Residents are invited to play a unique part in reshaping the skyline of Rochdale town centre by helping to start official demolitions in the town centre.
Connell Brothers Contractors will start to tear down the old bus station and car park at the beginning of March once initial preparatory work, including the removal of the car park ramps, has been completed.
And now the Rochdale Round Table has joined forces with the council and Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) to offer one lucky raffle winner the unique opportunity to take to the controls of a high reach machine for a photo before sounding a klaxon to officially start the main demolition.
Tickets, at £1 each, are on sale at the Feel Good Café on Yorkshire Street and Greg Couzens Hair Studio on The Walk in Rochdale town centre. They will also be available from all Springhill Hospice shops across the borough.
They will also be available from Rochdale library in Number One Riverside and in Heywood, Middleton and Littleborough libraries. All proceeds from the raffle sales will go to Springhill Hospice.
Residents can snap tickets up until 3 March when the draw will be made. Once a winner is drawn, they will be contacted to arrange a convenient date to claim their prize.
The winner will climb aboard the high reach machine for a photo, before handing the controls to a demolition contractor who will take the first chunk out of the old bus station once signalled to do so by the winner sounding the klaxon. The winner will also be given other goodies as a memento for starting the demolition.
Rochdale Council Leader, Colin Lambert, said: “The dismantling of these buildings which have been at the heart of our town centre for decades is a historic moment for our town. As this is such a symbolic occasion, we felt it was only right to get our residents involved and raise money for a fantastic local cause at the same time.”
Michael Fern, from Rochdale Round Table, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this unique opportunity which means we can raise money to help support Springhill Hospice. With the draw being made on 3 March, we’d encourage anyone hoping to get involved to snap up tickets early.”
18 Feb 2014