Community helps to formulate town’s bright new future

An action plan is being devised in a bid to boost trade and regenerate Heywood town centre.

 

A Heywood Town Team is being set up to drive prosperity and tourism in the town and devise a long- term strategy to help shape the future of the town.

Set up as part of Rochdale council’s boroughwide High Street Foundation project, the group will be made up traders, business leaders, charity workers and local authority staff.

A second meeting is now being held at The Phoenix Centre and will feature a talk by Peter Rowlinson, the council’s head of planning.

There wil also be updates from various speakers on issues such as progress, the town centre vision and a draft action plan.

The structure of the town team will also be established, with appointments of a chairman and vice-chairman and the formal set-up of the organisation to be agreed.

And the meeting will include an update on ideas from the students at Siddal Moor Sports College who were asked to consider how the group should move on in future months.

Frances Fielding, economic development officer for the council, said she was keen for all interested parties to attend the meeting or get in touch.

She said: “We want to engage with as many people as possible and ensure they receive regular communications on the Heywood Town Team.”

At the initial meeting, members discussed potential areas for development and regeneration, including the East Lancashire Railway, the old Boots warehouse, Mossfield, the George Street area and Angel Meadow.

There was also discussion about reasons for a general downturn in high streets around the country and strategies to reverse the trend.

The second workshop meeting is due to take place on Tuesday, April 23, at the Phoenix centre from 5.30pm.

For more information or to confirm attendance at the meeting, email frances.fielding@rochdale.gov.uk or Tel: 01706 926700.

All interested parties from the business and local community are welcome to attend the meetings.