Residents to get say on flats future

COLLEGE Bank and Lower Falinge residents can have their say on multi-million pounds plans for the two estates at a event next week.

A ‘community workshop’ is being held at the Pioneers Museum from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday, December 13.

It will residents give the chance to discuss the Rochdale Boroughwide Housing proposals which could take 20 years to complete, will see the estates changed beyond recognition.

As the Observer has reported four of the Seven Sisters tower blocks – Mitchell Hey, Dunkirk Rise, Tentercroft and Town Mill Brow – would be demolished to make way for up to 120 new homes.

The three remaining blocks – Mardyke, Holland Rise and Underwood – would be modernised under the proposals drawn up by renowned architects Levitt Bernstein.

Sixteen of the 26 two-storey blocks on the nearby Lower Falinge estate, which contain 244 occupied flats, would also be knocked down with up to 560 new houses built in their place.

But the plans have been met with opposition from the College Bank residents, with 600 people signing a petition against the move.

The workshop will look at several aspects of the plans at different times as follows:

Access to the town centre and beyond and getting about in and around the neighbourhood (10am-11am)

Homes – New homes and improvements to retained homes- sizes, types and design (11am-12.30pm)

The neighbourhood – Public and open spaces, play areas and community facilities (1pm-2pm)

Residents’ deal – What is a residents’ deal and how do RBH and the community work together to achieve one? (2pm-3.30pm)

Employment and career support – (3.30pm-4.30pm)

From 4.30pm - 6pm there will be a free slot to discuss any part of the plans.

A Facebook chat twill also be held on Thursday, December 14, from 5pm until 7pm on the RBH Facebook page.