LIFE IN MY NORTHERN TOWN

SO Dennis Hope have finally admitted defeat and moved from their site on Drake Street to Norden.

After being in the shop for over 50 years, the combination of the devastation to incoming traffic caused by the new tram, and lack of support from Rochdale Council, has finally forced the owners to shut up shop and move to pastures new. And I am not surprised. We have witnessed a number of high-quality shops disappear from this street over the years such as Iverson’s, Sandifords and now Dennis Hope too. What was once a bye-word for high-end shopping in the town is now slowly becoming a desolate street, frequented by a dwindling number of shops eking out a meagre living.

The lack of sympathy and support shown by the council over a number of years has manifested itself by the refusal to reinstate a bus stop half-way down to increase footfall and the refusal to install a tram stop at Wet Rake to increase footfall.

The theory is that this will increase the number of people shopping in the town, although will the new tenants be highincome professional people with good jobs and a disposable income? I suspect not.

I also know the owners of Dennis Hope were becoming increasingly frustrated by over-keen traffic wardens who would