1.4 Billion funding boost

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has hailed the £1.4 Billion funding boost that our Borough is set to receive over the next few years. The monies, including £200 Million for Rochdale Town Centre, £350 Million for Kingsway Business Park and £160 million on transport schemes, amongst other schemes, is set to dramatically improve the Borough.

Mr Rowen said: "Over the next 7/8 years our Borough is set to receive £1.393,000,000. We've just had the good news over the bus station, but that is just the tip of the ice-berg - our Borough is on the way up. Take for example education, we are busy improving education at all levels and the successful Building Schools for the Future Bid and the imminent new Six Form College will complete our complete overhaul of education for all.

"The £500 Housing Market Renewal Fund will also see massive improvements in our Town. The £350 Million project at Kingsway Business Park will also bring jobs and prosperity in Rochdale. To take advantage of all this investment we need to invest in Public Transport. That is why winning the £150 million pound argument for Metrolink was so important. The final part of this jigsaw is bringing the Metrolink into the heart of our Town Centre. I am afraid the Labour Parliamentary Candidate is completely out of touch and his criticism of the Council's Chief Executive is inappropriate and shows ignorance and opportunism."

Date article online: 02/04/2008