Unpopular road schemes are to be pulled from a controversial plan to regenerate the area around Littleborough railway station. It means the closure of Hare Hill Road and the narrowing of Church Street will not be considered under a second round of consultation on the project.
The proposals - which promise an ‘uplifted village centre’ - got off to a rocky start after businesses in Victoria Street were left shocked to see their premises earmarked for demolition. Further suggestions included a new ‘gateway’ public square, refurbishment of the historic railway arches and ‘infill housing’ on ‘underutilised’ brownfield land.
Rochdale council held an eight-week public consultation during October and December last year - although this led to a further backlash over the ‘inaccurate’ images, which appeared to show Hare Hill Road would be permanently closed to traffic. An update on the scheme - formally known as ‘the draft Littleborough station area Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)' - was given at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday night.
