Advertisement
Tram stop plans set for green light
Date published: 12 October 2009
Council planning officers are advising councillors to grant permission for three tram stops ready for the Metrolink extension - despite fears from the owners of Haji Cash and Carry that their Station Approach store would be forced to close if the plans get the green light.
Stops are proposed on Maclure Road, Drake Street and Smith Street.
As part of the Metrolink extensions, the majority of Maclure Road would operate as one way, in the direction of Drake Street, and the Station Road/Maclure Road junction and roundabout would be remodelled to include a 'kiss and ride' parking facility.
The junction of Drake Street and Maclure Road would be controlled by a combined signal controlled priority junction. This junction would allow vehicles travelling along Maclure Road to move into Richard Street (one way) or Drake Street (two way). To accommodate the Metrolink the junction of Maclure Road and Henry Street would be closed while Richard Street, Dowling Street and the eastern side of Station Road would be one way. In order to retain vehicular access from Station Road to Lower Tweedale Street and Dowling Street, the Council-owned informal car parking, which lies adjacent to Haji's Cash and Carry, will be replaced with a new link road.
As the Metrolink extends along Drake Street towards the town centre it is proposed that the junctions of Faulker Street / Drake Street and Fleece Street / Drake Street would be closed. Vehicular access along this section of Drake Street would only be permitted off-peak.
The proposals have attracted 26 letters of objection, mostly from the owners and customers of Haji Cash and Carry.
They say that the loss of the car park in front of the shop could force the closure of the business.
The Council's planning department says that the land in front of the cash and carry belongs to the council, it has never received planning permission to be used as a car park, and that 'it is essential that the car park is replaced by a link road'.
Father Chris McGrane of St John the Baptist Church has commented that a proposed free standing rest room on the Maclure Road site is an inappropriate place. Planning officers have agreed with this objection and say that a new position should be found for the rest room outside of the Maclure Road conservation area.
One objector believes that the tram stop on Smith Street should be located at the proposed new bus station but officers say that there would not be room for it at the new site.
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce have also spoken out against the proposed stops, saying that while they 'strongly support the development and extension of Metrolink and its importance to the economic growth, accessibility and regeneration of Rochdale', they are believe that the application 'fails to grasp an opportunity to provide a truly integrated public transport system in Rochdale'.
Councillors and objectors will have their say on the proposals at the Rochdale Township Planning Sub-Committee meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday 20 October, starting at 6.15pm, when a final decision whether or not to grant planning permission will be made.
Comments
Considering that the Haji business has been established in Rochdale for over 55 years is it not worth supporting them and taking their views on board? Given the gloomy current climate / recession jobs are hard to come by and WE MUST SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESS THE BEST WE CAN. The Haji business, particularly the Haji Cash and carry, must employ over 30 people. Has anyone thought about them and their families if their employer is forced to close?
I am a true Rochdalian. I have lived in Rochdale for over 40 years now and I have never seen plans like this before. They are an absolute shambles. How can they put a link road through the car park without any consideration for the local business, Haji cash and carry, that will be severely affected? I find it disgraceful that there is no support for the local thriving business Haji cash and carry and the other surrounding businesses.
People like me have always shopped local to support the local economy and the council seem to care less. There is also no integration at either point at the train station nor at the town centre as it will not be integrated with the bus stop. Surely the whole point is to make it easy for the elderly and disabled by having the stop under one roof?
I own a Nursing Home and have always shopped at Haji cash & carry where I often take the elderly to do their weekly shop as it's easily accessible by driving down. If the plans are not changed then I won’t be able to take the elderly down or shop myself as there will be no car park. I am 110% certain that the car parking loss will close the business down.
Eyeballs you need to look at the plans the link road will go straight through the car park which is adjacent to the cash & carry hence no parking at all and it will have severe consequences on the business causing a well established business to close down.
You need to look at the facts Eyeballs before you comment. Haji’s has been here for over 50 years, I have seen the business grow and grow from one small shop to a massive cash and carry. The growth has just shown the substantial contribution it has made to the local economy and the community. The plans must be changed to accommodate and support the local business as it is at the heart of the local community.
So typical of the council! If the "car park" was never meant to be used as a car park, then why after all these years have they never stopped people from parking on it? I always park on it to go to work in the mornings and no one has ever stopped me.
And how can the planning department say that "it is essential" without even looking at or considering the views and thoughts of all those that are directly related to it or the area around it.
The council needs to sit down with those at Haji and discuss how to go about this, and what they propose.
I've had my fair share of meetings with the planning department and its about time they changed the way they plan things.
And if the majority of Haji Business sales consist of bulk buying customers then no doubt the business will be affected severly, leading to closure.
I also agree with JohnK that we should support our local business especially during hard times like this.
Have Your Say
How these proposed tram/train stops will affect Haji Cash and Carry, is beyond anyone who reside in or around Maclure Road and Drake Street. If people parked prettily in this area rather than just anywhere, there is room for all. If a station was proposed near Milkstone Road/Station road, then I could see some objection. But car parking loss closing a business, never.
By Eyeballs @ 13/10/2009 08:26:12