Town team in BID to give centre £1.5m lift
MORE than £1.5 million could be made available for town centre improvements in an attempt to boost business and increase visitor numbers.
The investment, which would be spent on making Rochdale town centre a safe, vibrant and attractive place, would be raised through the Rochdale Business Improvement District (BID).
The BID proposals include a number of projects that would improve the image of the town – making it more attractive to visitors by organising more events and improving the town’s presence online through new social media campaigns.
Funds would also be allocated to tacking social issues like anti-social behaviour and crime as well as visual improvements like floral displays, public art and festive and creative lighting.
The proposals also plan to work with businesses and other partners including the Police and the council – which is in support of the BID project – to develop a diverse evening and night time leisure.
Chris Riley, manager of the Regal Moon Pub in Rochdale, supports the plans. He 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.
“I think it’s great for the town because we can use it to correct things that we feel are inadequate – like fighting crime and disorder, which I think is the main thing for this town. “If we can nail that, we’ll get increased footfall which is great for us and great for the town and great for the businesses.”
Peter Taylor, senior partner at AST Hampsons Solicitors on Yorkshire Street, said: “The BID is going to make a big difference to the investment in the town centre. Rochdale has a lot going for it.”
Funds would be raised by charging all businesses within the BID a fee, which would vary dependent on the business’ size.
A ballot takes place next month. A successful BID vote is one that has a simple majority both in votes cast and in rateable value of the businesses casting votes each way.
Lorenzo O’Reilly, director of the town centre management company, urged businesses to support the BID.
He said: “This plan pro- vides us with a clear direction for a new exciting era in Rochdale.
“I urge you to get involved and work together for the future of the town and our businesses by voting yes in the ballot in October.”