Barclays Bank, Blue Orchid, Boots, Chantilly, Daily Rochdale, Funky Monkey Creations, Heywood Business Group, Sandifords, Rochdale Online, Molesworth Bright Clegg Solicitors, Number Ten Gallery, The Flower & The Glory, Hopwood Hall College, Style Magazine, Sagar Insurances, Mango & Pacific Nightclubs, Rochdale Town Centre Management Company, Rochdale Council and the Rochdale Development Agency.
You can download a copy of the presentations here
In the absense of Paul Clark, who was attending a meeting with investors regarding the £30m refurbishment of Warwick Mill in Middleton, Vice Chair Greg Couzens controlled the meeting.
Mark Widdup, Executive Director for Economy & Environment at Rochdale Council gave an update on progress made since the last meeting. Lots has been happening including:
- The establishmet of Town Teams within Heywood & Middleton
- Reopening of Drake Street
- Improvements to Wet Rake Gardens
- 16 x properties improved along Drake Street
- Public Realm improvements including 4 x new interpretaion boards and finger posts installed within the town centre
- Restoration works to Bulls Brow
- Environmental improvement works to Stationers Entry
- The launch of Incredible Edibles Rochdale
- Feel Good Festival - attended by over 10,000 people
- New businesses opening in the town and interest from developers now being shown
- New transport interchange opening on 27 October
- M&S Click & Collect scheme will be operational by 01 November
- Rochdale Town Centre International Design Competition being judged
- Small Business Saturday - boroughwide campaign taking place on 07 December
- Metrolink line to Rochdale Town Centre operational Spring 2014
Debbie Hernon, Rochdale Town Centre Manager showed a video of the Rochdale Feel Good Festival 2013 which can be viewed exclusively here:
(For best quality please do not view in full screen mode)
Christmas events in the town will include:
Saturday 16 November - Christmas Lights Switch On Event
Sunday 01 December - Reindeer Parade
Saturday 21, Sunday 22 & Monday 23 December - Ice Rink & Christmas Markets
The Ice Rink will be FREE for skaters on production of a reciept for a minimum of £5 spent within the town centre.
John Hudson, Chief Executive of the Rochdale Development Agency then gave a presentation on the Rochdale Town Centre Medium Term Strategy which includes:
- Future Public Realm Improvements
- Re-opening of the River Roch
- Town Centre Highways Movement
- Investment in the Exchange and Wheatsheaf Shopping Centres
- Town Centre East - mixed retail & leisure development
Brian Sutcliffe AKA "Uncle Albert Potato Man" then presented his ideas on creating a temporary mobile food court on the site of the former Bus Station and Black box once this is demolished. Images were shown of the outdoor foodcourt at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester which is something that could be aspired to achieve and recieved a lot of support.
The evening wrapped up with the OPEN FORUM and we heard from Carol Stirzaker of The Flower & The Glory in Littleborough who has worked with a group of students from Hopwood Hall College on the Textile Live Project and was thrilled with the wall designs the students produced for her shop.
Emma Clark - the voice of the London Underground - promoted her business Voice Takeway and audio marketing campaigns that could benefit local businesses. For more information visit: www.voicetakeaway.com
Jan Melia from Blue Orchid promoted the free business support (funded by Rochdale Council) that is available to existing businesses including training courses in Social Media, E-Commerce, Finance and Selling Skills. For more information visit the website: www.theblueorchid.co.uk
Margaret Smith - Rochdale Town Centre Chaplain introduced herself and her role to support businesses and their staff within Rochdale town centre.
Finally, David Hexham from Sagar Insurances offerred to give any member of the High Street Foundation 10% off thier next insurance quote: www.sagarinsurances.co.uk
The meeting ended with a message from Greg who urged businesses not to be alone and work together in order to survive and thrive.
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