‘Back £1.5m BID to start a new era’

Cash could help to revitalise town centre

BUSINESSES are being urged to back a move to revive Rochdale town centre.

More than £1.5m could be raised in an attempt to boost the town’s business, and increase visitor numbers.

The investment, which would be spent on making the town centre a safe, vibrant and attractive place, would be raised through the Rochdale Business Improvement District (BID).

All businesses within the district would be charged a fee dependent on the firm’s size. A successful BID vote will be one that has a simple majority both in total votes cast and in the rateable value of the businesses casting votes. A ballot will take place next month. Lorenzo O’Reilly, director of the town centre management company, urged businesses to support the BID.

He said: “This plan provides us with a clear direction for a new exciting era in Rochdale.”

Chris Riley, manager of the Regal Moon Pub, said: “I think the BID is a great thing because it’s money that we invest as businesses and we decide what the money is spent on.”

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