Rawtenstall’s Valley Centre boss hits back at council criticism (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Rawtenstall’s Valley Centre boss hits back at council criticism
11:18am Wednesday 24th February 2010 in
THE OWNERS of Rawtenstall’s dilapidated Valley Centre have denied claims they are stalling the development.
Ashcap, who own the shopping centre in the heart of the town, have hit back at Rossendale Council after receiving a warning from them.
Director Findlay Macalpine has reaffirmed his intention to regenerate the venue, stating that Rossendale Council has refused to communicate with him.
He said: “I can understand the political concerns and to some extent their frustration.
“But we have sent proposals and ideas for them to work with us, but they have not responded.
“Rossendale council is turning my hair grey.
“We need them to work alongside us and we are prepared to lose money on the site for that to happen.
"The council won’t talk to us.”
Speaking at last week’s Cabinet meeting, Coun Tony Swain said Ashcap had shown “no intention of putting money into the site to improve it.”
Head of Regeneration for the council, Steve Jackson, said: “AshCap have had a valid planning permission for the Valley Centre since 2008 but have made no attempt to begin work on the Valley Centre.
"They have allowed the site to continue to deteriorate and become a blot on the landscape."
Comments(4)
Wolfie Smith
says...
2:45pm Wed 24 Feb 10
Eye On The Valley
says...
11:49pm Wed 24 Feb 10
The Valley Centre was purchased by Ashcap from CNC as part of a portfolio of properties, which would only be sold together, not individually. Some might call The Valley Centre the runt of the litter.
Mr MacAlpine seems to be using his last remaining tenant as an excuse for having not done anything with the site.
As for a CPO, I wonder what the true value of the site might be, such that this could be carried out.
How much would we have to pay to bring the ownership of this site back to Rossendale?
pull some strings
says...
12:55pm Thu 25 Feb 10
Pity they couldn't be bothered to check it out for themselves before stumping up over £5M for a derelict building.
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ROW: The boarded-up shopping centre
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pull some strings says...
12:21pm Wed 24 Feb 10
They've put a for sale sign on the building but if you ring the agent they tell you "it's not really for sale, the owners have done that to put pressure on the Council."
This soouthern basis property fund are trying to hold Rossendale taxpayers to ransom by insisting the Council put all the money in to sort out the site but Ashcap want all the profit that might come out of it. What kind of deal is it??!!
Ashcap clearly made a bad decision on the price they paid for the Valley Centre, they now want Rossendale taxpayers to bail them out. I'd prefer to do a CPO so Ashcap get nothing and the people of Rossendale get 100% of any future benefits.