Famous faces including Everton football legend Neville Southall and iconic film director Ken Loach have called for controversial Greater Manchester regeneration plans to be scrapped.
The ex-Wales star and Mr Loach are joined by veteran DJ Liz Kershaw and over 50 academics, campaigners and professionals in opposing Rochdale Boroughwide Housing's proposals for College Bank and Lower Falinge.
Those proposals include tearing down four of the town's landmark Seven Sisters tower blocks, .
Numerous academics, campaigners and professionals have put their name to the letter, which is also addressed to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd MP.
RBH insists its plans will ensure a ‘better quality of mix’ of homes in Rochdale town centre, meeting future need and guaranteeing no one will be forced to leave the area if they do not wish to.
But this latest move will heap further pressure on the mutual -
Local campaigners and councillors have over the number - and type - of homes that will be available for social rent at the end of RBH’s regeneration process. And opponents of the scheme say the coronavirus crisis has made the situation all the more urgent.
The letter reads: “We believe that to continue with this regeneration scheme now during the worst pandemic in a hundred years would be criminal.
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“While we acknowledge the important work RBH is doing right now in supporting vulnerable households affected by the lockdown, RBH should be focusing 100pc on supporting all existing residents to remain healthy, and protecting the homeless in Rochdale who are more vulnerable to illness and less able to take preventative measures than those in secure housing.
“It can only do this if it permanently stops this regeneration scheme and redirects those human and financial resources to saving lives.”
Signatory Dr Stuart Hodkinson, associate professor and housing researcher at the University of Leeds said: “In the face of climate change, a housing crisis and a global pandemic, the last thing anyone should be doing is emptying and demolishing homes - we need to use, renew and retrofit our existing housing stock.
"I urge RBH, Rochdale Council and the Mayor of Greater Manchester to work together with residents to pioneer a humane model of regeneration that allows existing residents to stay put and avoids the bulldozer.”
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RBH says it has worked with the council to address homelessness and that of 40 Rochdale families currently in temporary accommodation, 32 are housed at its specialist family accommodation unit or furnished temporary accommodation it owns.
The letter also raises concerns over the ‘terrible effect’ ongoing uncertainty is having on residents’ physical and mental health - with many signatories being psychologists, counsellors and therapists.
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Saiqa Naz, a cognitive behavioural therapist who has been offering support to residents said: “For over three years now, residents have been subject to enormous stress and anxiety that has resulted in ill-health. Being told that your home will be demolished and that you will have to leave is devastating.”
RBH guidance for residents says the mutual ‘completely understands how unsettling and distressing the rehousing process can be’ and has an ‘experienced team’ providing personalised support to all those residents who need it.
Once the pandemic is under control, campaigners hope RBH will work with the authorities ‘to enable an alternative, community-led approach to regeneration that improves the existing housing and area without further demolition and displacement’.
Former Mayor and College Bank resident Robin Parker has written a poem about the Seven Sisters, called High and Mighty, which has been turned into a short film.