Chance to have your say on plans for the borough

Date published: 18/12/2009

Local people are getting more chances to tell the council what they think about long-term development proposals drawn up for the area.

Rochdale Borough Council has identified broad locations for development over the next 15 years which form the ‘preferred options’ for a Core Strategy document. This will be the key part of the council’s Local Development Framework under which planning decisions are made in future.

Public meetings were held last month, but because of growing interest in the proposals, particularly possible development outside the urban area, the council has extended the consultation deadline to 29 January 2010 and will host further meetings throughout January so that more people can have their say.

Councillor Irene Davidson, cabinet member for environment on Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This really is a really important chance for you to tell us what you think about where new developments like housing, industrial sites, retail and transport should go over the coming years.

Some of the proposals have been controversial so it’s even more vital that as many residents as possible have their say and help shape the proposals before final decisions are made.”

Public meetings in January:

• Rochdale Town Hall Reception Room -11 January, 6pm – 9pm
• Coach House, Littleborough - 11 January, 7.30 – 9pm
• Butterworth Hall Community Centre, Milnrow - 12 January, 8 – 9.30pm
• Middleton Arena, 14 January, 6 – 9pm
• Heywood Civic Centre, 21 January, 6.30 – 9pm

In Heywood and Middleton there is strong opposition to some specific proposals but the council is keen to make sure that as many people as possible find out about all the development plans across the borough and have an opportunity to have their say.

Councillor Davidson added: “This is a borough-wide strategy so clearly some areas will have different roles to play than others in terms of what they’re used for. I’m really keen that everyone looks at the plans overall as well as considering individual aspects. This is a chance to say what you do like about the ideas – as well as what you don’t like.”

In Rochdale, interest is expected in potential land release at Broad Lane for housing and areas where development and regeneration will be focussed. There is interest in how the Core Strategy should address the future of the Turner Brothers’ site on Rooley Moor Road, Rochdale Town Centre, Canal Basin and HMR housing regeneration areas. New regeneration focus areas are identified including Castleton where a package of proposals for new jobs, housing and a canal marina would be supported.

In Heywood, the main issue is the proposal to release land in the green belt mainly for employment uses and the construction of a new link road between Hareshill Road and Junction 19 of M62. The proposals are part of a wider package of ‘options’ for South Heywood. The employment land is needed to help meet Regional targets for job needs up to 2026 and a new road link is proposed to connect Hareshill Road with Junction 19 to provide a satisfactory access alongside traffic management measures.

In Middleton, planners are proposing that the council should consider identifying open land north of Langley as a possible area for development if needed to meet development needs in the long term, and if other sites have been developed. Residents in and around Langley have already met and many are opposed to further development and want to see the land included in the green belt.

Following a poor turnout at a previous public meeting held for Pennines Township area residents, new separate meetings have now been arranged in Milnrow and Littleborough .