposed of to allow the new bus station and council offices. it it happens it will cost us an absolute fortune.
A successful new Transport Interchange (£12 million pounds to move just 12 metres) needs new shops nearby. If not the public transport hub would be in an island of desolation far away from the main commercial and retail centre of Rochdale.
Perfectly serviceable council offices such as Telegraph House and the Black Box are to be demolished and the land sold off (cheap?). The same with the 'old' bus station.
If the RMBC and GMPTE land is not sold off then the whole deal could collapse.
RMBC and RDA are already up the creek without a paddle as they have spent MILLIONS already on plans, studies and compulsory purchase and demolition of nearby buildings.
Don't beleive the nonsense about a Greek ECJ ruling causing the Town centre consultation process having to be done again. this is a myth that has been peddled by very expensive RMBC and RDA spin doctors paid for out of OUR money.
RMBC's private service provider 'partner' The Impact Partnership charge a fortune. Their business model involves providing services to RMBC and charging hansomely for it. A good journalist needs to fully investigate how much Impact Partnership charges RMBC. Needless to say, the more "work" Impact does the more they get paid.
The Town Centre regeneration project is a wonderful opportunity for "more work". The grotesque and wasteful Yelloway House council office project is a shocker.
The sale of RMBC assets in the middle of a property collapse to pay for a crazy £70,000,000 PFI project is obscene.
It has been acknowledged by a series of property experts that plans for a huge new shopping centre on the Black Box/Telegraph House/Bus Station site is commercially unfeasible.
The reports have been drafted. Why are they not available for the ratepayers of Rochdale to see?
Why the secrecy?
There is no need for a new bus station, new council offices or a new shopping centre or Metrolink to be extended down Drake Street.
We can repair, renew and reuse what we already have. It make economic and ecological common sense. It would provide and retain real local jobs.
What it wouldn't do is inflate the egos of some shallow politicians and overpaid officers who want to create their "legacy" with £250,000,000 of OUR money paid for by the next 3 generations of OUR children.
The Chef, Spotland (12/03/2009 at 16:00)
I too feel that regeneration of existing buildings is the way forward and not to demolish and replace them with as you so aptly describe them, white elephants!
I highlighted the building project currently in progress in Bury as an example of a positive action to which Rochdale should look upon and encourage other businesses to invest the centre.
In reply to Paul Rowan Held Accountable's comments I can only assume that this contributor sees the Lib Dems as the evil villian as portrayed in James Bond films!
I think any derogatory remarks made towards the actions of the Labour Government has he/she up in arms and searching for their copy of the socialist worker for reassurance!!