Celebs join call to halt Seven Sisters plan
ICONIC film director Ken Loach has joined forces with legendary ex-Wales goalkeeper Nevillle Southall and veteran DJ Liz Kershaw to call for an ‘immediate and indefinite’ halt to controversial regeneration plans.
The famous trio are among 56 signatories to an open letter urging Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to draw a line under its proposals for College Bank and Lower Falinge - which include tearing down four of the town’s landmark ‘Seven Sisters’ tower blocks.
Numerous academics, campaigners and professionals have put their name to the letter, which is also addressed to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd.
RBH insists its plans will ensure a ‘better quality of mix’ of homes in the town centre, meeting future need and guaranteeing no one will be forced to leave the area if they do not wish to.
But this latest move will heap further pressure on the mutual - coming shortly after 57 councillors put their names to a letter demanding specific details of its redevelopment plans for the two estates.
The letter reads: “We believe that to continue with this regeneration scheme now during the worst pandemic in a hundred years would be criminal.
“While we acknowledge the important work RBH is doing right now in supporting vulnerable households affected by the lockdown, RBH should be focusing 100pc on supporting all existing residents to remain healthy, and protecting the homeless in Rochdale who are more vulnerable to illness and less able to take preventative measures than those in secure housing.
“It can only do this if it permanently stops this regeneration scheme and redirects those human and financial resources to saving lives.”
Signatory Dr Stuart Hodkinson, associate professor and housing researcher at the University of Leeds said:
“In the face of climate change, a housing crisis and a global pandemic, the last thing anyone should be doing is emptying and demolishing homes - we need to use, renew and retrofit our existing housing stock.”
RBH says it has worked with the council to address homelessness and that of 40 Rochdale families currently in temporary accommodation, 32 are housed at its specialist family accommodation unit or furnished temporary accommodation it owns.