Shopfronts revamp 'too little too late' - trader

A business owner who complained cycle path roadworks had impacted his trade has said a plan for a £600,000 revamp of the high street is "two years too late".

Rochdale Council has approved a shop front improvement scheme for Castleton's high street as part of its wider regeneration of the area.

Many business owners have said roadworks to build cycle lanes on Manchester Road over the past few years had impacted footfall.

Mark Foster, who runs the New Bridge Chippy on Manchester Road, said his business had struggled with "one thing after another after Covid", with this funding "two years too late", in his opinion.

"It should have been there before the cycle lane and the roadworks even started," he said.

"There's no cyclists. Cyclists can't even park their bikes anywhere in the village to come to my shop so I just don't understand what they are doing."

Work on the cycle paths, which cost nearly £5m, began almost three years ago.

But businesses on the high street have spoken of suffering a collapse in footfall because cars had nowhere to pull over and park.

Dee Phillips, who runs D's Waxmelts, said the revamp "will make Castleton look better but there's just no parking".

She said it had been a "really tough" few years due to the roadworks taking place.

Ms Phillips said "a lot of people now do want to park right outside the shop".

Businesses across Castleton have been invited to apply for funding of up to £30,000 to revamp shop fronts.

The funding will also cover improvements like repairs to stonework and brickwork and new signage, lighting and artwork, as well as the reinstatement of historical features.

Ambrose Khalid, a barber who runs the Urban Hair Studio, said he hoped "it does do some good".

"I've got faith in it because of the fact of how many houses are getting built around here so the footfall will hopefully be back," he said.

The council said the shop front improvement scheme was part of the wider regeneration of Castleton, with "many of its brownfield sites transformed with high quality new homes".

A council spokesperson said the area had benefited from Transport for Greater Manchester investment into the roads and pavements, the creation of a new cycle lane, new parking facilities and a new children's play area.

Work on the next part of the cycle lane scheme - further down Manchester Road - is now underway, with the entire project due for completion in 2026.

Councillor Danny Meredith, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Rochdale Council, said: "This investment will help business owners in this vital area organise repairs and improvements to their premises, which they otherwise may not have been able to afford.

"This, in turn, could help them attract even more customers in future, including the residents who are moving into the new houses which are being created and making Castleton their long term home."

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