Meeting of High Street Foundation - Tuesday 21 May

This week around 40 members of the Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation met at Number One Riverside to discuss the Heritage offer within our town centres. Attendees included Marks & Spencer, O2, the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, Rochdale Style Magazine, Molesworth Bright Clegg Solicitors, Recruitment Solutions, Hopwood Hall College, iTXT, the Rochdale Hornets, Morris Dean and The Best of Rochdale (to name just a few).

The meeting was excellently Chaired by Paul Clark of CJ Partnerships along with Vice Chair - Greg Couzens and the theme of the evening was HERITAGE.

Peter Rowlinson - Director of Planning & Regulation at Rochdale Council kicked off proceedings with a general update. Lots has been happening in Heywood & Middleton Town Centres and the Council are working with local businesses to establish Town Teams for both centres and budgets of £25K are being allocated to both centres to invest in supporting the vitality and vibrancy of these towns.

We saw some exclusive photographs taken of the medieval bridges underneath The Butts (see photo's below!) which will be exposed when the River is re-opened, and heard about exciting plans to launch an international design competition for Rochdale town centre backed by English Heritage.

Julian Jefferson - the Arts & Heritage Director for the Borough gave a sterling presentation on the Borough's heritage offer despite his Powerpoint slides running away with themselves! We heard about our physical heritage offer;
East Lancs Railway
Ellenroad Engine House
GM Fire Service Museum
Middleton Golden Cluster
The Pioneers Museum
Touchstones
& the wonderful Town Hall

He also promoted a range of heritage events taking place including a Rochdale Co-operatives Day on 22 June, the Heywood 1940's Day (29 June), Rochdale Food Good Festival (30 & 31 August) and a Zusammen Choir Procession that took place last week!

A pop up shop has also been opened for 1 month by young people in Rochdale Town Centre who took their inspiration from the town's industrial heritage. 

Other exciting snippets of news...the Metrolink into Rochdale Town Centre is on schedule and could be running as early as January 2013, a section of the Tour de France race will come through Rochdale Borough next year! (OK so it's only 1Km but it's still comming to the Boro!) Marks & Spencer are investing in a store refurbishment in September and O2 have opened a new flagship store in Middleton town centre!

CAR PARKING was a usual hot topic - should it be free all day? Should people be charged 10p an hour so it can be measured? Should people have to buy something to get a free parking ticket? Should you be able to park anywhere for 10 minutes saving grace? The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre are offering permits for town centre workers for £2 a day!

Marks & Spencer called for action to be taken on the empty shops and quick wins could include decorative hoardings / artwork in shop windows to make the high street look more attractive.

A new development is opening in July - The Rochdale Station Bazaar (opposite Rochdale train station) comprising 15 individual retail units, a coffee shop and Cost Cutter supermarket.

The Best of Rochdale promoted their philosphy - to promote the best of Rochdale! And Winning Pitch are holding a Growth Accelerator workshop for local businesses on 19 June.

It was a shame the meeting ran out of time as I could have sat and listened for another hour, and the energy in the room was captivating.

All of the ideas and issues discussed at the High Street Foundation meetings are reported back to Rochdale Council Town Centres Committee to ensure action is taken.

If you would like to get involved and join the High Street Foundation, come along to our next meeting on Tuesday 09 July, 6pm - 7.30pm at Number One Riverside, Rochdale.

These images show the medieval bridges above the River Roch - taken by Urban Exploratory Photography.

 

A group of young people have opened a Pop Up shop on Yorkshire Street in Rochdale Town Centre - selling T-shirs and fabrics inspired by the town's industrial heritage.

 

A selection of goods on sale at the Retail Ready Pop Up Shop on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale.

 

Oh What A Night!

The much anticipated #SingRochdale Zusammen Choir Procession took place around Rochdale last Thursday evening. Over 200 people joined in the drop-in choir, the rain stayed away and there was even some sunshine!

The procession was organised by the Rochdale Pioneers Museum and Touchstones Rochdale as part of the national Museums at Night Festival. The drop-in choir consisted of members of the public and community groups who came together to sing for one night only. All were given a commemorative #SingRochdale gold medal with a green and white ribbon.  The choir was accompanied by Littleborough Brass Band and Rochdale Youth Brass Band as well as singers and musicians from Rochdale Sixth Form College.

The procession was led by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) Junior Wardens who carried the #SingRochdale banner. The procession began at St Chad’s Church at 6pm with the drop-in choir singing ‘If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked A Cake’ by Rochdale’s own Gracie Fields, followed by Geoff Alexander’s ‘I’m Going Back to Rochdale’.

The procession went on to sing at various local landmarks including the Broadfield Park Bandstand and the Rochdale War Memorial. Songs included children’s favourite ‘Reach’ by S Club 7, William Blake’s Jerusalem and ‘Eight Days A Week’ by the Beatles. The procession ended at around 7.45pm at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum with the choir singing another Gracie favourite, ‘Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye’, and the Rochdale Youth Brass Band playing ‘The Final Countdown’. The parishioners of the St Mary in the Baum Church, neighbour of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, provided participants with tea and coffee after the procession.

Artist Susan Forsyth, who has previous organised Zusammen Choir Processions in Lisbon, London and Warsaw described the #SingRochdale event as ‘the best Zusammen Choir ever!’ and said ‘huge credit to everyone in Rochdale for embracing the Zusammen spirit.’ One participant said they enjoyed the ‘friendliness, camaraderie and general 'feel' good atmosphere’ with another saying they liked ‘the fun, the brass band and no rain’. Rochdale Pioneers Museum Manager Jenny Broadbent said ‘since the event several individuals have contacted us to to say they enjoyed it so much they’d like to see #SingRochdale become an annual event!’

 

Photography by Andy Hirst: www.andyhirst.com

The Next Meeting of the High Street Foundation will be held on Tuesday 21 May, 6pm - 7.30pm, Number One Riverside

A G E N D A

 

6.00pm	Networking Light refreshments will be served		15mins
6.15pm	Welcome	Paul Clark	5mins
6.20pm	General Update	Mark Widdup Executive Director, RMBC	10mins
6.30pm	Update on Heywood & Middleton progress	Peter Rowlinson Service Director, Planning & Regulation	10mins
6.40pm	Rochdale Borough Heritage Offer Discussion / Q&A	Julian Jefferson Arts & Heritage Manager – Link 4 LIfe	35mins
7.15pm	Open Forum Any delegates are welcome to say a few words to promote their business / raise any issues or share best practice.   Specific requests have been received from:   Rochdale Online   Best of Rochdale	All                 Pauline Journeaux   Deborah Bell	15mins
7.30pm	Close

 

Museums At Night - Thursday 16 May, 6pm onwards, St Chads Church, Rochdale

Zusammen Choir Procession

#SingRochdale

Why not vist a museum or a twilight market after work on Thursday 16 May?

Rochdale town centre is taking part in Museums at Night, a national after hours festival of arts, culture and heritage.

You can visit any of the town's museums for free until 8pm, including Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre and Rochdale Town Hall.
 
There will also be a Zusammen Choir Procession through the town, a twilight market held outside Rochdale Town Hall and a range of street theatre, music and family entertainment.

Come along and join the Zusammen Choir Procession! Zusammen means 'together' and the drop-in choir will consist entirely of members of the public and community groups who come together to sing together for one night only. There are no rehearsals and no singing skill is required. Song sheets will be provided. To join in the procession meet at St Chad's Church, Sparrow Hill, at 6pm.
FREE car parking is available on Rochdale Town Hall from 3pm onwards. More details are available on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/562690513771077/


Song List:

1. If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked A Cake (Gracie Fields)
2. I'm Going Back To Rochdale (Geoff Alexander)
3. Leaning On A Lampost (George Formby)
4. Magic Penny (Traditional)
5. Reach For The Stars (S Club 7)
6. Jerusalem (Words By William Blake)
7. Danny Boy (Traditional)
8. I Vow To Thee My Country

Twilight traders set their stalls out in a bid to boost market

A ‘TWILIGHT’ market is being held in Rochdale Town Centre on Thursday 16 May from 10am - 8pm in front of Rochdale Town Hall.

Debbie O’Brien, Town Centre Manager, urged shoppers to visit the market, and said it will provide something different for the town. She added: “There will be street traders there throughout the day and evening. It is about putting the market at a different location to see if it works. We have asked the traders from the indoor market at the Exchange to get involved, as well as other traders from across the borough and stall holders from the other markets we hold throughout the year.”

Stalls will be set up along the pavement opposite the town hall. There will also be a children’s merry go round ride.

Debbie added: “We do not normally have events or people who will be in the town at this time of night. So we have done this to try help and improve and support the evening economy in the centre.”

The market takes place at the same time as the Museums at Night choir procession which will see singers performing at a a number of town centre landmarks.

Families are being invited to join in with the parade which gets underway at St Chad’s Church from 6pm.

Blue Orchid - Business Networking Event

Last night was the very first business networking event hosted by Blue Orchid for new and existing businesses within Rochdale Borough, held at the impressive Number One Riverside building and what an enjoyable and inspiring evening it was.

There was a great turn out of local businesses including Ladies Only Gym Ltd, Rochdale Online, The Best of Rochdale, Blue Rose Gifts of Heywood, Dublcheck Cleaning, Travel Counsellors Ltd, Pride North West, Utility Warehouse, Waterside Dental Care and Springhill Hospice to name but a few.

Organised by Christine Mahney of Blue Orchid, the presentation of the evening was delivered by Greg Couzens who gave a fascinating talk on his experiences of opening his hair salon at the tender age of just 21 on The Walk in Rochdale town centre and has this weekend celebrated his 30th anniversary of trading in the town!

Greg started his business by borrowing £10,000 from the bank (which 30 years ago was probably the equivilent to £80,000 in today's money). It was a terifying thought, especially for a young, inexperienced 21 year old, but within 8 years of hard graft, Greg had fully paid back the loan and was beginning to expand, taking on the 3rd floor of the building and recruiting additional staff.

Greg took his inspiration for the decor of his salon from the Victorian / Gothic features within Rochdale Town Hall and took the decision to invest heavily on the salon interior in his early days to create a timeless and elegant envrionment which still reamins classical today. Infact the cost to recently give the salon a face lift was just £17! With a simple lick of paint and oiling of the wood work, the salon looks as good as it did 30 years ago.

Trading over the years, Greg expanded his business through word of mouth, delivering an expectional service to his customers and establishing a loyal list of regular and satisifed clients. Some of Greg's tips included don't be tempted to take more bookings and rush the client experience - be prepared to say no, don't cheapen your brand by offering discounts - instead look to offer add ons so that your customer feels they are getting more for their money and give something back to your clients - they have been loyal to you for years, be loyal to them in return.

Investing in his own hair care range in the 1990's, Greg has a unique product line of shampoo's, conditioners and treatment oils. Greg's products avoid today's unnatural ingredients such as silicone, (which often leave hair lank and greasy) and are specifically designed to give hair more volume and feel fuller, are 100% made in Britain and sold exclusively in Gregory Couzens Hair Salon only. (A few ladies in the audience also swore by his shampoo leaving myself wanting to rush to his salon and stock up on a few bottles myself!).

In the past few years Greg stood as a Liberal Democrat Coucnillor and was elected as the Council's Porfolio Holder for Finance. Greg oversaw multi-million pound budgets within Rochdale Council and thoroughly enjoyed his time working as a Councillor but took the decision to step down 2 years ago and put his focus and energies back into his buisness.

Asked what his thoughts are for the future of the town and what impact Metrolink would have, Greg remained positive and optimistic and has already took the opportunity to promote his salon doing leaflet drops in neighbouring towns such as Shore where the Metrolink line runs via Rochdale. Instead of worrying about Metrolink taking customers out of the town, Greg is looking at how he can capitalise on Metrolink to bring customers into his salon! Ask somebody in Oldham what they think of Metrolink - they will say the same thing - that it is going to take people out of the town - so let's try and get them here to Rochdale please!

Following on from Greg, with a tough act to follow, Alison Copple Team Leader for Libaries at Rochdale Council took to the floor and gave a very interesting talk on the business services on offer from the borough's libraries. Inlcuding online access to newspapers from across the world, access to trade directories such as Compass and Kelly's, Business Information Factsheets from COBRA along with how to register to become a library member online and reserve books and collect from your chosen library. http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/library_services.aspx

Before the presentations eneded and the networking commenced, there was finally time for the  customary business card draws with hair care products donated by Greg Couzens up for grabs and a meal for 2 at The Norton Grange Hotel.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable event and great to meet so many local businesses from across the Borough.

The next event is being held at O2 in Middleton Shopping Centre on Thursday 23 May from 6.30pm - 8.00pm. The event is celebrating the opening of the new O2 store in Middleton and is open to any business within the borough to network and find out more about the services O2 can offer your business.

For more information on any of the above, please contact Christine Mahney at Blue Orchid on Tel: 07595 284 386 or email: c.mahney@theblueorchid.co.uk

Christine Mahney of Blue Orchid and event organiser with Greg Couzens.

A young Greg Couzens aged just 22 owner of Gregory Couzens Hair Salon on The Walk, Rochdale.

The Victorian / Gothic interior of Gregory Couzens Hair Salon.

The exterior of Gregory Couzens Hair Salon - displaying his exclusive own branded stock.

Proposed Tesco Foodstore & Petrol Station in Littleborough - Consultation Event

Tesco are proposing to build a new foodstore & petrol station in Littleborough!

 

Have Your Say!

They are holding two public exhibitions on:

• Friday 10 May, 2pm - 7pm, Littleborough Cricket Club, Denhurst Road, Littleborough
• Saturday 11 May, 10am - 1pm, United Reform Church, Victoria Street, Littleborough

 

 

You can also post your comments here or on the Littleborough Local Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/littleboroughlocal/posts/10151386852338247