Repairs begin on unsafe building that shut road

WORK has begun repairing an unsafe building that has closed a major road and the Metrolink line in Rochdale town centre.

Metrolink services between the town centre and Rochdale railway station were stopped on Friday afternoon after concerns were raised about the safety of an empty building on Drake Street.

Large cracks appeared in the first floor brickwork between the building and the Nails by Olive beauty parlour, close to the junction with Water Street.

Yesterday (Wednesday) contractors began making the building secure and it is hoped Drake Street and the Metrolink line will be reopened this weekend.

A Rochdale council spokesperson said: “Work began on securing the unsafe building in Drake Street.

“The closed section of road near Rochdale town centre is expected to remain shut until the weekend. A diversion is still in place and trams will continue to terminate at the railway station.”

A 30m section of the road and pavement has been fenced off and diversions have been put in place.

Speaking earlier this week Michaela Crea, who owns Nails by Olive, said the cracks were first reported to the council about 12 months ago, but had got noticeably worse in recent weeks.