Plans to buck the trend for footfall in Rochdale

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The Business Improvement District (BID) Proposal and Business Plan which is being put to the ballot of town centre businesses in October aims to have footfall in the town centre which is stronger than national high street trends and increased levels of sales activity across the whole of the town centre.

Springboard, a company which monitors footfall in town and city centres across the UK has reported at the end of June this year, footfall in town centres generally was down 1.5% on the year. The Springboard quarterly review identified that falls in the second quarter were not as bad as they have been, but the number disguises a shift from day time movement to evening and night time. The continuing challenge for retailers remains the ongoing structural change towards leisure and experience that has been occurring in the sector over the past few years.

Mike Webster, manager of Boots in Rochdale, said: "If we can change the perception of the Rochdale town centre and make it an attractive place to visit with lots of things to do, this will help us buck the national trend of declining footfall and help sales generally."

The development of the Riverside Shopping Centre and news that Marks and Spencer has decided to remain is seen as a positive boost to the retail and the commercial offer of the town centre.

Research undertaken as part of the development of the new BID Proposal found that the range of shops in Rochdale came out as the businesses’ biggest challenge for the town.

Making the town centre more attractive, strengthening the offer and coordinated promotion of the town centre were identified as key initiatives by businesses to attract more people to Rochdale.

Mike Wenster added: ‘The timing for the BID is right. We need to capitalise on the investment which is being made with the new shopping centre and if we can start coordinating a positive message about the place to attract more people, this will bring in new businesses and create a totally new feel to the town centre."

Businesses are being encouraged to read the new proposal and business plan and vote ‘YES’ for the BID.

To read the new proposal and business plan, visit:

www.rochdalebid.co.uk

If you are a business and would like more information about the BID please contact:

Paul Ambrose

E: paul@rochdaletcm.co.uk or enquiries@rochdalebid.co.uk

T: 01706 926677

W: www.rochdalebid.co.uk