Hop on the Bus to Improve Your Neighbourhood

Date published: 20/09/2005

Residents of Spotland & Falinge, Deeplish & Milkstone, Sparth, Newbold and Kirkholt are urged to get involved with improving their neighbourhood by hopping on a big red bus between 17th - 24th September.

The converted London bus will be making several stops in Spotland & Falinge, Deeplish & Milkstone, Sparth, Newbold and Kirkholt (Inner Rochdale) giving people a chance to see and comment on ideas that were developed by residents of the area in the Spring.  The plans have not yet been finalised so this is a real opportunity for people to influence how their area develops over the coming years.   

The bus will stop on:

Monday 19th September at:
Falinge Flats (Kirkstall) Car park, 2.00 - 3.15 pm
Dunelm Car Park, Whitworth Road, 3.30 - 5.15 pm
Spotland Community Centre, 5.30 - 7.00 pm

Tuesday 20th September at:
Sparth Community Centre, 3.00 - 7.00 pm

Wednesday 21st September at:
Kirkholt Hill Top School, 3.00 - 4.00 pm
Kirkholt Community Centre, 4.15 - 5.45 pm
Kirkholt Community Church, 6.00 - 7.30 pm

Thursday 22nd September at:
Wellfield Social Club Car Park, Prince Street, 3.00 - 4.30 pm
Deeplish Community Centre, Corner of Hare St, Overt St and Milkstone Road,
4.45 - 5.45pm
Haji's Cash and Carry (or vicinity), 6.00 - 7.30pm

Friday 23rd September at:
Milnrow Road shops, 2.00 - 3.30pm
Sure Start Moss Street, 3.45 - 5.15pm

Saturday 24th September at:
Rochdale Town Centre, The Butts, 12.00 - 2.00pm

The bus is accessible to disabled people.  Interpreters who speak Urdu and Bangla will be available as necessary.

In April 2005, people from Inner Rochdale attended workshops and developed plans for how their neighbourhoods could improve, including where new housing could be built.  These ideas were shown to other residents when the bus toured Inner Rochdale in May.  These residents' comments were recorded and have been incorporated into the latest versions of the plans, which will be on display on the bus next week. 

The displays on the bus will show how the final plans could be implemented in three stages if the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder receives Government funding.  In August, the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder asked the Government for £70 million to invest in the local housing markets from April 2006 - March 2008.  This is for work in Inner Rochdale, East Central Rochdale (Bellshill, Cloverhall, Mayfield, Town Head, Wardleworth and Hamer), Langley and parts of Oldham.  The Government will tell the Pathfinder how much money they will receive at the end of November.