News: "Forge Island alone will not turn things around"
Rotherham's MP has called on the government to continue to support the regeneration of the borough's town centre, warning that even when the Forge Island development opens fully next month, more funding is required.
Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination being delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel as well as two independent restaurants - The Rustic Pizza Company and Cafe Noor.
Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said that the imminent opening of Rotherham’s Forge Island development will "begin a new era for our town centre" but has written to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Democracy and Local Growth regarding uncertainty over regeneration funding awarded to Rotherham town centre under the previous government.
Rothbiz reported in 2023 that Rotherham had been selected by the government as one of 55 towns to be given £20m endowment-style funds to invest in local people’s priorities.
Town Boards were asked by the Government to submit their Long-Term Plans (comprising their 10-year vision and 3-year investment plan) before August 1. Town boards from the 55 locations are now saying that the deadline has been moved and they are awaiting a new timescale.
Sarah Champion, who sits on Rotherham's Town Board, posted on social media: "The imminent opening of Rotherham’s Forge Island development will begin a new era for our Town Centre. This has been a long time coming, but I hope that the new facilities will play their part in revitalising Rotherham.
"But Forge Island alone will not turn things around. We need sustained investment in town centre facilities to deliver the improvement we all need to see. I am therefore concerned by reports that central Government funding programs may be under threat and I have written to the Government urging them to back our town centre."
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In 2021, Rotherham secured £31.6m from the Town Deal and £12.6m from the Future High Streets Fund. Town centre projects include the revamp of Rotherham Markets, Grimm & Co, enhancing the leisure quarter next to Forge Island, a potential new music venue in town and supporting the development of further residential schemes.
The Long-Term Plan for Rotherham is to focus on three key themes: Safety and security; High streets, heritage and regeneration; Transport and connectivity.
Sarah Champion's letter states: "I am writing to you regarding the Long Term Plan for Towns. I understand that the future of the scheme is being considered by the Government and that Rotherham may as a consequence miss out on much-needed investments.
"As you will be aware, Rotherham MBC is in the process of a substantial investment in the town centre. The town centre has notably declined in recent years, with the loss of many businesses, both local and national chains.
"Rotherham faces unique competition, being sandwiched between Parkgate Retail Park and Meadowhall Shopping Centre. This has left Rotherham struggling to attract visitors and the Council's commitment to creating a unique and compelling offer is commendable.
"But this inevitably requires significant and sustained investment to deliver. I am concerned that the potential loss of funding through the Long Term Plan for Towns could make the challenges facing the town centre still more challenging.
"I do of course recognise the difficult financial situation facing the Government. But I do not believe that we can deliver the growth we all want to see without investment.
"I understand that the Leader of the Council has written to you urging the Government to ensure that the Long Term Plan for Towns is delivered, or suitable alternative funding be made available. I would echo his comments and hope that the Government will commit to supporting Rotherham's development."
In July Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves discussed a projected overspend of £22bn inherited from the previous government, adding that when it comes to commitments which they did not fund, seemingly including the £20m endowment-style funds, "If we cannot afford it, we cannot do it."
Images: Reform Landscape Architecture
Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination being delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel as well as two independent restaurants - The Rustic Pizza Company and Cafe Noor.
Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said that the imminent opening of Rotherham’s Forge Island development will "begin a new era for our town centre" but has written to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Democracy and Local Growth regarding uncertainty over regeneration funding awarded to Rotherham town centre under the previous government.
Rothbiz reported in 2023 that Rotherham had been selected by the government as one of 55 towns to be given £20m endowment-style funds to invest in local people’s priorities.
Town Boards were asked by the Government to submit their Long-Term Plans (comprising their 10-year vision and 3-year investment plan) before August 1. Town boards from the 55 locations are now saying that the deadline has been moved and they are awaiting a new timescale.
Sarah Champion, who sits on Rotherham's Town Board, posted on social media: "The imminent opening of Rotherham’s Forge Island development will begin a new era for our Town Centre. This has been a long time coming, but I hope that the new facilities will play their part in revitalising Rotherham.
"But Forge Island alone will not turn things around. We need sustained investment in town centre facilities to deliver the improvement we all need to see. I am therefore concerned by reports that central Government funding programs may be under threat and I have written to the Government urging them to back our town centre."
Advertisement
In 2021, Rotherham secured £31.6m from the Town Deal and £12.6m from the Future High Streets Fund. Town centre projects include the revamp of Rotherham Markets, Grimm & Co, enhancing the leisure quarter next to Forge Island, a potential new music venue in town and supporting the development of further residential schemes.
The Long-Term Plan for Rotherham is to focus on three key themes: Safety and security; High streets, heritage and regeneration; Transport and connectivity.
Sarah Champion's letter states: "I am writing to you regarding the Long Term Plan for Towns. I understand that the future of the scheme is being considered by the Government and that Rotherham may as a consequence miss out on much-needed investments.
"As you will be aware, Rotherham MBC is in the process of a substantial investment in the town centre. The town centre has notably declined in recent years, with the loss of many businesses, both local and national chains.
"Rotherham faces unique competition, being sandwiched between Parkgate Retail Park and Meadowhall Shopping Centre. This has left Rotherham struggling to attract visitors and the Council's commitment to creating a unique and compelling offer is commendable.
"But this inevitably requires significant and sustained investment to deliver. I am concerned that the potential loss of funding through the Long Term Plan for Towns could make the challenges facing the town centre still more challenging.
"I do of course recognise the difficult financial situation facing the Government. But I do not believe that we can deliver the growth we all want to see without investment.
"I understand that the Leader of the Council has written to you urging the Government to ensure that the Long Term Plan for Towns is delivered, or suitable alternative funding be made available. I would echo his comments and hope that the Government will commit to supporting Rotherham's development."
In July Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves discussed a projected overspend of £22bn inherited from the previous government, adding that when it comes to commitments which they did not fund, seemingly including the £20m endowment-style funds, "If we cannot afford it, we cannot do it."
Images: Reform Landscape Architecture
25 comments:
Unfortunately it's hard to see how anything can turn Rotherham town centre around.Its being allowed to become a ghetto,that puts most people off straight away.Not thing some like to hear,but the truth.Thanks too Rotherham council taking the cash and taking
extra refugees.
Retail has been declining in Rotherham since since the early 90's due to it's close proximity to Parkgate Shopping and Meadowhall, well before any refugees were present. I would also argue that the only people creating a "ghetto" environment are those involved in recent rioting and anti-social behavior. How many people responsible for this were refugees? Try again.
What a pity that the first contributor doesn't have access to fact, grammar and punctuation checks, as well as a keyboard alarm preventing him from regurgitating the same ghetto/ refugee drivel he trots out whatever the topic being discussed.
The grammar and punctuation may be off, but there's a hint of truth to the post. A lot of people do avoid the town centre because they feel intimated by the people who are hanging around there. To deny that is to just try and avoid any reasonable debate on the subject. Some truths are uncomfortable I'm afraid.
It is a start though. I'm 33, live in Rotherham, and have only ever been able to watch a film in Sheffield, and now I'll be able to go to Rotherham instead. There are literally thousands (perhaps 10s of thousands) of other people living in Rotherham that are in the same boat. The cinema is a lighting rod that will hopefully drive people into the centre of Rotherham. Once you get the footfall and suppliment it with resturants and bars, you're off to a winner.
In my experience, the "undesirables" who frequent the town centre are not refugees. They are of the home grown variety and have issues around drug and alcohol misuse and mental health. Lack of resources to tackle these issues is the main problem, exacerbated by years of Under investment.
Agreed. I have seen people around town of other nationalities generally sat on benches and not causing an issue. In contrast I have been approached several times by people asking for money near the bus station, near McDonalds and near the bar close to Tesco. All appeared to be under the influence of either drink or drugs and all appeared of UK origin.
I don't think anyone would disagree about the problem of home grown "undesirables". It's also a perfect example of "whataboutery". Trying to immediately shut down any debate is what eventually manifests itself in the kind of problems that we've seen in recent weeks. To be fair, I don't those causing issues in the town, particularly street drinking, are refugees either, but they certainly aren't all home grown.
We only have to look at what our 'home grown' thought was acceptable in Wath to accept theres problems among people from all backgrounds in this country.
I don't think anyone on here is denying there are problems with our 'home grown'?
No, but at least one person on here always singles out refugees for special attention whenever a topic relates to the town centre.
But several on here are happy to deny that they cause any issues in the town at all.
To be completely fair, I think the police have been doing a good job of cleaning up the undesirables. There is still a drinking problem in the town, but it is being controlled. The sad thing is that as this problem seems to get under control, there's a whole new wave of anti social behaviour that's coming from the cannabis smoking gangs... who seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to urinate in public wherever the fancy takes them!
I don't think anyone is denying that refugees could cause problems, the issue is that one person seems intent on relating any article, whatever the subject, to something negative that they then try to attribute to refugees, irrespective of the facts.
In the light of recent prosecutions you'd think that he would start using his loaf a bit. Though I suppose it's difficult to change the habits of a lifetime.
I think you’ll find some are denying it.
Let's hope that 3 year prison sentences are enough to deter even the knuckle daggers who kicked off at Manvers and those who incited them.
Of all the comments I've read on this site I don't think I've ever seen anyone denying potential issues, they just offer a more balanced and factual view than those regurgitating the same tropes.
They will have served 6 months before the steroids are out of their systems.
I'd welcome refugese over 'travellers' any day of the week. Bramley had refugees at the Ibis and not a problem. 'Travellers' turn up and you get guys selling second hand tools in Morrisons car park.
Did they have any fret saws?
What were they selling? ....asking for a friend....thats a lie I don't have any.
No, but don't fret.
They were right chisellers.
Plane as day.
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