Well no, actually its much less than that because much of the money the council is borrowing is going into the money pits that are Heywood and Middleton. It seems impossible to do anything in "Rochdale" anymore without first wasting vast amounts on our two cuckoos.
And don't think this is the start of the rebuilding of Rochdale, they are borrowing the cash to spend on amenities for which they think they can charge enough money to pay off the loan. I don't suppose they have given any thought to what might happen if they are run in typical Rochdale Council style? I.e. at a loss!
Sportsmen and women, thespians, social or sporting groups hoping for the kind of amenities we all see on our holidays in foreign parts will just have to continue to wait. Firgrove and Lenny Barn pitches will still be unplayable for much of the football season, council cricket pitches will continue to be more suitable for players who are careless for their lives and as for the idea that any of the ratepaying public might expect to be able to go to see professional musicians or actors without travelling to Manchester (or soon Oldham with its £30M new theatre) - forget it.
Its also interesting that these plans have apparently been drawn up without any consultation. Has anyone actualy asked our amateur footballers, cricketers, drama groups, etc etc. how £31 Million could be spent? Of course not, this is Rochdale and this is how we do things - which is how we came to build Ashfield Valley and then knock it down 20 years later, its how we spent a fortune on reinforcing the bridge in the centre of Rochdale to accommodate heavy lorries only to turn it into a pedestrian precinct as soon as the builders left. and its why we now need another golf driving range in Springfield park despite already having one next to The Lancashire fitness centre.
Did anyone consider that the best thing for Springfield Park might be to spend some money bringing the running track back into a fit state or maybe leveling the football pitches so that the goalkeepers can actually see each other during a game? No? Well there's a surprise.
Still, don't worry, one of Rochdale's finest is in charge. Councillor Ted Flynn is the man. He has been a councillor since Adam was a lad and knows all about wasting money- lets face it he has been drawing his attendance allowances for long enough. Ted is a renowned local sportsman .. er well no he's not .... a famous local businessman then ....well no he's not... so he must have been the only person still asleep when they were looking for someone to put our leisure services on the map.
If anyone in cyber space knows how this money is to be spent exactly and knows how we are goint to pay for it and perhaps more crucially how many new council jobs this will create perhaps they can let us know until then be grateful ...and be thankful Ted is on the case!
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