Town Hall's Future use ?

I see no merit in a museum, as Touchstones I believe already does a good job of that. It's time for some 'outside the box' thinking and not the same old same old, - which museums are.  They might consider for example the fact that we are in a 'new' modern age of technology a great deal of which enables interiors to be transformed far beyond anything we could do in the past.   The main hall is already well equipped to take selective audiences for selective entertainments and could do worse than become a regular feature for week-end or even mid-week features.

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Although I am not religious, I think Hinch makes an excellent suggestion that would be well received in our Muslim communities. Such a move would save the taxpayer millions in future maintainance and upkeep as this would be paid largely by funds raised and administered by mosque committees.

If we really are serious about strengthening communities, this would be a real step in the right direction. The alternative would surely be to see this magnificent building slowly rot away as successive waves of cutbacks see funding gradually reduced over the years?

Your over-frequent use of irony is well known Hinch but dont dismiss the idea too lightly. The mosque you mention in Turgey attracts hundreds of thousands of non-Muslim visitors a year. This is a way that our communities really could come together.

Could I have the old Union Jack when they take it down please, I would like to make a novelty T shirt from it.

I think your union flag may look very different when Scotland vote to pull out of the union Cyfrifia. Time to start redesigning another. It already has three crosses on it symbolising your christian religions. Perhaps it is time to include symbols of other religions which have helped to build this country such as a red crescent and star of David?

Hamid,

Surely it's OUR union flag. You're not one of them trolls are you?

Considering the town hall is Grade 1 listed I'm assuming there is not a lot that can be changed. What about having it as a working museum where school children could look around the Grand Halls and numerous committee rooms and wonder in awe as to how a prosperous town could be controlled in such a small building without one computer.

Not my country so not my flag.

Thank you for confirming my original question.

How does this make me a troll? I was born in another country. (Non islamic) I have full rights of work and residence in the UK but am not a UK citizen. Is there something wrong with that?

My condolences that you were not fortunate enough to be born in Rochdale. Perhaps you should reflect on your reaction if an 'outsider' suggested changes to your original country flag.

A flag is just a bit of colored cloth at the end of the day. Far too many people killed fighting over them. Your own flag is, I believe, known as "the butchers apron" in Ireland and although it claims to be a flag of union, it excludes Wales completely.

Outsider or not, I am entitled to an opinion and at least I can conduct a discussion in English without name-calling.

Hamid wrote:A flag is just a bit of colored cloth at the end of the day. Far too many people killed fighting over them. Your own flag is, I believe, known as "the butchers apron" in Ireland and although it claims to be a flag of union, it excludes Wales completely.

Outsider or not, I am entitled to an opinion and at least I can conduct a discussion in English without name-calling.

Hamid. It is debateable whether or not the 'Welsh' flag is constituted upon the 'Union' flag. At the time of Union the Welsh flag was flown as blue with a white diagonal cross and there are many who believe the white on the Union flag portrays this. Historicaly of course the true flag of Wales (or St David) was black with a yellow diagonal cross - neither of which would have merged successfully with red/white and blue.
And it may well be just coloured cloth (its use was a rallying point for troops in battle) but to most people it signifies their allegiances and places them in the 'group' to which they feel they belong. To most of us today it has no religious connotations whatsoever and simply declares we are 'British'. Anything else remains in the warped minds of the holder.

Hamid wrote:


Not my country so not my flag.

Please elucidate?

Atlas wrote:

Hamid wrote:


Not my country so not my flag.

Please elucidate?

Quite simple. I was not born in the UK and retain my own nationality and passport therefore I cannot accept that the present flag of this country is mine in any sense. As I said, I have full rights to live and work here and have done so for over twenty five years.

As for you Mr Mojo, San Sofia was a former Christian church and then a mosque. It is loaded with Christian imagery including representations of saints and other religious figures etc. Perhaps it was so dusty that you failed to spot them?

The idea of using the old town hall as a mosque does have a logic to it. As a museum it would be a huge and continuing expense on the taxpayer. How would the finances and the inter-faith side of things pan out if it was converted to a mosque?

cyfrifia wrote:The idea of using the old town hall as a mosque does have a logic to it. As a museum it would be a huge and continuing expense on the taxpayer. How would the finances and the inter-faith side of things pan out if it was converted to a mosque?

Thank you Cyfrifia. I am not just talking rubbish. The cost saving to the taxpayer would be very significant. As a Grade 1 listed building, the fabric of the building could not be touched and any imagery could be preserved behind screens.

 Mr Mojo, you can be so negative at times. You need to open your mind and let the sun shine in now and then.

Of course, the mosque concept will be ruled out as will any other idea worth consideration. It will limp on as a third rate museum, poor-quality concert venue or perhaps fifth-rate conference centre and be a financial millstone round our necks for years to come.

The Great Hall could easily be converted into a bowling alley or roller-derby rink perhaps or an indoor rifle range? Even a permanent indoor funfair or menagerie like they used to have in Blackpool Tower.

There are many different sensible uses but Rochdale regards it as akin to a sacred shrine and nothing other than a long and unhappy decay into impoverished neglect will satisfy. In that respect, it will be well in keeping with the rest of the town.

I think Hamid has a point.   How about a non-religious English cultural theme?    Run as a Cooperative of course.   The clock tower would make a fine helter skelter.    The Mayors Parlour, on the left as you enter, could serve as a Wetherspoon type pub, non-profit.   The committee room/s on the right is ideal for a model railway layout, including Metrolink.   The staircase, as Hinch mentioned, doubles as a film set for the House of Commons.   Bowling, not ten pin, already graces the great hall so a few traditional fairground side shows could be housed around the sides, Hoop La, Hook a Duck, not real ones, slug guns, coconut shy etc., allowing the magnificent historical architecture to shine through.  For those of us of a certain age, Sing Something Simple sessions with the organ.  

Now here is the big one!  All the offices, not the chamber, I’ve got plans for that, could serve as a Monty Python theme spectacular.   Anyone for an argument?   5 minutes or the full half hour?   The Spanish inquisition, all you wanted to know about Spain, the Cheese shop sketch, with mention of the plagiarised Don Quixote, La Dolce’ Vita, the Tom and Barbara type.  

The entrance hall could be a street caf serving tripe and onions, tater ash etc with Morris dancers gaily prancing up and down, Oh, them bloody bells.

Now for the council chamber.  How about a peoples forum with power to show up the more misrepresentative of our Politicians?   Forum members could dress up as Philosophers, Greek or modern ones, and spend hours, nigh years, trying to fine the meaning of life in respect of what has happened to our Town.

One thing I am very sure of is that we cannot leave the plight of our wonderful Town Hall, Rat House? (for our German speakers) in the care of the same hotchpotch of nere do wells and rapscallions (for Atlas) that have allowed our Town to become one of the poorest, culturally as well as financially, in England.