The winds of change

How westerly breezes have played role in plan to develop land around borough's stations

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

IT'S forgotten and unused, but now a vision years in the making could see the land around some transport hubs transformed beyond recognition.

The railway station in Rochdale was once a hub for industrial business generations ago. But as times changed, society changed and the station suddenly started transporting people, not goods.

Despite the way we live and work being entirely different to previous generations, the fabric and shape of the town has not adapted to cater for modern needs. This is where the Rochdale Rail Corridor Strategy comes into play.

The concept would see the land around transport hubs along the Manchester to Leeds railway line reconfigured into places for people to live, work and play.

These hubs would focus on the stations in Castleton, Mills Hill, Smithy Bridge, Littleborough and a new Slattocks station in addition to Rochdale. Around 7,000 homes would be built to meet local housing demands as part of the strategy. Combined with walking and cycling routes, park and rides, new public realms and community spaces, these hubs hope to attract more people into the area and in turn boost the local economy.

The ambitious scheme, masterminded a few years ago, will take decades to come to fruition. With plans for an new railway station at Slattocks, Metrolink expansion to Heywood and proposals to connect the East Lancashire heritage line to the national network at Castleton, there is much to do.

For Coun John Blundell, one of the brains behind the original strategy, this concept has the ability to bring more people to his home town and regenerate it for the better.

He provides a theory that because the wind in Manchester blows from west to east, more people wanted to live in the south west of Manchester to avoid the city centre smog.