Affleck’s Style Palace – an emporium of eclecticism

Posted By: Greg Couzens
Date Posted: 21/08/2009

The whole idea of an Affleck’s Style Palace is to provide a platform for new aspiring creative people to receive support on running a successful business, a nursery for the future.

For the last ten years within my own industry, I have travelled extensively supporting businesses and increasing profit margins with a great deal of success.

My vision is to rejuvenate the Drake Street area with the emphasis on young new talent, work on our new sixth form college that opens in 2010 will bring youth into our town centre, and we now need to be thinking more creatively about capitalising on this. The Backdoor Music Project, Skylight Circus, Sixth Form College and the success of the Feel Good Festival all have a positive link.

The Borough of Rochdale has suffered decades of Labour neglect, lack of vision and creativity, we all need to work together and have more pride in our town, we need to look at ways we can make a difference and help each other.

The response so far is incredible.

The whole idea is to create a platform for new businesses and when they become sustainable they will be given guidance to relocate to premises of their own.

We all have this unique opportunity to participate in the future developments of our town centre.

This proposal is an addition to the Town Centre development.

Because I am head of finance does not give me the right to spend the tax payer’s money without accountability, the red tape that we have to adhere to can sometimes be frustrating but is a necessary process, but rest assured I will give my full attention to implement as soon as possible.

We are in the process of negotiation with various properties and collating a sound business case.

The idea is not to compete with the market traders, or fill it with phone shops; this will be a totally unique space for new creative people that do not yet process the business acumen to take on the overheads of a premises.

This will not be a case of first come first served, I am proposing a Dragon’s Den style of application, we need a panel of entrepreneurs that will be prepared to share the knowledge they have acquired and I am prepared to take a lead role.

The “visit at three and park for free” initiative is a good example of thinking outside the box and without vision and determination would not have been implemented.

We, the Liberal Democrats have only been in full control for three years and in my opinion have had more than its fare share of unjust criticism, we are often compared to Bury and I agree that we are some years behind them. What I will point out though is the majority of regeneration plans were kick-started in 2004 by the then Council Leader Paul Rowen, now MP. Your Liberal Democrat Council have managed to put more in place since in the last few years then Labour managed in 30 years!

All these proposals and more should have been addressed years ago and then we wouldn’t be in this difficult situation.

Councillor Greg Couzens head of Finance Rochdale MBC. Town Centre Trader for over 26 years.