Exciting times - Now and in the future!

Posted By: Mohammad Sharif
Date Posted: 11/09/2007

I was absolutely delighted to attend the inaugural Town Centre Business Awards at China City last week.  What a fabulous event, organised brilliantly by our Town Centre Management Team including Suzy Woods who did a sterling job.  The glitzy event was warmly welcomed by everybody and shows that our Council is really moving forward.  There is a real opportunity now to move forward and it is clear that everyone who attended is excited for the future.

As Cabinet Member for Regeneration, I was proud to present an award on the night.  This was alongside a cast list of well over a dozen, including Council Leader Alan Taylor, our MP Paul Rowen, Chief Executive of our Council – Roger Ellis, our Mayor Councillor Peter Evans with the Lady Mayoress Helen, our Community Safety Manager John Johnson and Abdul Hamid from the SRB 5 Team and many more dignitaries.  I would like to congratulate all the winners including Amanda Crowe from Boots who won ‘Rochdale Ambassador of the Year.’  Our newest venue in Rochdale – China City were great hosts, so thank you to manager Susan Chee, her staff and all our other sponsors.

It is quite clear that traders and their employees have fantastic pride in our town.  This was a night to celebrate Rochdale and conveyed what is best about our town.  We were delighted that our new Head of Regeneration Penny Sharpe was able to attend and was hugely impressed.  I know that she had a great time and is best placed to lead our team and meet the challenges ahead.  Bring on next year’s event where we will be celebrating significant progress.

In all the celebrations, it is important to recognise that we have look after our existing traders.  That is why I am pleased to see the ongoing works on Yorkshire Street.  We are now seeing massive amounts of regeneration in the town centre, with a new bus station planned for 2010 and the Town Centre East and Riverside developments in the pipeline.  These improvements will act as a catalyst for change and will enhance the overall image and perceptions of Yorkshire Street along with the rest of the town, and will reinforce the confidence showed by our traders that Rochdale is alive and has a bright future.

Let’s not talk our town down, let’s look positively to a great future.  Look at what’s ahead – Metrolink, a new 6 Form College, Kingsway Business Park, a new Bus Station, new schools and more.  This Council is delighted to be delivering what looks to be an exciting new generation.  Let’s bring back pride to Rochdale and not let outsiders talk us down.