Is the council full of 'false promises'?

Reporter: Laura Wild
Date online: 20 March 2010

Plans for the re-development of Rochdale have hit another setback. This week Rochdale Online reported that the Council's town centre re-development partner, Genr8, has failed to provide further clarification of their ability to fund the scheme's significant pre-development costs.

Reporter Laura Wild, spoke to the people of the borough to find out what they think about this latest setback and the general consensus is that the council is full of ‘false promises’.

Kathleen Swain said she thought it was ‘disgraceful’: the council never do what they say they will. Rochdale is a ghost town there are no good shops  and something needs to be done fast before the few loyal shoppers left go elsewhere.”

Anita McHale added: “Rochdale is in a mess, just look around – if these people can’t fund it then my guess is nobody else will. The council is full of false promises.”

The message Mr Kirby wanted to outline was ‘Rochdale is a dump!’ “It is a dying town and the council can’t look after it, the roads weren’t even gritted and now the place is full of pot holes. Rochdale does need a re-vamp but I don’t think it will ever happen.”

Mr Holt thinks that the council should be spending money elsewhere; years ago Rochdale was the best town centre now it is "dreadful".

“Over the last 40 years I cannot see any improvements, if anything we are going backwards.

“The council is all talk and does nothing; they are not living in the real world. They need a reality check.”

John Bailey said: "The council needs to get their finger out. My children are growing up in Rochdale, and it needs to be made better for the next generation. This delay isn’t a surprise, I just hope the improvements we want are made.”

Not one person stopped had a good word to say about the Council and its town centre redevelopment plans. How do you feel about this latest setback?