Turnaround Specialist for town centre.

Hinch wrote:http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/82047/greenwoods-and-thorntons-closing-down

Oh dear.

It will be M&S closing next or WH Smith.

There really is nothing left in Rochdale.

Admittedly not in the town centre, but I have heard that the All In One garden centre is also closing down having sold out to builders.

There really is nothing to come to Rochdale for is there?

Poppyanna555 wrote:Admittedly not in the town centre, but I have heard that the All In One garden centre is also closing down having sold out to builders.

There really is nothing to come to Rochdale for is there?

really?!

Thats not good.

Poppyanna555 wrote:There really is nothing to come to Rochdale for is there?

High street shopping is diminishing, but Rochdale could re-think about what people increasingly do want and need.

A read of this article might show a possibility. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/27/dementia-village-residents-have-fun

The UK has a 'national emergency' of dementia, and the care of the elderly in general. Part of Rochdale could be transformed into a 'dementia village' or town, as in the article.

Indeed Dementia is a very much a ticking time bomb,  The statistics are very scary indeed the projected number of people expected to get a Dementia of some sort is very high,  It is predicted that it will take over heart disease and cancer.  Plus Dementia care is intensive, expensive and very prolonged.  Although sufferes dont tend to survive beyond the teen years of diagnosis or onset of Dementia. So maybe we will see communties for Dementia Sufferers.  As long as it remains intergration not seperation or isolation. So bit like a retirement village in essence.

So maybe Rochdale coluld champion this idea.  

However though a very important topic it does not bode well for Rochdale with the possibility of All In One closing for housing,  Yet still as a whole TCM/RMBC is pushing ahead with more retail space.

Chill37 wrote:
However though a very important topic it does not bode well for Rochdale with the possibility of All In One closing for housing,  Yet still as a whole TCM/RMBC is pushing ahead with more retail space.

IF builders have bought the All In One Centre and land in Middleton township, I'd expect such an outlay to  have 'outline planning permission' in the bag, wouldn't others ?   I cant find anything of this nature for the location in Planning - Applications !  

All In One charge way too much. Compare their prices with Gordon Rigg's.

Poppyanna555 wrote:

It might be idle gossip MJH !     The only reason why I believed it might be fact is because I visited there about 8 weeks ago (not having been there for years) and I found the visit quite disappointing.  
It certainly didn't live up to how I remember it, their stock looked very limited.

Oh, it could just be a rumour then; mmm     

and Urban legend says if you stand in front of a mirror and chant "Bloody Mary" three times, a terrifying ghost will appear.  



http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/82065/smith-street-closed

Mojo Hill wrote:

Chill37 wrote:
However though a very important topic it does not bode well for Rochdale with the possibility of All In One closing for housing,  Yet still as a whole TCM/RMBC is pushing ahead with more retail space.

IF builders have bought the All In One Centre and land in Middleton township, I'd expect such an outlay to  have 'outline planning permission' in the bag, wouldn't others ?   I cant find anything of this nature for the location in Planning - Applications !  

What frequently happens is a developer (seeing a potential profit) approaches the prospective vendor with the greeting 'hail well met - your land has potential - how's about an option to purchase with approval of outline planning etc etc'. These are what's called 'arms length negotiations' and do not constitute a contract to buy. A nominal sum is usually paid for the option which the developer loses should the planning consents not be granted. If the vendor is wanting to sell (for whatever reasons) it allows time for other interested parties to make similar offers or to buy for other reasons. It suits everyone. Meanwhile the vendor may take steps to decrease his trading without committing himself to any finality. You should keep a wary eye out for an outline planning application - there will be one eventually if the rumours are true. 

I saw a report last night about dying Towns.  Every 'expert' said you cant build your way out of trouble on the High Street.  Another valid point was that every Town/City Centre needs to cater for Morning, Afternoon and Nightime activities.

Can Rochdale do that now, let alone in the future.

Hinch wrote:Well, any town with a switched-on, imaginative council and a vibrant local economy should be able to crack this one.

Ooo... err...

Which is everything Rochdale/ RMBC/TCM is lacking in.

Heard today that the owners of the All In One Garden Centre have gone to press with a disclaimer denying that they are intending to sell to builders and pull out of the town.

Fair enough, but how does that explain the letters sent out to residents in the neighbourhood proposing to do just that?  Of course, this could be idle gossip too?

Poppyanna555 wrote:Heard today that the owners of the All In One Garden Centre have gone to press with a disclaimer denying that they are intending to sell to builders and pull out of the town.

Fair enough, but how does that explain the letters sent out to residents in the neighbourhood proposing to do just that?  Of course, this could be idle gossip too?

Methinks that something didn't work out as planned here. Not unusual. Time will tell.

Chill37 wrote:
I saw a report last night about dying Towns.  Every 'expert' said you cant build your way out of trouble on the High Street.  Another valid point was that every Town/City Centre needs to cater for Morning, Afternoon and Nightime activities.

Can Rochdale do that now, let alone in the future.

Not on the High Street is correct. The vibrancy of a local economy can be substantially enhanced with intelligent design and long-term planning, building certainly comes into the equation as the 'plans' unfold but not more of the same-old -same-old. It begins by providing that which the public 'want' and 'need'. That means total inclusion of the demographic of the town. I think you are correct, those of you, who make the comment that Rochdale has yet to provide itself with 'people' worthy of their task. Until then you will get nothing which will provide succor for your aspirations or general well-being. Sad but true.  

Decision taken !       Contract for town centre development has finally been signed:-  


> http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/82368/contract-for-town-centre-development-has-finally-been-signed


Some information is, however, forewarned as "commercially sensitive" and it seems it will not therefore be divulged in the council’s media release/PR of next week.

You should take care now to view the plans when they become available for scrutiny. The leisure based activities and shopping should only be arranged around a total re-vamp of the town centre encompassing access and adequate services for pedestrianised usage - as pointed out many times before on this forum - the river needs opening and a complete 21st century makeover to compliment the same in order that it 'draws in' business both from the public and commercial aspect. Anything less is futile and another waste of good monies. - - - Is anyone listening I wonder?

http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/info/823/regeneration_projects/669/rotherham_renaissance

Rotherham look to be doing a good job?

Exactly. A proposed 2 billion make-over. If the ideas are good the private sector will make the effort to be 'in' on it. It serves everyone in the end result. But you have to have vision. You have to have 'outside' assistance from others who can view the town centre and its environs in an unbiased and critical light. A mixture of old and new that compliments and draws 'interest' and given the 'interest' receive a full and pleasant leisure/shopping experience. Take the town back -. It belongs to everybody - not just the gamblers, alcoholics and scrotes.

Indeed.  Lets start with all the drunks that hang around St Chads Court near the Off Licence.  Also the group that I see around Packer Spout behind the Town Hall.

Yes indeed. It was sad to hear last night on the television Rochdale described as a 'Once thriving and vibrant Cotton Town now far, far past it's sell-by date' and sadder still to know that the town hasn't the people or the ability to really do anything about it. Why should that be I wonder? Whatever happened to the 'pride'?    

Atlas wrote:Yes indeed. It was sad to hear last night on the television Rochdale described as a 'Once thriving and vibrant Cotton Town now far, far past it's sell-by date' and sadder still to know that the town hasn't the people or the ability to really do anything about it. Why should that be I wonder? Whatever happened to the 'pride'?    

Well it could be argued that the death of Rochdale started with the demise of King Cotton.

But, then again, it could also be down to the failure to promote and maintain promises by sucessive Councils.  Such as Kingswway Business Park as being a Technological Park.  Now we have a housing estate and a Hungry Horse type resturant being built.  Jobs yes, but not the type that were promosed as being sought for Kingsway.

Or, Cllrs shouting from the rooftops about no Fracking in our self-proclaimed green status! Thus possibly preventing investment and jobs.  As I said before in a past thread, this needs serious proper discussion at all levels and not let just one person spouting off.  So much for democracy.  But that is found to be lacking of late as per recent reports.  Such as failure to include all parties about a discussion to extend a school.  Or the steam rollering of planning permissions.  I just hope people remember come the next elections.

Byt yes we don't have the people in charge to do anything other than pressing ahead with pointless shopping centres despite all information pointing to the opposite.  So it's like RMBC acting like a modern day King Canute against the tide of common sense.

As for pride, you only have to look at the ongoing thread on rubbish and free roaming chickens in an area of Rochdale abiout the state of pride in Rochdale.  Also we will have the new addition of the 'naughty' leaflets on recycling floating around the Borough adding to the litter issue.