Time to ‘name names’ on Town Centre East, urges councillor
Reporter: Pete Hinchliffe
Date online: 15 November 2012
Liberal Democrat Councillor Dale Mulgrew, Shadow Economic Affairs Portfolio-Holder, has urged senior councillors to identify the ‘big name’ retailers who, it is claimed, have signed up to move into the planned £150 million Town Centre East shopping centre.
Earlier this month, Councillor Farooq Ahamed, portfolio-holder for finance announced the news but did not identify any specific companies involved.
On 9 November, Cllr Mulgrew wrote to Deputy Council Leader Peter Williams asking him to state who the retailers were, what time-scale RMBC were working on for these to be fully committed to the project and how confident they were that this would enable the project to make progress following the demolition of the ‘Black Box’ next year.
Cllr Mulgrew said that existing traders and the people of Rochdale needed “clarity” on the issue in order “to be confident the Town centre of Rochdale is heading in the right direction.”
Cllr Mulgrew expressed disappointment that he has yet to receive a response from Cllr Williams or Council Leader Colin Lambert. He told us: “I have had no reply to the questions which I raised with Cllr Peter Williams or Cllr Colin Lambert around Town Centre East. This is disappointing given that next week the Cabinet will be asked to approve a formal development agreement with the preferred developer.
"The failure of the Council's Leadership to answer some simple questions on progress with the crucial Town Centre East regeneration plan, in spite of recent announcements to the contrary, says to me they are all over the place on this subject. Yet next week the same Council Leadership will be signing up to a formal development agreement for the Town Centre East project with the Council's preferred developer.
“Who signs up to a house building offer for a specified location on the prospect that one day there could be the chance of a house being built at some point in the future?
“My group wants this critical project to be delivered to help revive the town centre's fortunes. But progress has been stagnating for a couple of years and our confidence and that of local traders, along with the Rochdale public, is only ebbing away at the prospect of just more of the same.
“We want to offer the council leadership the chance to throw partisan politics to one side and we would be happy to take part in an all party steering group on Town Centre East. This is a critical time for the town centre and we don't want to waste this once in a generation opportunity.”
Comments
Funny how Lib Dem Cllr Mulgrew is so keen to have names 'named' in this instance yet seems so reluctant
for the same openness and transparency, which all right thinking people would deem essential, to apply in the case of former Liberal Member of Parliament [Sir]Cyril Smith?
I wonder why Cllr Mulgrew isn't so vociferous in his public call to 'name names' in the Smith scandal?
Indeed one wonders what the local Lib Dems think about this latest alleged sex abuse scandal at all from their silence?
I shall not hold my breath waiting for this mythical list to appear. I will be more impressed when I see the shops actually trading.
Bit like deja vu.
Two words: Arts Centre.
If this is such a prominent company within the retail business, they must be moving from elsewhere, and do not wish to let their competitors know what they are planning for theirs and Rochdale’s future. We all know that keeping something under your hat can be more beneficial if it remains under you hat until both parties consider it right to release any titles or names to opposition members. No doubt Councillor Mulgrew kept his secrets under his hat before.
Is Councillor Mulgrew casting doubt on the word of Councillor Farooq Ahmed?
Alternatively, is he attempting to discredit Rochdale’s leader and deputy leader by implying they are ignoring his questions and his communication on this subject?
Could it be possible that this retailer has asked Councillor Farooq Ahmed not to reveal to the public who they actually are, for fear that any adverse publicity could be damaging to their future move?
Have Your Say
Come on Dale give us a break. Your party, the Liberal Democrats, have nothing to be proud of both locally and nationally. Don't criticise others when you can't do any better.
By Rembrandt @ 15/11/2012 23:24:43