Simon Danczuk MP

Fighting for Rochdale, Littleborough and Milnrow

The collective effort of local Rochdale retailers, the Rochdale Observer and Rochdale’s Town Centre Management is beginning to pay dividends for Rochdale’s town centre – but this now has to be matched by more immediate action from the Council. This is the view of Simon Danczuk, Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate.

Simon said: “Local retailers are now offering money off vouchers which is excellent for local people. The Rochdale Observer is running the ‘shop local’ campaign and promoting the vouchers. And the Town Centre Management team have coordinated a variety of great events to be held between now and Christmas which Rochdale residents can enjoy whilst shopping. This is exactly the sort of immediate action we need to improve our town centre.”

But Simon has called for the Council to now play their part: “The first thing the Council could do is really spruce up the town centre. Cleaning streets signs, re-painting street furniture, more regular street cleaning, and better signage promoting where key venues are and what is on offer would all improve the shopping experience. I spotted the sign on Bury Road advertising our shopping centres to visitors recently and noticed that it’s filthy and barely legible. This in itself suggests neglect and isn’t a good advert for the Exchange and Wheatsheaf. A lot of senior Council officers must drive past this sign everyday and yet they’ve done nothing about it.”

Simon finally stated: “Come on Rochdale Council, everyone is pulling together in the run up to Christmas to try and get as many people using our local shops and spending their money with Rochdale businesses. A good clean up and make-over by the Council would really go a long way in making the shopping experience that more enjoyable.”