Middleton Town Centre Workshop

The Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation invites you to attend this co-operative workshop to gather your views on MIddleton Town Centre.

To reserve your place please contact Anthony Jackson by email: anthony.jackson@rochdale.gov.uk or telephone: 01706 925217

Heywood Traders Unite for Brighter Future

The Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation organised a workshop to look specifically at Heywood Town Centre this Monday 11 February.

The event, at Heywood Sports Village, examined the positives and negatives of how Heywood is currently working and asked for ideas on stimulating more activities around the arts, music, heritage and enterprise of our town.

It featured presentations from various council officers, including Peter Rowlinson, the authority's head of planning.

Guests were then asked for their ideas on moving the town centre forward. Heywood was highlighted as the healthiest town in the Rochdale borough.

Other positives included the fact there are relatively few empty shops in the town, many well-established independent businesses, a strong community market and good leisure facilities.

Areas earmarked for development in the future included the East Lancashire Railway, the old Boots warehouse, Mossfield, the George Street area and Angel Meadow.

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

It's back - Rochdale Feel Good Festival returns for 2013

The Rochdale Feel Good Festival will return this summer, with organisers promising another explosion of entertainment, food and culture. The festival, celebrating its sixth birthday, will include various warm up events prior to the main attractions in Rochdale town centre in August.

A high profile line-up of acts will be announced in the coming weeks.  The festival will include live music across indoor venues and a main stage against the backdrop of Rochdale Town Hall.  Celebrity chefs will host live cooking demonstrations throughout the event which will also include a food market, open air dining, family entertainment plus brand new attractions for 2013.

Debbie O’Brien, from Rochdale Town Centre Management, said the festival really does bring the feel good factor: “The Feel Good Festival is easily the most popular event we do, so I know this announcement will be welcomed by many thousands of residents and visitors.  I would like to personally thank all those people who have taken the time to contact us and show their support … we have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback over the last few weeks.  With the help of our partners I am determined to deliver another unmissable event.”

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Customer Services, said: “Each year the festival grows in popularity, bringing more people of all ages into town every year and creating a real buzz.  It is a fantastic showcase for the borough and something the council is pleased to support.”

Last year over 10,000 attended the two-day festival to see live performances from over 25 bands, vocalists and artists, whilst star chefs tempted tastebuds with their masterclasses.  Previous acts have included the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Martha and the Vandellas, Badly Drawn Boy and The Lightning Seeds.  Celebrity chefs have included Gino D’Acampo, Ainsley Harriott, Andrew Nutter and Brian Turner.

Debbie O’Brien added:

“Once again Rochdale will be a hive of activity with the very best in live music, food, art and entertainment.  It is also a great opportunity for local businesses to host their own event as part of the festival too, so I’m encouraging anyone with an idea to come forward now …this is your festival.  It’s also an excellent sponsorship opportunity for businesses in the region, and we are talking to potential sponsors to help us make it another big success.”

If you’d like to get your business involved in the festival email debbie@rochdaletcm.co.uk

The festival’s website will be live from 19 April.

Heywood Town Centre Workshop

Monday 11 February, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Heywood Sports Village

To reserve your place please email: anthony.jackson@rochdale.gov.uk or Tel: 01706 925217

Rochdale Retail Ready People Business Breakfast

Friday 25 January, 8.30am - 10am, Pioneers Museum, Toad Lane, Rochdale

Rochdale has been chosen as one of 10 UK towns for Retail Ready People - an exciting volunteering programme giving young people the opportunity to breathe new life into the high street.

Retail Ready People (RRP) is run by Retail Trust and youth volunteering charity vInspired. The project challenges young people to turn disused spaces into pop-up shops for their communities. The scheme is designed to give young people who would like to or who are already working in retail an opportunity to build new skills in business and retail, whilst doing something unique, fun and positive at the same time.

The project will recruit up to 25 young people to take part in a free 14 week programme running from 01 March - 30 June, offering 14 hours training & support per week and the chance to set up and run a high street pop-up shop.

To find out more abut this exciting scheme, come along to the free Business Breakfast meeting being held at the Pioneers Museum on Friday 25 January from 8.30am. Please book online to reserve your place: http://rrp-rochdale.eventbrite.co.uk/ 

Future of the Feel Good Festival

The Council are making a funding decision in the next few weeks on the future of the Feel Good Festival. What are your views? Post your comments here!

http://menmedia.co.uk/rochdaleobserver/news/s/1598513_feel-good-festivals-future-hangs-in-balance

Join Us At The Next Meeting of the Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation

WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY, 5.45PM - 7.30PM

Multicultural Arts & Media Centre (MAMC)

Unit 3 Dean House, Rochdale, OL11 1DS

A G E N D A

5.45pm	Networking Light refreshments will be served. Optional 15min talk / tour on MAMC will take place from 6pm.		30mins
6.15pm	Welcome	Paul Clarke	5mins
6.20pm	Forward Plan Discussion / Q&A	Peter Rowlinson	10mins
6.30pm	Night Time Economy Action Plan Discussion / Q&A	Debbie O’Brien Frances Fielding	10mins
6.40pm	Love Rochdale Discussion / Q&A	Mark Roberts	10mins
7.50pm	Incredible Edibles Rochdale Discussion / Q&A	Chris Taylor	10mins
7.00pm	Open Forum	All	30mins
7.30pm	Time & Date of Next Meeting One Year Celebration Event Wednesday 20 March, 5.45pm – 7.30pm, Number One Riverside