Council set record straight over town centre development

24 April 2008

Joint Statement from the three party leaders on Rochdale Borough Council

"There has been considerable coverage in the national property press over recent weeks regarding the decision of Rochdale Borough Council to appoint Wilson Bowden Developments as the developer for the Rochdale Town Centre East project. Some of these comments have related to the announcement by Sultan Properties Limited (a member of the Ask/Sultan consortium, who were unsuccessful in their bid to be chosen as the developer) regarding their intention to mount a legal challenge against the council's decision. Much of this coverage has been inaccurate, ill-informed and misleading."

"We wish to place on record that the decision to appoint Wilson Bowden was unanimous, receiving the support of councillors of all three political parties. A subsequent scrutiny of the decision, by a separate committee also unanimously upheld the appointment, again with all party support."

"Councillors were misquoted on a number of occasions and remarks attributed to them were taken out of context. Also, some questions which Councillors were prompted to ask in the media have been investigated and we have received answers which clarify those matters to our satisfaction."

"So we now wish to confirm that the appointment of Wilson Bowden Developments continues to have our full support. We are satisfied that the process followed by the council and its advisors has been thorough and appropriate."

Councillor Alan Taylor, Council Leader and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
Councillor Allen Brett, Leader of the Labour Group
Councillor Ashley Dearnley, Leader of the Conservative Group